08/22/2008
Parents and Care Givers receive Car Seat Safety Information from any number of sources. Unfortunately, the advice can often be conflicting and sometimes dangerous. Many well meaning sources are providing statements such as: “Children over 1 year old and weighing between 20 lbs and 40 lbs should ride in forward-facing car seats.”
This is neither correct, nor the best practice for child safety. While children may ride forward facing at one year and over twenty pounds, for safety reasons they should not do so. Rather, the best and safest practice is to ride rear facing for as long as possible. Children should ride rear facing up to the maximum weight that their car seat allows, or until their heads are within one inch of the top of the shell. This practice is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and has been the subject of a recent article: Henary B, Sherwood C., Crandall J, et al. Car Safety seats for children: rear facing for best protection. Inj. Prev. 2007; 13(6): 398-402.
The Injury Prevention article found that children under two are five times safer riding rear facing. The article prompted a Commentary in the Journal Pediatrics, asking Physicians to promote better decisions than one year and twenty pounds.
Another incorrect, but often heard statement is: “Children ages 4 to 8 weighing between 40 lbs and 80 lbs should ride in booster seats restrained with lap and shoulder belts. A regular safety belt won't fully protect a child this size in a crash.” While it is true that many children should be riding in boosters, the age and weight recommendations above are potentially mis-leading. The word “should” infers that this is the best practice. It is not. Indeed, children should ride in a five point harness for as long as possible. Asking a four year old (or less) to sit correctly every time in a booster is placing far too much responsibility on the four year old for his or her own safety.
Advice can be widely obtained. However, there is no reason to accept advice that fails to maximize the safety of your child.
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