Car seats

Posted in: Car seats
Child Car Seat Safety Guidelines
By Elaine Byrne
Mar 4, 2008 - 3:37:46 PM

To begin with:

• Infants should always be placed in a rear facing car seat in the back seat of the car.  Preferably in the middle of back the back seat is the safest spot.  If driving a truck, then the passenger air bag should be turned off or the child should not be placed there.  Also, infants should be in a rear facing car seat until they way at least 20 pounds.  Keeping the child in a rear facing as long as possible is safest.
• Toddlers can be in an upright, front facing car seat.  However, they should still be placed in the back seat and in the middle whenever possible.  The same goes with toddlers in the front seat of a truck, the airbag should be turned off when they are seated there.  Upright car seats are when the child is at least a year old and ways over 20 pounds.
• School aged children can go into a booster.  Still in the middle of the back seat and not in the front seat, unless in a truck that the airbag can be turned off.  Children should stay be placed in the booster when the shoulder straps in an upright car seat no longer fits them.  Children that are 4'9" tall and between the ages of 8 and 12 can then be moved from the booster and into a regular seat belt.  Children should still be in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old.

Also, no child should ride in the front seat ever.  The front seats are not typically made to hold a child's car seat or booster seat.  So, the seat belts do not lock properly and the car seat does not fit correctly in the seat.  Keeping the child in the back seat as long as possible is safest in the event of an accident.

Each state will vary their laws depending on what their needs are.  Knowing what your state regulations are as well is important too.  Local police stations can help with car seat installation and making sure you know and understand what the state requires.  Your pediatricians office also will have information on the correct way to install a child in their car seat.

Lastly, make sure you check all the installation instructions that have come with your car seat.  Many car seats know come with the latch system, but not all cars that older are equipment for the latch system.  You can still install your car seat.  The instructions will have both ways of installing the car seat properly.  Always check the manual first to make sure you are placing the car seat correctly and that all belts and harness are adjusted right.