Car Seat Safety

Additionally, car seats are not one size fits all. As they grow, children will require different car seats that are appropriate for their height, weight and age in order to ensure they are safe while in the vehicle. Providing children with appropriate car seats and following common-sense traffic safety precautions is an easy way to prevent these tragedies.

Experts agree that starting from birth, young children should be secured in rear-facing car seats. Rear-facing car seats are equipped with harnesses that, in the event of a crash, are designed to reduce stress on the neck and spinal cord.

Children grow at different rates. Some children will outgrow rear-facing car seats faster than others. Children typically outgrow rear-facing car seats between the ages of 2 and 4, but it is essential that children remain in these rear-facing seats until they reach the appropriate height and weight limit. This is the case even if the child begins to experience some leg crowding.

Rear-facing car seats should always be placed in the back seat of the vehicle, never in the front passenger seat. Parents with only one car seat in the vehicle should install the car seat in the middle of the back row if possible in the model of their vehicle.

Additionally, the National Highway and Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) has a car seat finder for parents who are unsure of how to choose the right car seat for their child’s needs.

When children outgrow their rear-facing car seats, they should then be placed in a forward-facing car seat. Forward-facing car seats are designed to cradle the child and stop their forward motion in the event of a crash

Some rear-facing car seats are convertible or “all-in-one” and can simply be turned around once the child reaches the appropriate size. Do not turn the rear-facing car seat around unless the manufacturer expressly permits it. Children typically remain in these seats until the age of 5, however, some seats can accommodate children who weigh up to 65 pounds.

Like rear-facing car seats, forward-facing car seats should always be in the backseat of the vehicle and in the middle seat if possible.

When the child outgrows their forward-facing car seat they should then be given a booster seat. Unlike rear and forward-facing car seats, booster seats utilize the vehicle’s seat belts.

When using booster seats, ensure that the lap belt lies across the child’s hips, touching their upper thighs, while the shoulder belt lies across their chest.

Booster seats should always be placed in the backseat of the vehicle. No child under the age of 13 should ever be permitted in the front passenger seat.

Booster seat usage in children between the ages of 4 and 7 is declining. Children and parents are faced with a similar social pressure surrounding child development. Children may feel self-conscious about using a booster seat while their peers do not, however it is vital that parents prioritize their safety.

Until the child is tall enough to wear the seat belt properly, they should remain in the booster seat, regardless of their age. The proper seat belt fit typically does not happen until the child reaches around 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

Only once the child is tall enough to wear the seat belt properly should they be permitted to go without the booster seat. The seat belt should lie across the child’s hips and chest. Never permit the child to wear the shoulder belt behind their neck or under their arms.

If they can’t wear the seat belt properly, they are not tall enough to solely rely on it for protection in the event of a crash. Do not use after-market seat belt adjusters to reposition the seatbelt for your child as they may not be safe.

Just because a child no longer needs a booster seat does not mean they should be permitted in the passenger seat. Until the age of at least 13, children should always remain in the back seat and in the center of the row if possible.

In order to ensure your child is safe in the vehicle, the car seat itself must be capable of protecting the child in the event of a crash. Do not use car seats that:

Using an inadequate car seat puts children at extremely high risk of injury in the event of a crash. Proper car seat usage greatly reduces the risk of death.

Car seats have many usages and should never be substituted for a vehicle-provided safety feature like airbags. Additionally, car seats can protect children both inside and outside personal vehicles.

While airbags are used to protect adults in the event of a crash, they should never be relied on as an alternative for car seats. Airbags deploy at the speed of roughly 200 miles an hour which could inflict serious injuries to the head and neck of a child.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends that all children below 40 pounds are restrained during takeoff, turbulence and landing to prevent injury. Most rear and forward-facing car seats are permitted on airplanes to secure children in flight.

Buses, trains, taxis and ride-share services pose similar threats to child safety and car seats protect children from injury there as well. Convertible car seats are typically large and heavy, making them difficult to transport and use on different forms of public transportation, which is something to consider when purchasing your child’s car seat. Parents who do not own a personal vehicle may be better off purchasing less heavy alternatives to convertible seats to avoid these concerns.