subject: Car Seat Safety Guide by:Michelle Vish [print this page] Car Seat Guide Car Seat Guide
Car Seat Safety rules includes laws regarding child safety in a manner that the child must be restrained depending on their age and weight. These regulations and standards are often minimums and that for each age level they graduate to the next kind of safety seat, there is a step down in the amount of protection a child has in a collision. There are many ways parents and caregivers can help to reduce the risk of injury and death to children who ride in vehicles.One of the most important jobs you have as a parent is keeping your child safe when riding in a vehicle. Each year thousands of young children are killed or injured in car crashes.
Proper use of car safety seats helps keep children safe. But with so many different car safety seats on the market, it's no wonder many parents find this overwhelming.
Infants
Rear Facing and Convertible Seats
All infants should always ride rear-facing until they are at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants should ride rear-facing starting with their first ride home from the hospital. They should remain 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.
Toddlers
Convertible or Forward Facing Seats
It is best to ride rear-facing as long as possible. Children 1 year of age and at least 20 pounds can ride forward-facing.
Once your child has reached the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of the seat for rear-facing, she can ride forward-facing in a convertible seat. However, it is best for her to ride rear-facing to the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of her car safety seat. She should ride in a forward-facing seat with a harness until she outgrows it (usually at around 4 years of age and about 40-65 pounds).
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). It is best for children to ride in a harnessed seat as long as possible, at least to 4 years of age.
Booster seats are designed to raise the child up so that the lap and shoulder seat belts fit properly. High-back and backless booster seats are available. They do not come with harness straps but are used with the lap and shoulder seat belts in your vehicle, the same way an adult rides. Booster seats should be used until your child can correctly fit in lap and shoulder seat belts. Booster seats typically include a plastic clip or guide to help ensure the correct use of the vehicle lap and shoulder belts.
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I am a mother of two wonderful children. I am constantly trying to find better ideas for my family. I have developed a website dedicated to a one stop shop for the busy mother.
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