Understanding Child Car Seats
Understanding Child Car Seats
Importance of Using Child Car Seats
Infant and child car safety seats are lifesavers. Without a car seat, a child can suffer serious injury or even death in a crash or sudden stop—even at low speeds. In a collision, a parent’s arms alone cannot hold and protect a baby. Many unrestrained children are fatally injured because they are thrown from an adult’s arms during a crash.
Ensure your child is securely fastened in a car seat on every car ride. Confirm that the car seat is correctly installed and complies with current safety standards. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and instructions for proper use. Visit www.iihs.org/topics/seat-belts/seat-belt-law-table to check your state’s child car seat laws.
Age-Based Car Seat Guidelines
These guidelines are provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Ages 0 to 12 months:Children under age 1 should ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are various types of rear-facing seats: infant-only seats, which are designed solely for rear-facing use, and convertible or 3-in-1 seats, which typically support higher height and weight limits. This lets you keep your child rear-facing longer without needing a new seat. All these seats come with harnesses to secure the child in place.
Ages 1 to 3 years:Keep your child rear-facing in a convertible or 3-in-1 car seat for as long as possible, as this provides the highest level of safety. Use the rear-facing seat until your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit set by the car seat manufacturer. Once they outgrow this limit, they are ready to transition to a forward-facing car seat.
Ages 4 to 7 years: Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat until they reach the maximum height or weight limit specified by the car seat manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing seat, they can begin using a booster seat, which should still be placed in the back seat. Secure the booster seat using the seat belt.
Ages 8 to 12 years: Keep your child in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit properly in a seat belt. For a correct fit, the lap belt should rest snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach, and the shoulder belt should sit comfortably across the shoulder and chest, without crossing the neck or face. The back seat is still the safest place for your child to ride.
Additional Safety Information
The safest place for your baby or child is in the center of the back seat, in the appropriate car or booster seat.
Never place your child’s car seat in the front seat of any vehicle.
Position your infant’s car seat at an angle that prevents their head from falling forward.
If your child needs attention while driving, pull over and stop the car. Address your child’s needs before continuing. Never allow your child to leave their seat while the car is in motion.
Follow-up care is essential for your child’s treatment and safety. Make sure to attend all scheduled appointments and contact your doctor if your child experiences any issues. It’s also helpful to keep track of your child’s test results and maintain a list of the medications they are taking.
