According to the Department of Transportation, in 2008, 968 children 14 years of age and younger died in motor vehicle crashes, and about 168,000 were injured. Many of those deaths and injuries might be contributed to children not being seated in a safety car seat, or the restraint seats not being installed properly. In fact, one study reported that 72% of almost 3,500 car and booster seats were used in a way that increased a child's risk of injury during an accident!
Considering that using appropriate safety seats in passenger cars reduces the risk of death by 71% for infants, and by 54% for children 1-4 years of age, it is extremely important that parents buy safety seats that are appropriate for weight, age, and the vehicle driven. In addition, parents need to know how to install a restraint seat properly to assure safety of their children.
If you cannot afford a car safety seat for your child please contact the hospital where your child was born or the nearest state police station. I have referred many of my patients to the local state police station when they were in need of a car or booster seat but could not afford one, and they received one for free. Children need to ride in a rear-facing seat until age 2 years. The old rule of thumb was until 1 year and 20 pounds. However, recent research indicates that children under 2 years of age are 75% less likely to die or experience a serious injury when rear facing. Therefore, the American Academy of Pediatrics has changed the recommendation.
Your child should ride facing the rear in an infant car seat or convertible seat for as long as possible. An infant seat should be changed to a convertible seat when he/she reaches the maximum height and weight for that infant seat. Typically, it is when the infant's head is within 1 inch of the top of the seat and weighs between 22 and 32 pounds. For your child's safety, let her or him ride facing the rear until she or he reaches the maximum height and weight for the seat's model or after the second birthday, whichever comes last.
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