Starting with a baby's very
first journey home from the hospital, parents are responsible for making sure
that their kids travel safely. Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death
in children, and more kids die in automobile crashes than in any other type of unintentional
injury.
Protect your kids by following simple safety measures and by teaching some basic
rules.
Importance of Child Safety Seats
Using a child safety
seat (car seat) is the best protection you can give your child when traveling
by car. Every state in the United States requires that an infant or small child be
restrained — and with good reason. Child safety seats can reduce the risk of
a potentially fatal injury substantially for babies in particular and also for toddlers.
But many safety seats are used incorrectly.
When choosing a car seat, keep some important guidelines in mind. The best car
seat is not always the most expensive one — it's the one that best fits a child's
weight, size, and age, as well as your vehicle.
Once you select a seat, be sure to try it out, keeping in mind that store displays
and illustrations might not show the correct usage. It's up to you to learn how to
install a car safety seat properly and harness your child for the ride.
If you need help installing your safety seat or would like a technician to check
whether you've installed it properly, the federal government has set up child seat
inspection stations across the country.
Also, many local health departments, public safety groups, hospitals, law enforcement
agencies, and fire departments have technicians or fitting stations to help parents.
(If you go to one of these, be sure to ask for a certified child passenger safety
technician to assist you.)
Guidelines for Choosing a Safety Seat
- Choose a seat with a label that states that it meets or exceeds Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard 213.
- Accept a used seat with caution. Never use a seat that's more than 6 years old
or one that was in a crash (even if it looks OK, it could be structurally unsound).
Avoid seats that are missing parts, are not labeled with the manufacture date and
model number (you'll have no way to know about recalls), or do not come with an instruction
manual. Also, check the seat for the manufacturer's recommended "expiration date."
If you have any doubts about a seat's history, or if it is cracked or shows signs
of wear and tear, don't use it.
- If you accept a used seat, call the manufacturer to find out how long they recommend
using the seat and if it was ever recalled. Recalls are quite common, and the manufacturer
may be able to provide you with a replacement part or new model.
Infant-Only Seats (Birth to 22-35 Pounds)
Infant-only seats fit newborns and smaller infants best, but you will have to buy
another seat as your baby outgrows it. Infant-only seats are designed to protect babies
from birth until they reach up to 35 pounds (about 16 kilograms), depending on the
model.
Infant car seats should always be installed to face the rear of the car because
in a crash the back of the safety seat cradles the baby's head, neck, and torso. The
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants and toddlers ride in
a rear-facing seat until they are 2 years old or until they have reached the maximum
weight and height limits recommended by the manufacturer.
Many parents have been turning the safety seat around to face the front when their
child reaches a weight of 20 pounds (9 kilograms) or 12 months of age, as previous
recommendations gave that age and weight as a minimum for front-facing car seats.
Yet recent studies show that a child under age 2 is 75% less likely to die or have
a serious injury when in a rear-facing seat. That's because at this age, a child's
neck usually isn't strong enough to support the head in the event of a crash.
So it's essential to follow the height and weight guidelines on the child safety
seat and keep your child in a seat that faces the rear as long as it's possible and
the seat still fits.
Infant-only safety seats are convenient because they're designed to double as carriers,
chairs, or rockers when not used in the car. Many models detach right from the base,
allowing you to leave the base installed in the car.
Try to limit the amount of time your infant spends in the car seat while you're
at home or while the baby is at childcare. Too much time in a car seat can limit a
baby's movement and opportunities for stimulation, which are important for developing
sensory and motor skills.
How to Install an Infant-Only Seat
Prior to installing your baby's infant-only seat, read the product manual thoroughly.
These tips can help with the installation:
- An infant-only seat should be placed in the back seat, ideally in the middle of
the back seat, but most important, in a position where it fits securely.
- Read the owner's manual for your vehicle to find out how to use its seatbelts
with a child safety seat.
