New Child Seat Safety Recommmendations
The American Association of Pediatrics has updated child seat recommendations. If you haven't taken a look in the last few months, some things have changed. Get familiar with the new guidelines and please share with your friends who are parents and caregivers.
1. Rear facing baby seat until age two and a weight of at least 20 pounds. That is both of those, not one.
2. Forward facing toddler seat (five-point restraint belt) until age four and a weight of at least 40 pounds.
3. Make sure your child isn't above the height limit for that brand; you may need a different brand.
4. Drive your installed infant or toddler center (minus the child) to your local fire or police dept for a safety check.
Booster seats protect kids in two ways. First of all, they provide back and neck support in a crash. Even more importantly, they make the seat belt fit correctly so that the bones and organs inside the body are restrained. Here the issue is height and age.
1. Backless booster depends on the car, as well as the child:
- Car: has seat and/or head rest that is taller than your child
- Child: tall enough that (even when slouching) the shoulder strap of the seat belt hits her shoulder and never her neck or throat.
2. Out of a booster and into just a lap/shoulder seat belt:
- Lower age limit: eight years old and
- Height: when your child is 4 feet 9 inches tall.
3. Sitting in the front seat:
- Lower age limit: 13 years old and
- Height: At least 4 feet 9 inches tall.
