Infants don’t come with manuals, but their car seats do. Yet with all the written instructions and online help, a recent study found that 93% of families made at least one critical error in securing their infant in the car seat or securing the car seat to the car. Two hundred and sixty-seven mother-infant pairs were observed at an Oregon hospital’s mother-baby unit. The results of this study were presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition.
Earlier this week, the Royal family embarked on their first visit to New Zealand together and while the frenzy began due to their travelling together in one plane (direct heirs to the throne aren't supposed to travel together), it sure didn’t end there. Plunket is a very well known support service in NZ that self proclaims to see over 90% of newborns, providing information and support, including child car seat safety.
I grew up in a typical Chinese home, the Canadian-born daughter of Chinese immigrants. From a young age, I knew I had high expectations to live up to; academics were incredibly important (I remember my dad asking me what happened to the last 4% when I brought home a science test that I scored 96% on). After school and on weekends, I had math tutoring. My mom wanted me to be a well-rounded kid, so I had dance, art, swimming, and skating lessons (thankfully not all at the same time). I sang with the Toronto Children’s Choir for a few years.
On Tuesday, July 16, 2013 a 2-year-old fell out of a vehicle that was travelling on a ramp on Toronto's Don Valley Parkway. The rear passenger door opened while the vehicle was moving and the child car seat fell out with the toddler still strapped in it. Police believe that the child car seat was not installed properly (I would suggest that the seat wasn't installed at all) and have charged the driver.