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Confused about car seats? Now there's help: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has just launched a new web site, safercar.gov/therightseat, as well as new public service announcements designed to help parents and caregivers make sure their kids are in the right car seats. (The site also offers videos, recall notifications and the NHTDA's ease-of-use ratings.)
Fortunately, the number of children who die in car crashes has dropped by almost half during the last decade, according to Safe Kids Worldwide, a nonprofit safety education organization based in Washington, D.C. But crashes are still the leading cause of death for children; nearly 5,000 young Americans (under age 21) die each year in car accidents.
Even though most parents know the safest place for their babies and children is in a back seat, figuring out which type of car seat is best, including when it’s safe to turn a baby from rear-facing to forward-facing, can be a challenge. "Parents look forward to moving their children from one stage to the next, so they do it at the earliest possible point," says Lorrie Walker, M.S., technical advisor and training manager for Safe Kids Worldwide, but that's not the best strategy.
Children’s health advocacy groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the NHTSA, are unanimous in their recommendation that children not "move up" to the next type of seat until they have fully outgrown the one they’re in. The bottom line? Children should ride rear-facing until at least age 2, ride in a forward-facing seat with a harness until they outgrow the seat, and then sit in a booster until they are at least 8 years old. However, keep in mind that age is used as a recommendation -- kids grow at different rates, and in each instance, the important factor is that a child reaches a seat's stated weight and height minimums or maximums. Here are some age-by-age guidelines to help you keep your kids safe.
From newborn to at least 2 years old: rear facing
Babies should stay in a rear-facing position until they are at least 2 years old (because the spinal cord gets stronger with age), but it's safer if they stay rear-facing for as long as possible, until they reach the seat's stated weight and height maximums (note: these days, there are convertible seats that will accommodate even larger babies in a rear-facing position). "In the rear-facing position, the spine and neck are more protected in the event of a crash," Walker says. Parents worry that the seat is unsafe if the baby’s feet can touch the vehicle seat, she explains, but that has no consequence. In a crash, the seat compresses around the baby, protecting her head, neck and spine. In the very unlikely event that her legs or feet are injured, the injuries would be much less serious than one affecting the head, neck or spine.
From approx 2 years until they outgrow the harness/seat: forward facing
Many newer forward-facing car seats accommodate children who weigh as much as 85 pounds. "We recommend that kids stay in a seat with a harness until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the manufacturer," Walker says.
School-aged kids up to 80 pounds: in a booster
When your child exceeds a car seat’s weight or height requirements, his shoulders are above the car seat’s top harness slots, or his ears are above the top of the car seat, it’s time to switch to a booster seat. Children are safely restrained in a booster until they weigh at least 80 and up to 100 pounds, and are between 8 and 12 years old. "Seat belts are designed to restrain people who are 4'9" tall and weigh at least 80 pounds," says Walker, "so kids need to be in boosters until then." If your older child is uncomfortable riding in a booster with a back and slots for the seatbelt, switch him to a backless booster so the seatbelt crosses his shoulders and lap in the proper position. Keep your child in the back seat until the age of 12.
