Child Safety Seats
Did you know that one
third of children are riding in the wrong restraints for their age and size?
·
33% of children
were in the wrong restraint for their size and age.
·
63% of kids who
should have been in belt-positioning booster seats (typically ages 4 to 8) were
inappropriately restrained.
Does your child ride
in the back seat?
The back seat is generally the safest place in a crash.
If your vehicle has a passenger air bag, it is essential for children 12
and under to ride in back.
Does your child ride
facing the right way? Infants
should ride in rear facing restraints (in the back seat) until age 1 and at
least 20-22 lbs. Infants who weigh
20 lbs. before 1 year of age should ride in a restraint approved for higher rear
facing weights. Always read your
child restraint manual for instructions on properly using the restraint.
Children over age one and at least 20 pounds may ride facing forward.
Does the safety belt
hold the seat tightly in place? Put the belt
through the correct slots. If your
safety seat can be used facing either way, use the correct belt path for each
direction. Check the vehicle owner's
manual and safety seat instruction book for guidance.
Is the harness
buckled snugly around your child? Keep
harness straps snug over the child's shoulders.
Place the chest clip at armpit level.
Does your child over
40 pounds have the best protection possible?
Keep your
child in a safety seat with a full harness as long as possible, at least until
40 pounds. Then use a
belt-positioning booster seat, which helps the adult lap and shoulder belt fit
better. A belt-positioning booster
seat is preferred for children between 40-80 pounds.
It is used with the adult lap and shoulder belt.
How should a safety
belt fit an older child? The
child should be tall enough to sit without slouching, with knees bent at the
edge of the seat, with feet on the floor. The
lap belt must fit low and tight across the upper thighs.
The shoulder belt should rest over the shoulder and across the chest.
Never put the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the child's back.
The adult lap and shoulder belt system alone will not fit most children
until they are at least 4'9" tall and weigh about 80 pounds.
Courtesy of the
National Safety Council