Car Seats...Umm, What Are the Rules Again?
Car crashes are the leading cause of death for kids over age 2 in America. Here are the latest recommendations to keep your children safe on the road.
| For Kids Up to at Least | Use Restraint | Hints |
|---|
| Infant/Toodler | 1 year and 20 pounds | Rear-facing car seat | Many seats can accommodate children up to 30-35 pounds. Since this is the safest position, check the instructions and use the seat as long as possible. |
| Toodler/Preschool | 4 years and 40 pounds | Forward-facing car seat | Some models can seat children up to 50-65 pounds. The longer kids stay in a five-point harness, the safer they are. Check the instructions and use the seat as long as possible. |
| School-age | 8 years and 4'9" | Booster seat | Many boosters are now approved up to 100 pounds. Check how the child fits in a booster in each car. A seat belt may be fine for the compact car, but a booster might be needed in the minivan. See "Booster Basics." |
| 12years | Booster or seat belt |
** Please note that all recommendations are for back seat riding.
Booster Basics
Does your child still need a booster seat? Take this 5-step test.
- Have child sit with back straight against the vehicle's seat back.
- Do his/her knees bend over the seat's edge?
- Does the lap belt stay low on top of the child's thighs?
- Does the shoulder belt cross the center of the chest?
- Can the child sit that way the entire trip?
"Yes" to all questions means your child can safely wear a seat belt.
"No" to any question means your child should remain in a booster seat.
Consider a high-back booster for younger kids. They can lean on the sides if they fall asleep. These are also safer in cars with side-impact air bags. No-back boosters are a good option for older kids and are easy to transport, especially for carpooling.
If children complain that friends don't use booster seats, firmly explain the house rules. Help them understand this is not to make life difficult, but to help save their lives. Research shows that kids in booster seats are 59 percent less likely to be hurt in a car crash than kids in a seat belt.
Don't Forget
- For proper fit of a rear-facing seat, the child's head needs to be 1" below the top rim of the car seat. It's OK if the child's knees are bent or feet touch the vehicle's seat back.
- Shoulder straps should be at or below the child's shoulders in a rear-facing seat, and at or above the shoulders in a forward-facing seat.
- When installing car seats, use the LATCH system or a seat belt to secure the car seat, not both.
Make Safety a Habit
- Check car seat instructions every time you move children from one seat to another, change seating positions or switch cars.
- Lost your instructions? Visit the manufacturer's web site or call for a replacement.
- Buckle the booster seat in when the child's not using it. An unsecured booster could act as a projectile in a crash.
