Researching information regarding safety for children, I came upon an article written by the American Academy of Pediatrics on car seats and wanted to share it with you.
All parents have the same worry when traveling with children – safety. What happens if I am in a car accident, will my child be safe? Every year we have accidents that injure or kill young children. It goes with out saying that the proper use and installation of child safety seats have helped keep children safe. Now, the question is, with so many safety seats being sold, which no doubt overwhelms most new parents, which seat is the right one for your child? The article helps with many questions a parent may have regarding safety seats.
The right safety seat for your child depends on several things like child’s size and type of car you have. Below is a quick guide produced by the American Academy of Pediatrics on the different types of car safety seats to help you start your search. But you still need to read more about the features and how to use your car safety seat.
| Age Group | Type of seat | General Guidelines |
|
Infants |
Infant seats and rear-facing convertible seats |
Infants should ride rear-facing until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer. At a minimum, children should ride rear-facing until they have reached at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. When children reach the highest weight or length allowed by the manufacturer of their infant-only seat, they should continue to ride rear-facing in a convertible seat.
|
|
Toddlers/preschoolers |
Convertible seats and forward-facing seats with harnesses |
It is best for children to ride rear-facing as long as possible to the highest weight and height allowed by the manufacturer of their convertible seat. When they have outgrown the seat rear-facing, they should use a forward-facing seat with a full harness as long as they fit.
|
|
School-aged children |
Booster seats |
Booster seats are for older children who have outgrown their forward-facing car safety seats. Children should stay in a booster seat until adult belts fit correctly (usually when a child reaches about 4′ 9″ in height and is between 8 and 12 years of age).
|
|
Older children |
Seat belts |
Children who have outgrown their booster seats should ride in a lap and shoulder seat belt in the back seat until 13 years of age.
|
If you have any questions about proper car seat installation, you can always swing by and I’d be more than happy to show you the right way to secure the seat and keep your child safe.
