Kids on Board!

Whether you're a veteran parent or new to the job, it's time to brush up on traveling safely -- and enjoyably -- when the kids are in tow.

By Paul Zangari Illustrations by Steven Guarnaccia

Deborah Parker always buckles all five of her children into their safety seats when they ride in her minivan, even if it's for a quick one-half mile trip to the kids' preschool in their hometown of Paxtang, Pennsylvania. She thought she was being a protective mom, but after visiting a child-seat checkup held at a local car dealership last year, she received quite a shock. She learned that none of her kids' car seats would have worked as designed in a crash -- all five seats were installed incorrectly, and the infant's seat also had been recalled. But here's the surprising fact: Parker's situation isn't unusual. According to the nonprofit National Safe Kids Campaign, four out of five child seats are installed incorrectly

Are your kids safe when you're on the road? Child safety experts offer these tips for on-the-road travel, whether you're going across town or across the country.

S is for Safety Seats
Child seats greatly reduce the risk of death or injury for children under 4 years of age -- if properly installed. That's the rub. Many installation difficulties stem from vehicle and child seat variety. With so many different kinds of seat configurations and seat belts in vehicles, not every child seat works in every car or truck. Here are ways to ensure the integrity of your seat installation.

• Many police and fire departments have at least one qualified child seat inspector; most maternity hospitals and auto clubs do too. The National Safe Kids Campaign (safekids.org) sponsors free events across the United States similar to the one Deborah Parker visited.
• Parents should attend a seat checkup every year, says Torine Brooks of Safe Kids. That's to ensure children haven't outgrown their seats.
• Don't buy a child seat unless you can return it if it doesn't fit correctly in your vehicle.
• For a side-by-side comparison of child seats, check out the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Child Safety Seat Ease of Use Ratings at nhtsa.gov/CPS/CSSRating.
• By law, new vehicles sold in the United States since model year 2003 and new child seats are equipped with "LATCH," which stands for "Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children." It is meant to simplify child seat installation because it does not use the vehicle's seat belts. Unfortunately, LATCH is not a cure-all. Not every LATCH-equipped seat works in every LATCH-equipped vehicle; some may still fit better using seat belts. Also, LATCH isn't for kids weighing more than 48 pounds (or for a combined total of 65 pounds including the child and seat.) The lesson: A safety seat inspection is a valuable check for every car.
• Experts advise against using winding devices to tighten the belts around child seats because a too-tight seat belt can't stretch as needed in a crash.

P is for Projectiles
Many parents don't realize that anything not securely restrained inside a car may become a dangerous projectile in a crash or during sudden evasive driving maneuvers.

• Small items can be surprisingly lethal. To get a valuable lesson in applied physics, David Schiapo, a nationally certified child passenger instructor with Rhode Island's Highway Safety Office, says to multiply the weight of an object by a vehicle's speed. For example, a flying 6-pound toy has an effective weight of 240 pounds when a car stops suddenly from 40 mph. Schiapo singles out an item well-meaning parents often use -- a mirror placed behind a rear-facing infant to allow eye contact. "It can get loose in a crash and is likely to hit the child," he cautions. Remove it from the car.
• Parents can be lethal too. Adults need to buckle up, says Schiapo: "It's tragic, but unrestrained parents have crushed kids who were properly secured in their child seats during a crash."
• Don't let kids snack on the go. An unexpected bump or sharp turn could cause food to catch in an eating child's throat. Besides, many nutrition experts discourage the practice of letting kids eat in moving cars because so-called "distracted eating" may contribute to childhood obesity.

A is for Accessories
These products may be handy additions to your vehicle. Some of them are available in new vehicles; some can be retrofit in others.

• Back-up camera. This tiny camera activates when the vehicle is in reverse, showing on an on-dash screen objects and children who may be in your blind spot.
• Sun shades. These may help lower temperature, eyestrain and stress. Avoid locations that block the driver's view and choose the most secure mounting possible so the shade doesn't break free in a crash.
• Parking alarms. As you approach people or objects out of your field of view, they buzz, beep or chime in varying intensities or pitches, depending on the distance to the object.
• Video, DVD theaters. Kits are available to fit these media players and screens overhead or in a console. Opt for headphones that let kids hear Barney-and that let adults drive in peace.

D is for Distractions
Your own traveling experience will be more pleasant if the little ones are occupied. Try these tricks.

• Set aside a few toys specifically for trips. That way they'll seem special and new, even if used on a previous excursion. Avoid hard, sharp toys that may be dangerous in a crash.
• Play a game. Have one child count green cars while another tallies up blue ones; pick a distant state and watch for license plates; or see who can spot the next RV park first, etc. Award prizes like a picture book.
• Schedule longer trips with very young children when they're likely to sleep.
• Vary DVDs, CDs and audio tapes by borrowing from the library.

F is for Fast Response
Not every emergency is the kind that requires a call to 9-1-1. These tips can help parents succeed as first responders in the car.

• Pack a training potty lined with a disposable plastic bag for those "Mommy, I need to go now!" moments.
• Bring a change of clothes for yourself, as well as the little one. Spit-up happens and you may be hit.
• Keep plenty of plastic bags, cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer handy.
• Store first-aid items in a container you can reach quickly.
• Check with your pediatrician about motion sickness preventatives if kids are prone to carsickness.

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