Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in children in the US? Car seats can help keep them more safe. 

Here are some general guidelines to help you keep your child as safe as possible in the car: 

• Infants/Toddlers:

  • Use a rear facing seat from birth to ages around 2-4.

  • We recommend keeping them rear facing for as long as possible, until they reach the maximum height or weight limit for that seat for the best protection.

  • Don’t place rear-facing seats in the front seats as air bags can harm or even kill young children in a crash.

• Toddlers/Preschoolers:

  • Children that have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit of their rear facing seat should be moved to a forward-facing seat with 5 point harness.

  • Again, keep them in these until they have reached the highest weight or height limit for the car seat, approximately till age 5.

• School-aged children:

  • Once they exceed the weight or height requirements for the forward-facing seats, use a belt positioning booster seat.

  • Typically, they will need this until they are 4ft9inches which usually is around 8-12 years of age. 

• Older children:

  • Once the seat belt can fit them correctly, they should be buckled in the back seat.

  • Kids must ride in the back seat until at least age 13.

  • A seat belt fits when the lap belt is across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt is across the center of the shoulder & chest.

  • Different cars can have different belts, so check they fit in each vehicle before driving.

Visit the CDC or HealthyChildren.org for resources that expectant parents can use to learn about, pick & purchase a car seat, and practice using before going to the hospital to have your baby! 

Your pediatrician is always ready to help you determine when it’s right to graduate your child to the next level as well. 

You can always refer to the manufacturer of your car seat should you have any questions as well!

Your PediPals