Each year, thousands of babies, toddlers and children are killed or injured in car crashes. The proper use of car seats help keep children safe, and understanding the mechanics of car seats can save your child’s life.
In March 2014, a tragic car accident in Indianapolis claimed the life of a 7-month-old boy. The crash happened near W. 38th Street and I-65. Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) officials said the baby died because he wasn’t properly strapped into his car seat. Unfortunately, this accident is all too common in communities across the country.
Police and fire officials are constantly stressing how important car seat safety is; however, it’s not always easy to find the right car seat for your child. There are several types of seats, from infant to convertible to booster, to choose from depending on your child’s age and size. Even after you choose a seat, it’s important to know how to install it correctly and when to transition to a different seat as your child grows.
The following is a list of types of car seats recommended by age to help you in choosing a seat, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
• 0-12 months: Rear-facing car seat — Children under the age of one should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats, including infant-only seats, convertible and all-in-one. Convertible and all-in-one car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.
• 1-3 years: Forward-facing car seat — Experts say to keep your child in a rear-facing car seat as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, he or she is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether.
• 4-7 years: Booster seat — Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat. However, the booster seat should still be positioned in the back seat.
• 8-12 years: Seat belt — Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly, the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs and not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snugly across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. All children younger than 13 years should sit in the back seats of vehicles for optimal protection.
You should always refer to your specific car seat manufacturer’s instructions, check height and weight limits, and read the vehicle owner’s manual on how to install the car seat using the seat belt or lower anchors and a tether, if available. Videos of how to install each type of car seat are available online at www.safercar.gov.
Registering your car seat is also important. It gives the manufacturer the ability to contact you about recalls and safety notices. To register your car seat, send in the card that came with your car seat or fill out a simple form on the manufacturer’s Web site. In addition to registering your car seat, sign up to receive e-mail alerts about car seat and booster seat recalls from the NHTSA.
IFD offers free car seat safety sessions, which teach parents how to properly use a car seat and strap their children in. IFD car seat safety sessions are available by appointment. Call 317-327-7956 for more information or to schedule a session.
You can also visit www.safercar.gov and check out their “Child Car Seat Inspection Station Locator” tab to find a location where certified technicians will inspect your car seat, in most cases free of charge, and show you how to correctly install and use it.
To ensure that you are taking the proper safety precautions with your child as they get older, talk with your primary care doctor. To schedule an appointment with a primary care physician at Eskenazi Health, please call 317-880-8687. Eskenazi Health Center has a sliding fee schedule and is open to all regardless of ability to pay.
Nydia Nuñez-Estrada, M.D.
Family Medicine
Eskenazi Health Center North Arlington