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Early Years (2-6)

Car seat confusion What are the latest guidelines? By Carol StarcevicPublished: April, 2010

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It’s a frightening but very real fact: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death of children ages 3 to 6 and ages 8 to 14. In 2007, 6,532 passenger vehicle occupants 14 and younger were involved in fatal crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).     According to Car-Safety.org, 57 percent of child deaths (related to traffic accidents) between birth and age 15 are due to unrestrained children. And the overall misuse of child safety seats is a whopping 80 percent.     These stark stats alone should be more than enough motivation to properly buckle up your kids; besides, it’s the law. But selecting a safety seat for your child can be daunting, given the array of models with various fancy features.     Dr. Phyliss Agran, an Orange-based physician of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, is extremely passionate about car-safety-seat knowledge.     “I first became concerned with child-passenger safety as a pediatric resident in 1976, when one of my patients was brought to the emergency room with severe injuries sustained in a car crash,” says Agran. “The child had not been using a car safety seat. The image of that needless tragedy will stay with me forever.” Agran states that all car seats on the market must pass government safety requirements, so parents need to only consider some basic advice.      Choose a seat that fits your child (based on age, height and weight) and one that can be installed properly. And new child safety and booster seats come with registration cards. Be sure to register your new seats so you will be notified if there is a product recall.      It’s essential to read the product instructions (yes, even you dads). Can you adjust the harness? Does the manufacturer have a return policy in case the seat doesn’t fit your vehicle? At what age should a child be in a forward-sitting seat or in a booster seat? Is the harness positioned correctly?     Remember, this isn’t a “one size fits all” effort. You’ll need to be familiar with your vehicle: For example, does your car’s owner’s manual include any specific instructions to install a child safety seat? Do you regularly check on product recalls?     If your vehicle was manufactured after 2002, it may come with a Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH), system, an attachment device used with car safety seats.     Stay away from used car seats if you don’t fully know its crash history, and steer clear of accessories or installation aids; they aren’t crash-tested. The use of after-market products can void the car seat warranty.     One plus to look for is additional crash protection. Many manufacturers today offer higher rear-facing weight limits and higher forward-facing weight limits on 5-point-harness seats; both are good options. This recommended type of harness attaches at the shoulders and hips, and between the legs.     Here are the NHTSA’s “4 Steps for Kids” guidelines for determining which restraint system is best, based on age and size: > For the best possible protection, keep infants in the back seat in rear-facing child safety seats for as long as possible, at least until age 1 and at least 20 pounds in weight. > When children outgrow the above dimensions, they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats in the back seat until about age 4 and 40 pounds. > After children outgrow their forward-facing seats, they should ride in booster seats in the back seat until the vehicle’s seat belts fit properly. The vehicle’s lap belt should lie across the child’s upper thighs, and the shoulder belt should fit across the chest – usually at age 8 or at 4 feet 9 inches in height. Children should continue to ride in the back seat. > When you have your car seat professionally installed – doing so is highly recommended – bring along the seat’s instruction manual, your vehicle instruction manual and your child! Not every technician is familiar with all car seats and vehicles. You may want to bring along a stroller (if you have a baby) or another adult, so your child is safe while you focus on what the technician is doing.     To have your car seat professionally inspected or installed, check with Safe Kids Orange County or Safety in Motion. Other key points to remember: > Never hold a child on your lap in a car. > Use one belt per person. > Never ride in the cargo area of a van or SUV. > Be a good role model: Wear your own seat belt! Check out the NHTSA's Child Safety Seat Inspection Locator to search for technicians who will check your setup. For additional information, call 866.SEATCHECK or 888.327.4236. • > A BUCKLE ALTERNATIVE Here’s a safety device that’s cuddly, reasonably priced and invented by a busy mom. The Baby Buckle Pad is a soft, easy-to-use pillow that fits the buckles of almost all 3- and 5-point harnesses, strollers and high chairs. This cute one-piece, lion-shaped pad provides several benefits: > No more pinching of delicate skin > No more pressure marks from the buckle > No more cold or hot temps against tender thighs > Curious fingers are less apt to release the buckle > It’s easy to remove and clean Created by Tamara Pilosi-Keith, $24.95 Visit Momma Edison for a colorful variety of kid-friendly products. Carol Starcevic is a contributing writer to OC Family magazine.

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