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Passenger Safety
Child passenger safety has dramatically evolved over the past decade, however, motor vehicle crashes continue to be a leading cause of death and injury for children in the United States.
Always take off bulky coats before harnessing a child in to their car seat. Bulky coats prevent a snug strap fit.
Facts
Using child safety seats correctly can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71%.
Everyone in the car should ride properly restrained on every trip and children must never ride unrestrained. Your child is safest in a car safety seat that fits them. It is important to be aware of car seat stages based on the growth and age of your child.
Safety Tips
Choose the right direction (rear- or forward-facing):
“Children should ride rear-facing for as long as possible! At minimum, CT law requires them to be at least 2 years old AND 30 pounds before facing forward.
Check labels.
Look at the label on your car seat to make sure it’s appropriate for your child’s age, weight and height. Check the expiration date!
Register your car seat.
so the manufacturer can alert you to any issues or recalls.
Know your car seat’s history.
Buy a used car seat only if you know its full crash history.
Once a car seat has been in a crash, or is expired, it needs to be replaced.
Make sure your car seat is installed correctly.
Inch Test
Once your car seat is installed, give it a wiggle at the base where the seat belt goes through it. A properly installed seat will not move more than an inch back and forth near the belt path.
Pinch Test:
With the chest clip placed at armpit level, pinch the strap in various places. If you are unable to pinch any excess webbing, you’re good to go.
Install the car seat with either the seat belt or LATCH system.
Don’t use both the lower anchors and seat belt at the same time. They are equally safe, so pick the one that gives you the best fit. The LATCH system has a weight limit of 65 pounds (child’s weight PLUS the weight of the car seat), so the seatbelt is usually the best choice once a child is forward-facing.
Don’t forget the tether on forward-facing seats!
The tether is at the top of the back of the seat, and connects to an anchor spot behind the vehicle seat. The tether hold the back of the seat in place so it does not move forward in the event of a crash.
Make an appointment with a Car Seat Safety Technician
Have your installation checked to ensure your car seat is installed properly.
American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendations
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strongly supports optimal safety for children and adolescents of all ages during all forms of travel. This policy statement provides 5 evidence-based recommendations for best practices to optimize safety in passenger vehicles for all children, from birth through adolescence.
AAP Reccomendations
All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat (CSS) as long as possible
At least until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the seat’s manufacturer. Most convertible seats have limits that will permit children to ride rear-facing for 2 years or more.
All children who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their seat should use a forward-facing CSS with a harness for as long as possible
Up to the highest weight or height allowed by the seat’s manufacturer.
All children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle lap and shoulder seat belt fits properly
Usually when they reach 4 ft 9 inches in height and are between 8-12 years of age.
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.
All children younger than 13 years should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection.
Which seat is right for my child?
Rear-facing Car Seats for Infants and Toddlers
The AAP recommends that all infants ride rear-facing starting with their first ride home from the hospital. All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing seat as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat manufacturer (check the label). Most convertible seats have limits that will allow children to ride rear facing for 2 years or more. When infants outgrow their rear-facing–only seat, a convertible seat installed rear facing is needed. All parents can benefit from getting installation help from a CPST to ensure their child’s seat is properly installed.
Always read the vehicle owner’s manual and the car safety seat manual before installing the seat.
Any child who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for her convertible seat should use a forward-facing seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer (check the label). It is best for children to ride in a seat with a harness as long as possible, at least to 5 years of age and 40 pounds per CT law. If your child outgrows a seat before reaching 5 years of age, consider using a seat with a harness approved for higher weights and heights.
Older Kids Need the Right Seat, Too
For their safety, many kids 8 to 12 years old still need to use a booster seat. Children should stay in a booster seat until the adult seat belts fit correctly. Typically, this is when children reach about 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years of age. Most children will not fit in a seat belt alone until 10 to 12 years of age. Make sure they ride in a booster seat until they outgrow the size limits of their booster, or until they are big enough for an adult seat belt to fit properly.
Seat Belts for Older Children
Seat belts are made for adults. 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 the best protection.
A properly fitting seat belt for older children means:
The shoulder belt lies snugly across the shoulder and chest, not crossing the neck or throat.
The lap belt lies snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach.
Make sure your child does not tuck the shoulder belt under her arm or behind her back.
This leaves the upper body unprotected and adds extra slack to the seat belt system, putting your child at risk of severe injury in a crash or with sudden braking.
Make sure your child is buckled up properly on every trip
Always remember to keep them in the back seat at least through age 13.
