8 Tips for Safe Car Seats
It's one of the most important purchases you’ll make for your child. Here's what you need to know, from birth to school age.
Even if you don’t own a car, you’ll need a car seat to bring home baby — hospitals won’t let you leave without one. It might seem excessive if you live in a city and will just be getting into a cab, but there’s good reason for the caution: Car crashes are the top killer of kids age 1 to 14, and having a car seat that will protect your child might literally save her life. Here are eight things you need to know.
1. All infants under 20 pounds and younger than age 1 must use rear-facing car seats. The
American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children ride rear-facing for as long as possible, to the maximum weight allowed by the car seat manufacturer (some go up to 35 pounds). The minimum to ride facing forward is 20 pounds and age 1.
2. Five-point harnesses are the safest. These are straps that go over each shoulder and each leg, plus a buckle that connects the shoulder straps across the chest.
3. “Infant-only” car seats have carrying handles and can be used with a “travel system,” or a stroller bottom. There are universal travel systems that work with a variety of brands. “Convertible” car seats can face backward and then convert to forward facing when the child is big and old enough. Keep in mind that these are larger and bulkier and do not work with travel systems.
4. Once your child reaches the maximum weight for an infant seat, she is ready for a forward-facing seat with a five-point harness system. At school age, she should use a booster seat until she’s tall enough (4' 9") to use an adult seat belt.
5. All cars made after 2002 use the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system to secure car seats to the car. This is safer than using just the seatbelt to strap in the car seat.
6. Read the instruction manual to install the car seat correctly. Go to your local police or fire department to check your installation.
7. Resist the temptation to buy a used car seat unless you can be absolutely sure of its history. Older car seats are less safe, and any that have been in a crash may be compromised.
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