Newsletter42-Car Seat Guidelines

Newsletter42-Car Seat Guidelines

Newsletter.jpgSpring, 2011
Volume 14 Number 1

New Car Seat Guidelines

At Partners in Pediatrics, when you ask for an opinion, we will often have one. These opinions are based on the most up-to-date scientific information we have available. So if our opinions change, it's for good reason.

And our opinions are often in flux, especially when it comes to childhood safety. When it comes to the well-being of your children, we want to be on the cutting edge.

Recently the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) modified its recommendations for child passenger safety in moving vehicles. Automobile crashes continue to be the leading cause of death for children ages four and older.

The newer recommendations include:

  • Toddlers should remain in a rear-facing car seat until age two, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat
  • Children ages two and older should remain in a forward-facing car safety seat with a shoulder harness for as long as possible, up to the maximum limits recommended by the manufacturer 
  • Children who have outgrown the limit of their forward-facing car seats should use a booster seat until the seat and lap belt of their vehicle fits properly. This is usually when they have reached four feet nine inches tall and are between eight and twelve years of age
  • When children are old enough and large enough to use a seat belt alone, they should always use lap and shoulder belts
  • All children under the age of 13 should be in restraints in the back seat of the car for optimal protection

These changes are based on new data. New studies have shown that there is a significantly reduced risk of death and injury rates of children who remain in rear-facing restraints until age four.

Some parents may be concerned that a child's legs may be uncomfortable in a rear-facing seat with the new guidelines. Studies have shown that this is usually not the case and that limb injuries are very rare in rear-facing seats.