Are the New Car Seat Guidelines Really Needed?

Dr. Heidi Renner is an integral part of the Loyola University Health System’s primary care team. She is double boarded in adult internal medicine and pediatrics and enjoys seeing patients of all ages from infants to geriatrics at the Loyola Center for Health at Burr Ridge. In addition, she is an assistant professor at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in the departments of internal medicine and pediatrics. When not seeing patients she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, traveling and hiking.

As a mom of two young children I understand the car seat battle. It’s never easy to try to convince a toddler that being restrained is a good thing. Many of my patients who are parents have voiced their concerns and frustrations concerning the recent recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Though as a parent I can sympathize, as a physician I know the horrors that can result from parents being careless with car seat use. Even with stricter laws and car seat education programs car accidents remain the leading cause of death and disability in children.

Incorrect usage of car seats and child restraints has played a large role in these statistics. Studies have shown that seven out of 10 car seats are not installed correctly. Also, many kids feel they are too old for a booster and are embarrassed to have to ride in one, but booster use can be a matter of life or death. For instance, if a child weighs less than 80 pounds and is shorter than 57 inches a seat belt will lay across the child’s neck and belly. In the event of an accident this puts pressure on sensitive areas with the potential for serious injuries including spinal cord and abdominal injuries or even death

Here are a few tips to keep kids safe while traveling in the car:

Make sure you have the correct kind of car seat for your child’s age, height and weight.

a.       Most infant carrier car seats only hold up to 22 pounds and should always be used in a rear-facing position.

b.      New AAP recommendations state that children should remain rear facing until two years of age.

c.       Consider using a convertible car seat that has a five-point restraint. Again, keep a child in a rear-facing position until age two.

d.      Booster seats should be used for children ages four to eight or older. A child should continue to ride in a booster seat until he or she is at least four feet, 9 inches or taller, and 80 pounds no matter their age.

e.       Children under age 13 should never sit in the front seat because air bags are powerful and can crush a child.

Make sure the car seat is installed and used correctly.

a.       Read the car seat instructions and your vehicle owner’s manual thoroughly before attempting to install the seat into the car.

b.      Never put a car seat in the front seat of a car.

c.       Have a professional check to ensure the seat is installed correctly. Most police stations will check and install the car seat for free or visit www.seatcheck.org to find a safety seat inspection site close to you.

d.      After placing a child in a car seat make sure the harness is level with the shoulders and the straps are secure and tight.

Set an example.

a.       Always wear your seat belt. Studies show that 40 percent of drivers without seat belts had unrestrained children passengers as well.

b.      Never drink and drive. More than two-thirds of fatally injured children were killed while riding with a drunk driver.

Studies have shown that by taking these precautions the likelihood of your child being killed or disabled in a motor vehicle crash decreases significantly. It might be a pain, but it saves kids’ lives.