- Quest for Health KC Newsletter
- Posts
- Car Safety 2021
Car Safety 2021
Check your seats during Child Passenger Safety Week
September 15-21, 2021, is Child Passenger Safety Week, so I thought I’d take a moment to review car seat safety basics and share some of my favorite car seat safety links. Take a moment to look at your child’s seat to be sure it is properly installed and fits your child.
Why do we care?
From the US Department of Transportation:
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children.
In 2019, an average of 2 children under 13 were killed and another 374 were injured every day in automobiles.
In 2019, more than one-third of children under 13 killed in passenger vehicles were not restrained in car seats, booster seats, or seat belts.
In 2019, an estimated 137,000 children riding in passenger vehicles were injured in traffic crashes.
In 2019, the 8-12 year age group had the highest number of deaths among children in passenger vehicles, followed by the 4-7 year old group.
This last point highlights ages that are the highest risk. My take on these ages is that they are the ages that kids move to the next level seat, often prematurely.
I tell kids all the time that the state law is the bare minimum, but it isn’t necessarily the safest way to ride. I use the example that in my state an adult can ride a motorcycle without a helmet, but that’s not safe. They usually agree, and I think it helps them understand that just because it’s legal to do something, it doesn’t make it safe to do.
Kids learn from the behaviors they see their parents display, so all parents should buckle up for safety!
What you need to know
When looking for a car seat or booster seat, don’t assume spending more money will buy a better seat.
Whatever seat you buy, be sure to register it so you are notified of any recalls.
Read and follow the seat’s installation instructions.
If you’re in an accident, your car seats may need to be replaced. Insurance may cover this cost.
You should not buy a used car seat from anyone you don’t know. It is not possible to verify that it hasn’t been in an accident in this situation.
Do not cover or remove the stickers that provide important information, such as the height and weight limits of the seat.
Always review the size minimum and maximums of your car seat. Make it a habit to check the seat’s limitations after each well visit check to be sure your child’s height and weight still fit in the seat as it is being used.
Bring your child and the car seat to a certified car seat installer with each change in seat and change in vehicle.
Keep bulky clothing and padding out of the car seat. Layer clothing if it’s cold.
Rear facing allows the head and spine to be protected in case of a crash. It is the safest way to travel. The head, neck, and spine are all supported by the hard shell of the car safety seat. They all move together, with little relative movement between body parts.
When children ride forward-facing, their bodies are restrained by the harness straps, but their heads can be thrown forward in an accident. This can lead to more spine and head injuries.
The most common mistake other than installing a seat improperly is to move a child to the next seat too quickly. Keep your child in the seat until they meet the height or weight limit. Each transition (from rear-facing to forward-facing, forward-facing to booster, and booster to lap/shoulder belt) lowers the child’s protection.
The best seat is one that fits your vehicle and your child.
Use the LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children). Always use the upper tether for forward facing seats, but the lower anchor should only be used if the combined weight of the seat + child is under 65 pounds. If this weight is over 65 pounds, use the vehicle’s seatbelt to install the safety seat.Learn to use the tether properly with your forward facing car seat.
Kids will fight the safety seats
Kids will resist many things, including properly buckling up. That doesn’t mean it’s okay for them to not buckle properly. We must consistently use proper safety measures and teach kids along the way.
Kids like choices, so offer young children choices about climbing in or getting put in the seat or if they want to help do the buckle. The choice is never whether or not to ride safely. Find acceptable choices that end with them properly buckled. There are more ideas in 5 Tricks to Get an Uncooperative Toddler Into Their Car Seat.
Older kids can learn about why they need this level of safety seat to remain safe. Remind them that age is not a factor as much as size. My kids were both smaller than classmates, so this was a regular discussion in my house. They always ended up agreeing that it was necessary when we looked at age-appropriate crash pictures and safety data. (Do an online search to preview sites without your kids so they aren’t exposed to more than they can handle.)
Infants and children under 2 years or 30 pounds
Infants and children under 2 years should ride rear facing unless they are bigger than the height or weight maximum for the seat.
Children over 2 years who still fit in the height and weight requirements of the rear facing car seat can still ride rear facing safely.
Rear-facing only seats
Rear-facing only seats are convenient because they can be snapped in and out of bases. This allows various drivers to have bases installed in their vehicle and the seat can be used in multiple vehicles.
Rear-facing only seats tend to have lesser weight and height allowances, but as infants become toddlers they do not need a carrying seat. Not to mention the safety issues with carrying a heavy kid in a heavy seat – we don’t need parents to hurt themselves!
Although these infant rear-facing carrying seats can be used to carry infants in and out of buildings to the vehicle, it is not recommended to use them long term outside of the vehicle. They are not approved for overnight sleeping.
Convertible seats
Convertible seats are able to be used rear facing until a child outgrows the weight or height maximum.
The minimum weight recommended to turn forward facing is 40 pounds unless the seat has a lower maximum for rear facing. This means most toddlers and preschoolers should be staying rear facing.
ANOTHER SAFETY FACTOR FOR INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN: DON’T LEAVE THEM IN THE CAR!
Young children often fall asleep in the car.
If sleep deprived (no parent is ever really well rested) and in a hurry, even the best parent can be distracted and forget about the sleeping baby.
Children 2 years and older
Toddlers and preschoolers
Toddlers and preschoolers should remain in a rear facing seat until they are at least 40 pounds unless the seat has a lower weight maximum.
