Which car seat is the safest for my child? When should I turn the seat to face forward? When can my child use just the seat belt? These are a few common questions many parents have. According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, four out of five car seats are used incorrectly. With that in mind, let’s break this issue down step by step.
When choosing a car seat, consider your child’s age, height, weight, the direction your child should be facing and the ease of car seat operation. Never use a car seat that has missing parts or one that has been in a crash. If you don’t know a car seat’s history, don’t use it. If the car seat is more than six years old, replace it. The plastic shell becomes more brittle as it ages and may not hold up in a crash.
Children should ride rear-facing until they’re at least age 1 and weigh at least 20 pounds, or until they reach the weight and length limit on their rear-facing convertible car seat. Route the harness straps at or below shoulder level, keeping them snug. The harness clip should rest at armpit level. The car seat should maintain a 45-degree angle; a firmly rolled towel placed under the car seat may help. Be sure to
put the carrying handle down behind the seat, and never place a rear-facing car seat in front of an air bag.
Children age 1 or older weighing 20 to 40 pounds can ride in a forward-facing seat. Place the seat in the upright position and route the harness straps so that they fit snugly at or above your child’s shoulders. Be sure the harness clip continues to rest at armpit level.
Children who weigh between 40 and 80 pounds should be in a booster seat. A booster seat allows the lap and shoulder belts to fit across the hips and shoulder — not the stomach, face or neck. Booster seats must be used with both the lap and shoulder belts. Do a quick assessment of your child’s lap and shoulder belts to determine proper fit. Can your child:
- Sit with his or her hips against the seat back?
- Bend his or her knees at the edge of the seat?
- Keep the lap belt low on the hips or upper thighs?
- Keep the shoulder belt centered on the shoulder and chest?
- Stay sitting like this comfortably for the entire trip?
If you answered no to any of these questions, your child would benefit from riding in a booster seat. It is safest for all children younger than age 13 to ride in the backseat.
Set a good example by always buckling your seat belt and using car seats correctly. To learn more about child-passenger safety or to locate a certified child-passenger safety technician near you, call Sherri Faust, passenger safety educator, at 608-827-2327 or the Wisconsin Information Network for Safety at 866-511-9467. You can also call the National SAFE KIDS Campaign at 800-441-1888 or visit them online at www.safekids.org.
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