CAR SEAT CALENDAR
Child Passenger Safety Recommendations
WASHINGTON, DC - Safe Kids USA wholeheartedly endorses the
newest child passenger safety recommendations developed by the
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Congratulations go out to
Dr. Dennis Durbin, MD, MSCE for the comprehensive look at these
timely child passenger safety issues.
Two new documents will appear in the April 2011 issue of
Pediatrics (Volume 127, Number 4): the actual policy statement-
Child Passenger Safety and a technical report also titled-Child
Passenger Safety. The technical report supports the policy
statement. Both documents are must reading for certified child
passenger safety technicians.The policy statement is clear
and concise as it encourages slowing the transition from one
child restraint type to the next. It does this with five best
practice recommendations:
· Best
practice recommendation #1 states, “All infants and
toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat (CSS)
until they are 2 years of age or until they reach the highest
weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of their CSS.”
· Best
practice recommendation #2 states, “All children 2
years or older, or those younger than 2 years who have outgrown
the rear-facing weight or height limit for their CSS, should use
a forward-facing CSS with a harness for as long as possible, up
to the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of
their CSS.”
·
Best practice recommendation #3 states, “All
children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing
limit for their CSS should use a belt-positioning-booster until
the vehicle lap-and-shoulder seat belt fits properly, typically
when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between
8 and 12 years of age.”
·
Best practice recommendation #4 states, “When
children are old enough and large enough to use the vehicle seat
belt alone, they should always use lap-and-shoulder seat belts
for optimal protection.”
·
Best practice recommendation #5 states, “All
children younger than 13 years of age should be restrained in
the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection.”
A large number of child restraints with high weight
harnesses and taller seat backs have been available for some
time in the US market. Parents may have already purchased a high
weight harness seat without realizing the true benefit of it.
*Always read Child Car Seat Manufacturers
instructions on sizing and limitations of seats. Any child under
4 feet 9 inches must be in a child car seat or booster. Any
child 4 feet 9 inches or more can use just the car seat belt.
*These are general guidelines, child car seat limits change from
seat to seat as well as manufacturers. Look at your seat for
it’s limits set by the manufacture
www.mass.gov/childsafetyseats
$5 for unsafe car seats! - click here
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