Child Safety In The Car

As a parent you have the very important task of keeping your baby or child safe while in a vehicle. Every year thousands of young children are injured or killed in car accidents. By implementing the proper use of  a car seat to keep your child safe you can save their life.

The type of car seat that your child needs depends on several factors including the age and size of your child as well as the type of vehicle you drive.

Here are some general guidelines to follow when trying to understand the type of seat you need;

Rear-facing seats
Used for Infants or Toddlers
These should be used from birth up to the age of 2. Buckle your child in this seat until they reach the weight or height limit allowed by the manufacturer. Usually ranges from 20 to 40 pounds.

Forward facing car seats
Toddlers or Preschoolers
Used for children ages 2 to at least 5. For a child who has outgrown the height and weight restrictions of the rear facing seat, they should now be buckled into a forward facing car seat until they outgrow that seat.

Booster seats
School-Aged Children
This seat should be used for children that are age 5 and older, until a regular seatbelt fits properly. Once a child outgrows the forward facing car seat, the booster seat is next on the list. A seatbelt usually fits properly when a child has reached a height of 57 inches, and are between 8 and 12 years old.

Seat belts
You will know if your child fits in a regular seatbelt by the way the seatbelt fits on their body. The shoulder belt should go across the middle of the chest, and not come near the neck or throat. The lap belt is closer to the thighs and does not go across the stomach.

When your child is tall enough to sit against the back seat of the vehicle with their knees bent comfortably over the edge of the seat they can use the seatbelt. Children should always use the lap and shoulder seatbelt to be provided with optimal protection. Any children the ages of 12 and under should always be in the back seat.