Car Seat Safety
One of the biggest considerations parents have when traveling with children is car seat safety. There is more information and conflicting opinions on this subject than on any other. With car accidents being the number one killer of children in the U.S. between the ages of one and 14 we thought it was important to give you the correct information. So we talked to a couple of certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians, here is what we found out.
There are three basic stages in the progression from infant seat to seat belt, and three main types of seat you will need to use. All children should be kept in the back seat until they are 12 years old.
Rear-facing - infant seat and convertible seats
This is the first stage, most of us are familiar with the rear facing infant seats but fewer realize that once children have outgrown the infant seat they can continue to rear face in a convertible. Legally in EVERY STATE children MUST be kept rear facing until they are 1 year old or 20lbs. This is considered the minimum recommendation. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that children are kept rear facing to two years old and 30lbs or until they have reached the weight limit of their seat. In the U.S. most car seat will comfortable rear face a toddler to 35lbs. When children are rear facing the harness straps must be below their shoulders. The harness should ALWAYS be snug against the child's body - you should not be able to pinch the harness at the collar bone.
Children are 5 times safer when rear facing because the car seat cradles their vulnerable head and neck preventing it from being thrown forward in an accident - which can result in fatal injuries. In many European countries children are kept rear facing to five years old and the number of children killed and injured in car accidents is greatly reduced.
Forward Facing Harness - convertible and high weight harness seats
Once your little one is too big to rear face it's time to turn them forward facing. Remember to change their strap position so that it is now at or above the shoulder and once again remember the straps should be snug against your child's body. If your vehicle has a top tether you should also now install your seat using the top tether - by having your seat tethered your child's forward head movement is deceased by approximately 4" in an accident. When you install your seat you should not be able to move it more than 1" in any direction. The harness has been outgrown when your child exceeds the weight limit, the top of their ears are above the top of the seat or when their shoulders are above the top harness slot.
It is important to keep children in a five point harness until they are old enough to sit safely in a booster; usually around 5 or 6 years old. When children are placed in boosters too young the seat belt does not fit them properly and they are at risk of submarining under the belt or receiving internal injuries from the seat belt. Problems with the seat belt not fitting properly are only aggravated because young children have a habit of slouching, falling asleep, or removing the shoulder strap because it's uncomfortable.
Booster seats - high and low back booster seats
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under eight years of age and 4' 9" should be restrained in a child seat or booster seat. Booster seats are designed to lift your child and position the belt to fit your child safely. Vehicle seat belts are designed for adults not young children. The seat belt should lie flat across your child upper thighs and not sit on the stomach or cut into the child stomach. The shoulder belt should lie across the middle of the child's shoulder; it should not be falling off or digging into the neck. This is proven to be the most effective position for a seatbelt in an accident.
The minimum recommendation for moving your child to a booster is four years old and 40lbs, although right now most states don't have a specific law regarding this. Before you move your child into a booster you should be confident that your child can sit properly and leave the seat belt alone on every single ride.
Important things to remember with booster seats - is NEVER use one with a lap belt only. This is never safe. The other important thing to take into consideration is that high back boosters provide extra side protection. You should also always have a head rest behind your booster seat to provide head support that would otherwise be missing. Your child is ready to move out of a booster and into a seatbelt when they can pass the five step test laid out here at CarSeat.org
Finally
Remember the best seat for you is the one that fits your child, car and budget. Always check the laws of where you are traveling too as different countries and states have different laws and requirements. Too check the laws across the U.S. click here. Before you travel have your seats checked by a Child Passenger Safety Technician to make sure they are installed correctly, you can find a local CPS technician or car seat check event at SafeKids.org
Happy and safe traveling.
One of the biggest considerations parents have when traveling with children is car seat safety. There is more information and conflicting opinions on this subject than on any other. With car accidents being the number one killer of children in the U.S. between the ages of one and 14 we thought it was important to give you the correct information. So we talked to a couple of certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians, here is what we found out.
There are three basic stages in the progression from infant seat to seat belt, and three main types of seat you will need to use. All children should be kept in the back seat until they are 12 years old.
Rear-facing - infant seat and convertible seats
This is the first stage, most of us are familiar with the rear facing infant seats but fewer realize that once children have outgrown the infant seat they can continue to rear face in a convertible. Legally in EVERY STATE children MUST be kept rear facing until they are 1 year old or 20lbs. This is considered the minimum recommendation. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that children are kept rear facing to two years old and 30lbs or until they have reached the weight limit of their seat. In the U.S. most car seat will comfortable rear face a toddler to 35lbs. When children are rear facing the harness straps must be below their shoulders. The harness should ALWAYS be snug against the child's body - you should not be able to pinch the harness at the collar bone.
Children are 5 times safer when rear facing because the car seat cradles their vulnerable head and neck preventing it from being thrown forward in an accident - which can result in fatal injuries. In many European countries children are kept rear facing to five years old and the number of children killed and injured in car accidents is greatly reduced.
Forward Facing Harness - convertible and high weight harness seatsOnce your little one is too big to rear face it's time to turn them forward facing. Remember to change their strap position so that it is now at or above the shoulder and once again remember the straps should be snug against your child's body. If your vehicle has a top tether you should also now install your seat using the top tether - by having your seat tethered your child's forward head movement is deceased by approximately 4" in an accident. When you install your seat you should not be able to move it more than 1" in any direction. The harness has been outgrown when your child exceeds the weight limit, the top of their ears are above the top of the seat or when their shoulders are above the top harness slot.
It is important to keep children in a five point harness until they are old enough to sit safely in a booster; usually around 5 or 6 years old. When children are placed in boosters too young the seat belt does not fit them properly and they are at risk of submarining under the belt or receiving internal injuries from the seat belt. Problems with the seat belt not fitting properly are only aggravated because young children have a habit of slouching, falling asleep, or removing the shoulder strap because it's uncomfortable.
Booster seats - high and low back booster seats
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under eight years of age and 4' 9" should be restrained in a child seat or booster seat. Booster seats are designed to lift your child and position the belt to fit your child safely. Vehicle seat belts are designed for adults not young children. The seat belt should lie flat across your child upper thighs and not sit on the stomach or cut into the child stomach. The shoulder belt should lie across the middle of the child's shoulder; it should not be falling off or digging into the neck. This is proven to be the most effective position for a seatbelt in an accident.
The minimum recommendation for moving your child to a booster is four years old and 40lbs, although right now most states don't have a specific law regarding this. Before you move your child into a booster you should be confident that your child can sit properly and leave the seat belt alone on every single ride.
Important things to remember with booster seats - is NEVER use one with a lap belt only. This is never safe. The other important thing to take into consideration is that high back boosters provide extra side protection. You should also always have a head rest behind your booster seat to provide head support that would otherwise be missing. Your child is ready to move out of a booster and into a seatbelt when they can pass the five step test laid out here at CarSeat.org
Finally
Remember the best seat for you is the one that fits your child, car and budget. Always check the laws of where you are traveling too as different countries and states have different laws and requirements. Too check the laws across the U.S. click here. Before you travel have your seats checked by a Child Passenger Safety Technician to make sure they are installed correctly, you can find a local CPS technician or car seat check event at SafeKids.org
Happy and safe traveling.