Car Seat Safety for Kids
- Infants under one year need to ride rear-facing in a safely installed car seat. Depending up on the size of the child, this car seat may be a removable infant bucket seat or a convertible car seat that stays in the car.
Infant bucket seats can be removed from the car and carried for convenience when the baby falls asleep. Too much time spent in an infant seat is not healthy for babies so this time should be monitored and kept to a minimum. The convertible seat can rear-face to one weight and turn to forward-face after that weight is reached. Most toddlers outgrow the rear-facing component by height first. The toddler is too tall to rear-face when he has only one inch of seat above his head. Check this measurement as the child grows. The seat should be installed in the car and the measurement taken as the child would normally ride.
It is important to keep a toddler rear-facing as long as possible. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children should remain rear-facing until reaching the height or weight limits of the seat. The minimum age and weight for turning a child forward-facing is one year and 20 pounds. The AAP recommends keeping a child rear-facing well past this point whenever possible. Rear-facing is five times safer than forward-facing. Many seats rear-face to 35 pounds and newer seats rear-face even longer. Check with the manufacturer to determine the weight limits for each seat. - Forward-facing car seats offer protection for older toddlers and preschoolers. These seats come in a wide range of functionality and it is important for parents to research and find the seat that best fits their needs. Some seats are convertible seats, meaning that they rear-face to one weight and can then be turned around to forward-face to another designated weight.
Other seats are called combination seats. These seats start out forward-facing. After the child has outgrown the harnessing capabilities, the harness can be removed and the seat can be used as a belt-positioning booster seat to another weight.
Some car seats only forward-face. They do not rear-face and they do not become belt-positioning boosters. These seats typically harness past 65 pounds, which keeps older children harnessed longer. Harnessed seats are safer than booster seats just as rear-facing is safer than forward-facing. - A child is ready to move to a booster seat when he or she outgrows his or her forward-facing harnessed seat. Outgrowing these seats means that the top of the child's ears are even with the top of the seat back, or the child has met the height or weight limits or the child's shoulders are above the top strap slot of the harness. If the child meets any of this criteria then he or she needs to move to a booster seat.
The two kinds of booster seats are backless boosters and high-backed boosters. Both perform the same function. They lift a child up and position the child correctly to fit the adult seat belt. Children in a booster seat need to be able to sit without slumping. Booster seats can only be used with a lap and shoulder belt combination. They are not effective when used with a lap belt only. Booster seats are not approved for air travel.
Child booster seat laws vary from state to state. In general, children under 4-feet-9-inches tall need to ride in a harness or a booster seat. - Adult seat belts are made to fit people over 4-feet-9-inches inches tall. Because of this, most children between the ages of 8 and 12 will need booster seats. To determine whether or not a child is ready for an adult safety belt use this five-step test: Can the child sit all the way back against the regular seat? Can the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat, preferably at a 90 degree angle? Does the lap belt touch the top of the child's thighs and not the tummy? Is the shoulder belt positioned across the chest and not riding up toward the neck? Is the child able to stay seated in this position for the whole trip?
If all of the answers are 'yes' then a child is probably ready for an adult safety belt. Since vehicles vary in shape and size, it is important to test the child in each vehicle.
Each step from one kind of seat to the next is a step down in safety. Don't rush these milestones. Consider the options carefully and ask questions when needed. Call car seat manufacturers, local police or fire departments and kids' safety organizations such as Safe Kids USA for the most up-to-date information and to find local car seat safety checks. These checks will help to educate and ensure proper use of seats.