- Use your knee to push down on the seat as you tighten the car's seatbelt through
the belt path. The car seat should not move more than 1 inch (3 centimeters) from
side to side or forward and backward at the belt path. If the seat wiggles or moves
on the belt path, the belt needs to be tighter.
- Some seatbelts may require a special locking clip designed specifically to keep
the belt from loosening. Locking clips are available from baby product stores, safety
seat manufacturers, and some car dealerships.
- Be sure to check the tightness of the safety seat before each use.
- Never use an infant-only seat in a forward-facing position.
- The car seat should recline at no more than a 45-degree angle.
How to harness your infant:
- Read the entire child safety seat manual.
- Your baby's head should be at least 2 inches (6 centimeters) below the top of
the safety seat.
- Infant-only seats are usually designed with a 3-point or 5-point harness. The
harness should always be placed in the slots and should always be at or below your
baby's shoulders. Most models have a chest clip that holds the harness straps together.
Move the clip so the top of it is level with your baby's armpits.
- All harness straps should fit snugly, especially over the shoulder and thigh areas.
Straps should always lie flat, never twisted. If you can pinch any harness webbing
between your fingers, it's too loose.
- Dress your baby in clothes that keep his or her legs free. This will allow you
to buckle the latch crotch strap properly between the legs. If it's cold outside,
harness your baby first and then cover him or her with a blanket (never cover your
baby's head). Never buckle a blanket under or behind the baby.
- If your baby slouches to one side in the seat (common among newborns), place rolled-up
cloth diapers or rolled hand towels on each side of the shoulders. There are supports
specially designed for car seats, but only use them if they came manufactured with
your safety seat. Never place any kind of padding or blanket under your baby —
this can affect the harness's ability to restrain your little one.
- If your baby's head flops forward (also common with newborns), check the angle
of the seat. Use a towel or blanket to tilt the seat back slightly (a 30- to 45-degree
angle is best).
Convertible Seats (Birth to 80 Pounds)
Convertible seats are designed to protect kids from birth up to at least 40 pounds
(18 kilograms) facing backward, and up to 65 pounds (30 kilograms) or even 80 pounds
(36 kilograms) facing forward, depending on the model.
Convertible seats are the only type of seats that are placed in different positions
depending on a child's age: They face toward the rear until a baby is ready to face
forward, when they can be turned around and "converted" to a forward-facing seat.
Weight ranges vary on convertible car seats, so it is important to consider a child's
height and weight before buying one. Convertible seats are heavy and not very portable.
Yet they can be economical because it may not be necessary to buy a separate infant-only
seat. It's also a good option for larger babies who outgrow their infant-only seat
and still need to be rear facing.
If using a convertible seat, make sure it fits your child correctly — a small
child in a large seat may not be the best option. Models with tray shields should
not be used for newborns — the shield comes up too high on them, and in a crash
the baby's face could hit the tray.
How to Install a Convertible Seat
- An infant or small toddler should be placed in the back seat — preferably
in the middle — and must be facing toward the rear of the vehicle until 2 years
of age or until reaching the maximum weight and height limits recommended by the seat's
manufacturer.
A child who reaches the height and weight limits before
age 2 is safest in a bigger convertible seat and kept rear facing. Kids who are small
can remain in rear-facing seats even after age 2. (Follow the manufacturer's guidelines
for when to turn the seat.)
- Read the owner's manual for your vehicle to find out how to use your car's seatbelts
or LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system with a child safety seat.
- Read the entire child safety seat manual. Be sure to check the recommended angle
of recline for the seat when it is forward facing and rear facing.
- Use your knee to push down on the seat as you tighten the car's seatbelt (lap-only
or lap/shoulder) or LATCH attachment belt through the child safety seat's belt path.
The seat should not move more than 1 inch (3 centimeters) side to side or forward
and backward on the belt path. If the seat wiggles or moves on the belt path, the
belt needs to be tighter.
- Some seatbelts may require a special locking clip designed specifically to keep
the belt from loosening. Locking clips are available from baby product stores, safety
seat manufacturers, and some car dealerships.
