Motor vehicle crashes may be unpredictable and unfortunately in the U.S. these types of accidents are the leading cause of death among children.
If you have babies or children in the car you must make sure to take ACTION and reduce the risk of injuries if an accident does occur. Parents and caregivers are both responsible for the safety of babies and children when they are in the road in a vehicle.
Being prepared and taking ACTION involves knowing and using the appropriate safety measures for car seats.
It is the parents and caregivers responsibility to make sure child passengers are properly secured in age and size appropriate car seats, booster seats, and seat belts.
Don’t question whether a car seat, booster seat, or seat belt can save the life of babies and children.
Take a look at the following information:
- In car crashes car seats reduce risk of death by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers.
- For children 4 to 8 years booster seats can reduce risk of serious injury by 45%.
- Within the last 40 years the lives of about 10, 500 children ages 4 and younger have been saved by proper use of child restraints.
These numbers should be taken seriously. Take ACTION and make sure your child passengers are properly secured in your vehicle.
Note: All children younger than 13 years should ride in the back seat with age and size appropriate car seat, booster, seat, or seat belt.
Warning: Never place a rear facing car seat in front of an air bag or in the front seat. Air bags and young children are a deadly combination. Keep young children from riding in the front seat.
Tips for Air Bag Safety
- Never put an infant in the front seat of a van, truck, SUV, or car. All children need to be properly secured in car safety seats, booster seat, or seat belt correct for their size and age.
- Air bag on/off switches may not be necessary.
Caution: Air bags that are turned off provide no protection when older children or adults ride in the front seat.
Children may be at risk for serious injury if seating near a side air bag and not properly restrained.
Note: Side air bags do improve safety during side impact crashes. Just be aware to risk for younger children.
Do not drive with more children that can safety be in the back seat. Each child should be in an age and size appropriate safety restraint such as car seat, booster seat, or seat belt.
Which child restraint is appropriate for child based on age, height, and weight?
From birth to age 2: Use a rear-facing car seat. Check car seat owner’s manual for specific weight and height limits. Provide protection to your infant placing in rear-facing car seat in the back seat.
From age 2 to 5: Use forward-facing car seat. When your child outgrows his or her rear-facing car seat you should place in a forward-facing car seat.
Always check seat’s owner’s manual for weight and height limits of car seat.
From age 5 and up, and until seat belt fits properly: Use booster seat. For the best protection continue to keep child buckled in the back seat. Child should be in a belt-positioning booster seat.
Typically children would have reached a height of 4 feet 9 inches and are between 8-12 years of age will transition to using a seat belt.
Remember: Children younger than 13 should continue to ride in the back seat for the best protection.
When child fits properly in seat belt: Child has outgrown booster seat. How to determine whether seat fit fits properly?
- The lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not the stomach).
- The shoulder belt lays across the chest (not cross the neck or face).
- Recommended height for proper seat belt fit is 4 feet 9 inches (57 inches).
Common concerns and questions about rear-facing seat, front-facing seats booster seats, and seat belts:
Rear-Facing Seats
What to do if baby’s feet touch the vehicle seat?
Child can bend legs easily with comfort. No worries about leg injuries. Concern should be if child’s head comes near top of car seat. If child has outgrown rear-facing seat consider if she or he is ready for front-facing seat.
What to do if baby slouches to the side or down in the car seat?
A small blanket may be placed between the crotch strap and infant. Blanket rolls may be placed on both sides of infant.
Caution: Never place padding behind or under infant or use car seat inserts unless already part of car seat. Extra padding can leave straps loose which increases risk of injury.
How to secure a newborn in a safety seat?
Will need to use a rear-facing car seat reclined about halfway back. Safer location to place car seat will be in the center rear seat.
Is it safe to put child in front seat of pickup truck?
Generally, most pickup trucks will have back seats that are too small to properly secure a car seat.
In compact extended-cab pickup trucks there is an increased risk of injury sitting in the back seat compared to other vehicles.
If you must place child in safety seat in front make sure the air bag is turned off. For double door trucks follow instructions to install car seat in the back seat.
Note: Remember to turn on air bag switch or sensor once car seat is no longer used in front seat.
Tip: When buying a car seat you may want to consider convertible seats or 3-in-1 seats.
Forward-Facing Seats
If driving more children than can be safely buckled in back seat?
Try to plan ahead and try to avoid these situations especially since most vehicles have air bags in the front seat.
Children younger than 13 should be in the back seat. Riding in the front seat increases risk of injury.
Caution: It is not safe for two children to share one safety belt. One person per safety belt.
How do I securely install a safety seat?
Carefully read the instructions of the car seat and follow the steps to properly install the seat.
Some things to consider:
- Compress the car seat cushion by pushing down on the car seat.
- Remove items by the LATCH strap or seat belt.
- When using seat belt make sure it is locked to prevent loosening.
Should child use a car seat on an airplane?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends to secure a child in a child restraint system (CRS) based on the child’s weight.
Car seat should have the following label: “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.”
Use airplane seat belt for older children and those who weight more than 40 pounds.
Resource: Childproof your Flight
Booster Seats
What is the difference between backless and high-back booster seats?
Both are designed to reduce the risk of injury in a car crash. Both types raise child so seat belts fit properly.
Backless booster seats are usually used in vehicles with high seat backs and head rests.
High-back booster seats are generally used for vehicles without head rests or low seat backs.
If vehicle only has lap belts in the back seat?
Never use booster seats with only lap belts available. Consider using a forward-facing car seat with higher weight limits and has a harness.
Seat Belts
Is it safe to use products that make seat belt fit better?
Never use these products. These products can interfere with proper seat belt fit and can make belt loose.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend their use. Also, these products are not approved by federal safety standards.
8 out of 10 Parents or Caregivers Aren’t Securing Child Correctly in Car.
Consider the following car safety tips:
- The safest place for a car seat is in the backseat and in the center.
- Use the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system if your vehicle has one. System is usually found in all new vehicles since 2002 and is designed to make car seat installation safer and easier.
- If baby is having a crying fit never take her out of car seat to avoid distracting driver or to comfort her. If you must take baby out make sure driver can safely pull over and then take baby from car seat.
- The right time to switch to a booster seat is when child outgrows the weight limit of her front-facing car seat.
- Child is ready to give up booster seat when he securely fits an adult seat belt at around 4 feet 9 inches tall.
- Even if you turn off air bags in vehicle, a 10 year old child should not sit in the front seat. Children 13 an under should sit in the back seat.
When it comes to child safety in the car make sure to take ACTION and properly secure child with the appropriate age and size car seat, booster seat, or seat belts.
