Car seat safety guidelines

[bdigParticipant]

In the neonatology section, the current recs for car seat position are to keep kids rear-facing until they are 2. No longer 12 months.

[ashishMember]

Thanks! It looks like the new guidelines came out right before my first print. I’ve made the correction. Here’s the update, and a good resource – http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/child_passenger_safety/cps-factsheet.html

 

AUTOMOBILE AND CAR SEAT SAFETY

Automobile and car seat safety guidelines vary depending on a child’s age and weight.

* REAR-FACING CAR SEAT: From birth to 24 months of age, infants should be seated in the back seat at a 45-degree angle. They should be seated in the middle and face the rear of the car. This should be continued until the child is over 24 months or until they outgrow the manufacturer’s weight and height limits. After that, the car seat may face forward.

* FORWARD FACING CAR SEAT: When they graduate from the rear-facing seat, they can be in a front-facing car seat with a harness until they again outgrow the manufacturer’s weight and height limits (usually around 4 years of age).

* BOOSTER SEAT: Around 4 years of age or 40 lbs, kids outgrow the car seat and will need a belt-positioned booster seat. They stay in that until a regular seatbelt fits.

* SEATBELT: Children may use a regular seatbelt, while still sitting in the back seat, once it fits properly. Usually when they reach 4 feet 9 inches around the ages of 8 – 12.

* FRONT SEAT: Children may sit in the front seat once they become teenagers (regardless of weight).

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