Tethers, harness system, infant-only, convertible, rear-facing, forward-facing, booster seat. The world of car seats for children may seem overwhelming for parents when there are so many makes, models and options available. Ultimately, the type of car seat your child needs will be determined by several factors, including your child’s age, size and type of vehicle you drive.
“Car seats help keep your baby safe and secure when traveling and they can provide life-saving protection in case of an automobile accident,” says Brooks Anderson, M.D., pediatrician and internal medicine physician on the medical staff at Houston Northwest Medical Center. “Always put your child in a car seat, beginning with your ride home from the hospital. It is important to remember that it is never safe to hold your baby on your lap while driving or not strap the baby in a car seat, even for short distances.” Dr. Anderson offers a few more pointers about car seat safety for children of all ages.
Infants need to ride in rear-facing car seats until they are at least one year old AND weigh at least 20 pounds. Rear-facing car seats should always be placed in the back seat of the car. Babies can ride in either an infant-only seat, which is designed for rear-facing use only, or a convertible seat, which can be turned to face forward when your child is over one year old and weighs more than 20 pounds. A properly installed car seat should be snug and not move more than one inch forward or sideways. Follow manufacturer’s instructions to make sure the seat is positioned at the proper angle so your baby’s head does not tilt forward.
Toddlers and preschoolers ride in a forward-facing seat with a harness until they outgrow it, usually around age four and about 40 to 80 pounds. For convertible seats that have been turned from rear-facing to forward-facing, shoulder straps for the harness should be moved to the slots that are at or above your child’s shoulders. Ensure that the seat belt runs through the forward-facing belt path. For vehicles with built-in seats, read the owner’s manual about how to use these seats because weight and height limits vary.
School-aged children can ride with a booster seat after they have outgrown their forward-facing car seats. Booster seats help raise the child up so the lap belt lies low and snug across the child’s upper thighs and the shoulder belt crosses the middle of the child’s chest and shoulder. Booster seats are generally for children up to about 80 pounds and should not be used with only a lap belt. High-back boosters are recommended for vehicles that do not have head rests or have low seat backs. Children stay in booster seats until they reach 4’ 9” (generally between eight and 12 years old) and adult seat belts fit correctly. Children should ride using lap and shoulder belts in the back seat until they are 13 years old.
“If you borrow a car seat, or buy a used one, check it out first before using it,” advises Dr. Anderson. “Make sure it does not have any visible cracks, has not been recalled, is not more than five years old, has not been in a moderate or severe accident, and has the instruction manual, manufacture date and model number.”
For information about how to properly install child safety seats, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.