Toddlers and preschoolers who are too big for rear facing seats should use a forward facing safety seat with a 5 point harness in the back seat, and should use harnesses until at least 40 pounds.
School aged kids
Which seat?
Convertible seats will accommodate children rear facing until they are 40-90 pounds.
When kids outgrow the convertible seat, they should move into a booster seat - not the vehicle’s seat belt.
Booster seats help keep the lap and shoulder belt positioned properly until a child is tall enough and old enough to not require it. It is generally around 4 foot 9 inches that kids are big enough to sit in most vehicles without a booster. Most kids are not this tall until 10-12 years of age, even though many state laws allow much younger kids to sit without a booster.
Age is not the main factor in deciding when a child should move out of a booster. Use the 5 point test to see if your child fits properly in the vehicle. I always say it’s the size of the child as well as the size of the vehicle’s seat that matters.
Keep them rear facing longer!
The earliest it is recommended to turn kids forward facing is 40 pounds. I know kids will fight this, but it’s worth it based on the safety studies.
This means that kids who are school aged might still fit best rear facing.
Rear facing is the safest way to travel, and remember that the #1 killer of our kids over 4 years is automobile crashes. Let’s change that and keep kids rear facing longer.
Older kids
When kids are over the rear-facing maximum of their seat, turn them around, but leave the harness on. There’s a reason race car drivers use a harness and not just a lap and shoulder belt. Harnesses are safer! Use it until your child outgrows the limits of the seat.
When they outgrow the harness (as per height and weight limitations of your seat) kids can move to a booster seat.
Children should remain in a booster seat until the vehicle’s lap and shoulder seat belt fits them properly. This is generally between 10 and 12 years of age and about 4 foot 9 inches, but varies based on the size of the vehicle’s seat.
Have your kids take the 5 Step Test to see if kids can safely ride without a booster.
When kids fit properly in the vehicle’s seat without a booster seat, they still should sit properly. If your child cannot sit upright in the seat, a booster is still recommended to keep the belt properly positioned.
No one should slide their hips away from the back of the seat to slouch in the seat. This allows the seat belt to ride up onto the abdomen, which increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Kids should always ride in the back seat until they reach their teen years.
Teens
Only teens and adults should sit in the front seat. It’s always safer in the back seat.
If you look at the sticker on the passenger side visor, it will say something to the effect that children 12 and under are safer in the back seat. That means wait until 13 years of age to sit up front.
Airbags can be dangerous if a passenger is too short for it to hit properly in the chest. The force of the airbag can cause significant injury to the face or neck. If the airbag is turned off, the passenger is at risk of hitting the dashboard or being ejected from the car.
Even big kids don’t have the muscle or bone strength to be safe up front. They aren’t mini-adults. Wait until the teen years to let kids up front.
Enforce that teens wear seat belts every time they’re in a car. If they’re driving, they must make sure everyone is properly buckled before they drive.
More teen safe driving tips are on an old blog of mine.
Winter safety
In the winter months it’s important to avoid over bundling infants and children in car seats.
The added layers and padding of clothing can increase the amount a child can move in the force of a crash or sudden stop. The Car Seat Lady has great tips to keep kids warm and safe in the cold weather.
Car seat additions and accessories
Don’t use car seat attachments and accessories that were not sold with the seat. They may look cute or seem to make your child more comfortable, but if they haven’t been tested with the seat they may not be safe.
This includes neck rolls, shoulder pads, winter covers that go between the child and the seat, dangling toys, and more.
If you’re in an accident and have these additions they might void the warranty of the seat.
What if kids try to escape the car seat?
Do you have a Houdini? If your toddler or preschooler is able to weasel out of the car seat harness, try this button down shirt trick.
How can you be sure your kids are buckled correctly?
Take your kids to a certified car seat installer to see if they’re buckled in properly. Car Seats for the Littles has information about how to find an installer near you.
Register your car seats so you can be alerted if they are recalled.
Identification Stickers
Car Seat Stickers are a great way to notify first responders who to call if you’ve been in an accident and aren’t able to communicate.
I recommend putting them under the cloth part of infant seats so they aren’t visible when you’re carrying the seat in public. You can put a small sticker on the handle to let emergency personnel know to look under the padding for emergency contact information.
Once kids are out of the infant seat you can put the sticker on the outside of the seat, just not over any important information. Never cover the height/weight max information or other things you’ll want to see later.
My office gives stickers from the W.H.A.L.E. Program to patients, but you can print your own at home and attach them to your seat with wide clear tape. Information to include would be:
Child’s name, birth date, address, allergies, important health history, medications
Parent’s names and phone numbers (cell and work)
One emergency contact name and phone number (not a parent)
Doctor’s name and number
Childcare provider name and number if applicable
After an accident
Remember that if you’re in an accident, your car seats might need to be replaced. Talk to your insurance company.
Used car seats
Be sure to know when your seats expire. The seats typically expire about 6 years after manufacturing. This is due to unseen breakdown in the materials used to make the seat.
Never buy a used seat from someone you do not know. A friend should verify that it hasn’t been in an accident and it’s not expired before you use it.
Don’t just throw your old car seat away. Someone might try to use it past its expiration date. You can break it down into pieces to make it unusable or you can see if you can recycle it.
The model in the top photo is my daughter at a car seat check many years ago. She now is (hopefully) a safe driver herself - and the photo of her below is already several years old… my how time flies! It is from my past blog site.
Reply