If you're about to be a parent, you probably know that your baby will need a car seat (and it will need to be installed before you leave the hospital). But: did you know that any child under five years old must be seated in a federally approved, child car seat? Many of us who grew up in the 80s remember our parents taking a much more free-range approach to car safety. You may have not even used a seatbelt as a kid, much less a car seat! Well, times – and technologies – have changed, for the better.
With summer upon us and family vacations and trips to the beach on the calendar, it's a good time to think about road safety. Child car seats save thousands of lives every year. Let's look at some hard facts the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
- Road injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries to children in the United States.
- Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent. More than half of children killed in car crashes were unrestrained.
- Three out of four car seats are not used or installed correctly.
And, it's not just safer to put your child in a car seat, it's the law. According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department:
- Children five years old or younger must be secured in a federally approved child restraint system.
- Children three years old and younger must use a separate car seat or the vehicle’s built-in car seat.
- Children four to five years old and less than four feet, nine inches tall, must sit in either a separate car seat or a built-in child seat or a seat belt depending on height and weight.
All of this may seem intimidating but take heart: the best way to keep your child safe in the car is to use the right car seat in the right way. Car seats are effective when you adhere to the age, height and weight requirements – don't be in a hurry to move your child up to the next seat if they're not big enough. Follow these guidelines to protect your most precious cargo:
Birth to 12 months: Use a rear-facing child car-seat in the back seat of the car.
Twelve months and 20 pounds to five years old and 40 pounds: Use a rear-facing child car-seat in the back seat until your child outgrows the weight and height limit of the child car seat. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that kids sit rear-facing until at least age 2.
Five years old and 40 pounds to six years old or four feet, nine inches tall: Use a forward-facing child seat in the back seat until they reach the weight and height limits recommended by the manufacturer. Switch to a booster seat in the back of the car.
Six years old or four feet, nine inches tall to 12 years old: Use a booster seat in the back seat until your child is big enough to use the car’s seat belt safely. That means the lap belt should fit the child low across the hips and thighs, not across the abdomen. The shoulder belt should fit across the collarbone and chest. It should not cut into a child's abdomen or neck. If those conditions are not optimal, the child should continue using a booster seat.
Thirteen years old: At 13, your child can sit in the front seat of your car (and start messing with your radio).
It's important to remember, also, that car seats have expiration dates. Used or expired car seats can be dangerous. Always check the manufacturer information to stay up to date expiration information, usage recommendations and installation instructions. Local fire and police departments, as well as safety programs, offer help and instruction in car seat installation. Some of them can be tricky! To make sure you have a secure fit, get some one-on-on instruction. You'll likely be moving it from car to car all summer as you set out on your family adventures, and it's good to have hands-on experience before you get going. Safe travels!
Stefoni is a certified physician assistant dedicated to providing quality, patient-oriented care in Mount Dora, FL. She is highly experienced evaluating patients, providing working diagnoses and treatment plans. Stefoni is a graduate of the highly competitive Physician Assistant graduate program at Harding University in Searcy, AR.
