Safety Seats for Children

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for young children. Thousands of children are injured each year because they were not in child safety seats or because the safety seats were not put in correctly. To protect your child, you need to make sure that you are using the right type of car seat and that it is installed correctly.

Never use a car seat that has been in an accident. Do not buy a car seat that is more than 5 years old. Many hospitals and health plans have car seat lending programs if you are unable to buy a seat for your child. Read the instruction manual for the safety seat and the owner's manual for your car. Some rear car seats are too deep and safety belts are too close together to be able to install a safety seat securely. Many cars need special devices such as a tether strap, locking clip, attaching belt, or extra belt for a tight fit. Cars made after 2002 may come with a Latch system to attach a car seat safely and easily without using the seat belt.

The back seat of the car is the safest place for a child to ride. The safest place in most cars for child safety seats is the center of the back seat. Never put safety seats in the front seat with an air bag system. Air bags that inflate in an accident can kill or badly injure a child in a car seat. All children under the age of 13 should ride in the back seat of the car.

All infant-only car seats must face the rear of the car and be in a semi-reclined position until the baby is at least one year old and weighs at least 20 pounds. Rear-facing car seats support the babies head and neck in case of an accident. Some rear-facing seats are for babies up to 35 pounds. Very small infants or infants with certain health problems may need a special car safety bed or infant seat.

Most forward facing seats are for children who weigh between 20 and 40 pounds. When your child has reached 40 pounds and is over 40 inches tall, he should be ready for a booster seat. Another way to judge when children are ready for a booster seat is when their shoulders have reached above the harness slots or their ears have reached the top of their forward facing seat. Check the height and weight limits of the booster seat before you buy.

Booster seats are typically used until your child is at least 8 years of age or 4 feet 9 inches tall. A booster seat should use your car's lap and shoulder belts. Booster seats without a back can be used in cars with built in head rests. Use high-back booster seats if your car does not have built-in head rests.

When your child weighs over 80 pounds, or is at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, he is probably ready to sit in the car using a regular seat belt and without the booster seat.

When a child uses an adult seat belt, they must not put the shoulder strap behind them or under their arm. The lap belt should fit snugly, and low over the thighs. The shoulder belt should fit snugly across the middle of the chest to avoid injury in an accident. Keep the belt away from the child's neck and throat.

When used correctly, safety seats reduce the risk of injury and death for infants and for children.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File main4674.htm Release 13/2010