- Be sure to check the tightness of the safety seat before each use.
Harnessing infants and toddlers:
- Read the entire child safety seat manual.
- Shoulder straps should be threaded through the lowest harness slots to best protect
your baby. They should be at or below your baby's shoulders.
- Convertible seats usually have one of three harness options: the 5-point harness,
the tray shield, and the T-shield. The 5-point harness offers the best protection
for infants because it can tighten to fit snugly and does not obstruct the baby's
head. Both of the other harness options can cover a baby's face and are not recommended
for infants under 20 pounds (10 kilograms) or younger than 1 year old.
- All straps should fit snugly, especially over the shoulder and thigh areas. Straps
should always lie flat, never twisted. If you can pinch any harness webbing between
your fingers, it's too loose.
- Dress your baby in clothes that keep the legs free. This will allow you to buckle
the latch crotch strap properly between the baby's legs. If it is cold outside, harness
your baby first and then cover him or her with a blanket (but never cover your baby's
head). Never buckle a blanket under the seat straps.
- If your baby slouches to one side or the other in the seat (common among newborns),
place rolled-up cloth diapers or rolled hand towels on each side of the shoulders.
There are supports specially designed for car seats, but only use them if they came
manufactured with your safety seat. Never place any kind of padding or blanket under
your baby — this can affect the harness's ability to restrain your little one.
- If your baby's head flops forward (also common with newborns), check the angle
of the seat. Use a towel or blanket to tilt the seat back slightly (a 30- to 45-degree
angle is best).
- Be sure to readjust harness straps as your child grows. Heavy clothing (such as
a puffy winter coat) should always be placed over your child after being harnessed
in the seat. (A tip: After your child is harnessed in the seat, slip his or her coat
on backward for warmth.)
Forward-Facing Only Seats (20-80 pounds)
Forward-facing car seats are designed to protect children from 20 to 80 pounds
(about 10 to 36 kilograms) or more, depending on the model.
All kids 2 years or older, or those younger than 2 years who have outgrown the
rear-facing height or weight limit for their car seat, should use a forward-facing
car seat with a full harness for as long as possible. They should only switch to a
booster seat that relies on the car's adult seatbelts when they exceed the height
and weight limit for their forward-facing car seat.
Combination car seats are also available that allow you to remove the harness to
switch from forward-facing child safety seat to belt-positioning booster seat. Review
the forward-facing convertible seat for toddlers information mentioned earlier in
this article regarding proper installation of forward-facing car seats and harnessing
your child.
Built-in or integrated car seats can be found in some vehicles. As with other forward-facing
car safety seats, built-in seats are for kids 2 years of age and older. Some convert
to belt-positioning booster seats. Weight and height limits will vary so be sure to
check your owner's manual.
Booster Seats
Booster seats
are vehicle safety seats for kids who have outgrown forward-facing or convertible
car seats but are still too small to be properly restrained by a vehicle's seatbelts.
Many states have laws requiring booster seats for kids up to 8 years old and 80
pounds (36 kilograms), or 4 feet 9 inches (about 150 centimeters) tall. The AAP states
that kids should use a booster seat until the car's lap-and-shoulder belt fits properly,
which is typically when they've reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between
8 and 12 years old.
Guidelines for Choosing a Booster Seat
- Choose a seat with a label that states that it meets or exceeds Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard 213.
- Accept a used seat with caution. Never use a seat that's more than 6 years old
or one that was in a crash (even if it looks OK, it could be structurally unsound).
Avoid seats that are missing parts or are not labeled with the manufacture date and
model number (you'll have no way to know about recalls), or do not come with an instruction
manual. Also, check the seat for the manufacturer's recommended "expiration date." If
you have any doubts about a seat's history, or if it is cracked or shows signs of
wear and tear, don't use it.
