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Ask Dr. Manfroy

What is the most important thing I can do to help keep my children safe?

Riding Safely at Every Age: Four Steps for Restraint

  • Infants
    Ride in the back seat in a rear-facing car seat, at least until 20 pounds and 1 year of age. It's safest to keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible. Do not put a rear-facing car seat in the front of a vehicle with an active passenger air bag.
  • Over 1 year old and between 20 – 40 pounds
    Ride in the back seat in a forward-facing car seat.
  • Ages 4 to 8 years unless the child is 4'9" or taller
    Ride in the back seat in a booster seat restrained with lap and shoulder belts. These are designed to raise your child so that the
    lap and shoulder belts fit properly.
  • Ages 8 and older or taller than 4'9"
    Ride in the back seat using BOTH lap and shoulder belt until at least age 13.
Car seats keep your child safe.

We experience such joy watching our children grow, learn, play and laugh. Unfortunately, unwelcome events in our children's lives can temper our happiness. Every day we hear about such terrifying possibilities as serious infections, cancer and abduction that are beyond our control. But the most frequent cause of tragedy in our children's lives may actually be the most preventable: motor vehicle collisions (MVC).

MVCs claim more children's lives each year than any other cause. They also account for hundreds of thousands of injuries. Damage can extend far beyond the physical wounds. One study showed upwards of 25 percent of children who suffered MVC injuries were later diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Despite proven ways to make automobile travel safer for our kids, nearly 15 percent of children ride completely unrestrained!

Properly restraining your child in a motor vehicle is statistically the most important thing you can do to ensure their well-being. Car seats are extremely effective, reducing the risk of death in MVCs by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for children ages 1 to 4. The use of belt-positioning booster seats lowers the risk of injury to older children by 59 percent, compared to the use of adult seat belts.

Here are some simple rules to follow to assure a safe ride for your child:

  • It pays to be a good role model.
    In a recent study, nearly 40 percent of children riding with unbelted drivers were completely unrestrained, compared with only 5 percent of children riding with belted drivers.
  • Have your car seat checked by an expert.
    Although 96 percent of parents believe they install and use their car seats correctly, nearly 73 percent of car seats are misused. During the year, the Trauma Services Department at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and local fire departments offer free car seat safety inspections throughout the community.
  • Put kids in the back.
    Children should always ride restrained in the back seat.
  • Seat belts are not just for the highway.
    75 percent of MVCs occur within 25 miles of home, and 60 percent occur on roads with posted speed limits of 40 mph or less.

Pierre Manfroy, MD, is a local pediatrician with Northeast Pediatrics, serving as an editorial consultant for Young and Healthy.

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