FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 2011
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their car seat recommendations this year. In a new policy released in March, AAP advises parents to keep babies and toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age 2. For many parents who purchased an infant car seat, their children may reach the height and weight limitations of that car seat before their children reach age two. In such cases, parents should consider buying a convertible toddler seat which can be installed rear or forward facing and has higher weight and height limitations. AAP also advises that most children will need to ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years of age.
 The American Academy of Pediatrics previous policy, from 2002, advised that it is safest for infants and toddlers to ride rear-facing up to the limits of the car seat, but it also cited age 12 months and 20 pounds as a minimum. As a result, many parents turned the seat to face the front of the car when their child celebrated his or her first birthday.
“A rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash, because it distributes the force of the collision over the entire body,” Dr. Durbin said. “For larger children, a forward-facing seat with a harness is safer than a booster, and a belt-positioning booster seat provides better protection than a seat belt alone until the seat belt fits correctly.”
New research has found children are safer in rear-facing car seats. A 2007 study in the journal Injury Prevention showed that children under age 2 are 75 percent less likely to die or be severely injured in a crash if they are riding rear-facing.
An important element in keeping children safe is to properly install car seats and booster seats. Always read installation directions thoroughly, as each car seat may have different installation instructions. Many local police and fire departments will check car seat installation at no charge. An online car seat guide for parents is available at www.healthychildren.org/carseatguide If you need assistance purchasing a car seat there are services available at your county Family and Health Services Center or visit www.chfs.ky.gov.
Drive Safely!
By Matt Reynolds - Google+
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