- If you accept a used seat, contact the manufacturer for recommendations on how
long the seat can safely be used and to find out if it's ever been recalled. Recalls
are quite common, and the manufacturer might be able to provide you with a replacement
part or new model.
Types of Booster Seats
Booster seats come in many styles. Belt-positioning boosters raise kids to a height
where they can safely use the car's lap and shoulder belts. They come in high-back
or backless models: High-back boosters are recommended when the car has low seat backs,
and backless boosters may be used if a child's head is supported up to the top of
his or her ears by the vehicle's back seat or head support.
Combination seats can be used with harnesses as forward-facing safety seats or
as belt-positioning booster seats when harnesses are removed. Height and weight limits
for different combination seats may vary, so it's best to check the owner's manual
for guidance.
Shield boosters (with no back and a shield tray in front of the child) were originally
designed for cars with lap-only belts, but they do not provide adequate upper-body
protection and therefore are no longer recommended.
If your car doesn't have shoulder belts in the back seat, consider having them
installed by the dealer. If that's not possible, the AAP recommends keeping kids in
a convertible or forward-facing seat with a full harness and a higher weight limit.
Another option is a special type of travel vest that uses a tether and the lap belt
to hold the child securely in the seat.
How to Install a Booster Seat
- Prior to installing booster seat, read the entire product manual.
- Booster seats should be placed forward-facing in the back seat, ideally in the
middle of the back seat where there is a lap and shoulder belt.
- Read the owner's manual for your car to find out how to use your car's seatbelts
with a safety seat.
- Be sure to check the positioning of the safety seat before each use.
How to secure your child's seatbelt:
- Read the entire booster seat manual.
- Make sure the lap belt is low and tight across your child's hips.
- The shoulder belt should lay flat and snug across a child's shoulder, staying
clear of the neck and face.
- Shoulder and lap belts should always lie flat, never twisted.
Kids this age can begin to understand the importance of buckling up and may want
to buckle themselves in. Be sure to check their seatbelts and offer praise when they
voluntarily put them on.
When Kids Outgrow Booster Seats
Kids can stop using a booster seat when they're big enough to use the vehicle's
lap and shoulder seatbelts
while sitting with their back against the vehicle's seat back with their knees bent
over the edge of the seat without slouching. The lap belt should rest low, on top
of the thighs, and the shoulder belt should lie comfortably across the middle of the
chest.
Kids should be able to remain in this position throughout the entire trip. This
usually happens when a child reaches a height of 4 feet-9 inches (about 150 centimeters)
and is between 8 and 12 years old.
Remember, the shoulder strap of the seatbelt should never be fastened behind a
child's back or under his or her arm. And you should never buckle two kids (or an
adult and a child) under one seatbelt — a crash could cause their heads to collide.
If you frequently carpool or have other kids in your car, it's wise to have an
extra booster seat handy, especially if you're unsure about whether a child meets
the height requirements. It's always better to be safe than to let a child who isn't
tall enough ride with just a seatbelt.
Air Bags and Kids
When combined with safety belts, air bags protect adults and teens from injury
during a collision. They have saved lives and prevented many serious injuries. But
young children can be injured or even killed if they are riding in the front passenger
seat when an air bag opens.
Air bags were designed with adults in mind: They must open with great force (up
to 200 miles per hour) to protect an average-sized, 165-pound (75-kilogram) male from
injury. While this force is appropriate for adults and bigger kids, it can be dangerous
for small kids, possibly resulting in head and neck injuries.
Protect kids from air-bag injury by following these rules:
- Booster seats should be placed in the back seat. If you have no choice and must
place it in the front (that is, if your car is a two-seater), push the passenger seat
as far back as it will go.
- A law passed in 1995 allows car manufacturers to install a manual cut-off switch
that temporarily disables a passenger-side air bag. As recommended by National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, if you must place a child in a booster seat in the
front seat and your car has this cut-off switch, disable the air bag for the duration
of the ride. Be sure to switch the air bag back on when you remove the booster seat.
