*Giveaway* Safety 1st Elite 80 3-in-1 Car Seat: Child Passenger Safety Week

Safety 1st's Elite 80 3-in-1 car seat

UPDATE: Congrats to Laura J, who won the Safety 1st Elite 80 3-in-1 car seat! I agree! The expiration date info is surprising and important. Please email me at losangelesstory@gmail.com with your shipping information. Thanks again to everyone who participated, and stay tuned for more giveaways!

As I mentioned in my last post, tomorrow marks the last day of the very important Child Passenger Safety Week.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Child Passenger Safety Week was launched to inform parents and caregivers of how to properly secure kids up to 12 years old in the best car-restraint system.

And I've got some pretty amazing news! Safety 1st, a leader in child-safety products, is sponsoring a giveaway for one lucky L.A. Story reader to win its Elite 80 3-in-1 car seat, which serves as a rear-facing, front-facing and booster seat for kids 5 lbs-100 lbs. (See below.)

Just now hitting store shelves, the Elite 80 converts as your child grows, and features the Air Protect cushion system, which protects your child's head while buckled in. The seat also features GCell HX patented foam to provide high-quality body protection.
Julie Vallese, Safety 1st Consumer Safety Expert, offers some great tips for car-seat safety:

Importance of Rear Facing

In March of 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their car seat recommendations, advising that children should remain rear facing until the age of 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight requirements allowed by their car seat. According to a study in the Journal of Injury Prevention, children under the age of 2 are 75% less likely to die or be severely injured in the event of a car crash if they are rear facing. When a child is rear facing, their head, neck and spine are better supported and, in the event of an accident, crash forces are distributed over the child’s entire body.

Installation

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, 75% of car seats are installed incorrectly.  Every car and car seat has different requirements for the safest installation, so before you get started it is important to read both the car seat and car manual. 

Typically the center rear seat is the safest place for a car seat, and never install a car seat in the front seat.  If your car does not have a latch connector for the middle seat, you can use the middle seat belt to properly secure the base.  When installing, make sure the base of the car seat moves no more than an inch from side to side. An easy way to test this is to hold at the belt path. 

Car Seat Expiration

Never use used or old car seats.  Car seats do have an expiration date, and it is to understand the risks associated with using an expired or old car seat.  The reason for an expiration date is because plastic can warp and materials can fray, which can make car seats less safe to use. Car seat technology and state and federal car seat regulations change. A car seat deemed safe more than 6 years ago may no longer meet federal testing regulations. Important warning labels may wear out, and instruction books may get lost, which can lead to improper use of the car seat.

*** GIVEAWAY ***

I'm giving away 1 Elite 80 3-in-1 Car Seat, courtesy of Safety 1st.

To enter, leave a comment below, telling me your best safety tip—or what car safety tip listed above most resonated with you.

For more chances to win, follow me on Twitter and retweet this giveaway. I'm at @la_story. Or you can "Like" the L.A. Story Facebook page and share the giveaway.

Just be sure to leave extra comments telling me you did so. 

Good luck, and I will announce the winner on Monday, Sept. 30!