- All kids under 13 years of age should always ride in the back seat, and in the
middle of the back seat whenever possible. All passengers must have their seatbelts
buckled.
The LATCH System
Since September 2002, most new vehicles have safety seat anchorage points and most
safety seats have anchor attachments.
One of the problems with installing safety seats properly has been incompatibility
between the car seat and the vehicle. The Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)
system was devised to make installation easier because it does not require use of
the car's seatbelts.
Instead, a tether strap secures the top of the safety seat to an anchorage point
either on the rear shelf area, the rear floor, or the back of the rear seat of the
car, depending on the vehicle model. Lower anchors secure attachments on the bottom
of the safety seat to a point located between the car's seat cushion and seat back.
You should use LATCH only in seating positions recommended by both the vehicle
manufacturer and the car seat manufacturer. Never use both the seatbelt and LATCH
to install a car seat. Choose whichever method secures the car seat best.
Most forward-facing safety seats made after September 1999 are equipped with top
tether straps, and most vehicles made after September 2000 have tether anchors. Since
September 2002, most new vehicles also have lower safety seat anchorage points and
most safety seats have lower anchor attachments.
If your vehicle or safety seat was purchased after these dates and didn't come
with tethers or anchors, call the manufacturer.
Rules for the Car and School Bus
Most kids spend time in a car or on a school bus every day, and should be taught
simple rules for traveling in them to help ensure their safety.
Be sure to explain to your kids that these rules must be followed every time, no
matter who is driving or how short the ride may be.
Rules for the Car
- A seatbelt must be worn during every car trip. It should be fastened
before the car is even in motion and should be left on until the end of the trip.
- Use all seatbelts. Most cars have lap and shoulder belts that
buckle as a unit, but some have two separate belts, one lap and one shoulder. Some
have a lap belt only. Teach your kids to look for and secure every belt. Also teach
them not to tuck the belt under their armpit, even if they think it is more comfortable
that way.
- Never share seatbelts. It might seem like fun, but two kids should
never buckle up as a pair.
- Sit in the back seat. Kids under 13 years of age should always
ride in the back seat. This protects them from possible injury when a passenger-side
air bag deploys. Explain that air bags could seriously hurt a small child because
they are designed to protect a person with a much bigger body.
- Play it cool. Kids should understand the importance of staying
calm and low-key in the back seat. If they are jumping around or yelling, it can distract
the driver and put all the passengers at risk.
- Follow the rules in every car. Kids need to follow the rules
if they are in a friend's or relative's car, even if other passengers don't follow
the rules. If asked to sit in the front seat of someone else's car, your child should
politely decline the offer and tell the driver that he or she would prefer to sit
in the back seat.
Rules for the Bus
- Wait for the bus away from the street. Kids should get in a line
that starts about 6 feet (2 meters) from the curb and goes away from the street rather
than down the side.
- Wait for the OK. Kids must wait until the bus driver opens the
door and says that it's OK to step on. They should not step into the road even a moment
sooner.
- Be careful getting on the bus. This is especially important for
older kids who may carry bags and backpacks that can get caught in a door or around
a seat.
- Wear seatbelts if possible. Some school buses are outfitted with
seatbelts. They should be buckled before the bus leaves and left on until the bus
arrives at its destination.
- Play it cool. Make sure kids understand the importance of staying
in their seats while the bus is moving. Running or climbing around the bus can distract
the driver and be dangerous to other kids.
- Be careful getting off the bus. When exiting the bus, kids should
hold onto the handrail and step down slowly. Once off the bus, they must walk in front
of it, never behind it.
- Stay in front. When they walk in front of the bus, kids should
walk on the sidewalk next to the bus for at least 10 feet (about 3 meters), make sure
the bus driver acknowledges them, and then cross the street.
- Don't disappear. A child who drops something while crossing in
front of a bus should never bend over to pick it up. This makes the child invisible
to the driver. Instead, teach kids to tell the bus driver if they drop something.
Date reviewed: September 2014