GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS IN SELECTING CAR SAFETY SEATS

How important are car safety seats for children?

It is estimated that over 700 children under five years of age die annually in North America while riding in motor vehicles; more than half of these children are unrestrained, and many more are restrained improperly.

What would be considered an appropriate car safety seat?

There are many products on the market. An appropriate car safety seat would be one that is easy for parents to use, is the right size for the child, fits easily into the car seat, and has a seat belt system which itself would not harm the child.

Which is the safest place for children to ride in a car?

The rear vehicle seat is the safest place for children of any age to ride.

What is the safest position for infants under one year of age weighing less than 10kg (±20 lbs)?

These infants should be placed in the back seat, rear facing, in an infant- only seat. This position is the most likely to reduce the risk of cervical spine injury in the event of a crash.

What should be done for infants who weigh 10kg (±20 lbs) before one year of age?

Until one year of age these infants should be placed in a convertible seat (or infant seat approved for higher weights and should face the rear of the car.

Should a rear facing car safety seat be placed in the front passenger seat of any vehicle equipped with a passenger-side front air bag?

Never. Because of the impact of the air bag against the safety seat there is a high risk of death or serious injury.

What should be done regarding the safety of premature and small infants?

These infants should not be placed in car safety seats with shields, abdominal pads, or arm rests that could directly contact the infant’s face and neck during an impact. If the vehicle’s seat slopes so that the infant’s head flops forward the car safety seat should be reclined halfway back at a 45 degree tilt. A firm role of cloth or newspaper can be wedged under the car safety seat below the infant’s feet to achieve this angle.

What is the best position for children weighing 10 to 20 kg (±20 to 40 lbs)?

These children should be placed forward facing in a semi-upright position in the rear seat of the car.

What safety seats are available for this 10-20kg group of children?

Four different seats are available.

(a) A convertible safety seat. This should be used as long as the child fits well into the seat. This means that the ears are below the top of the back of the seat and the shoulders are below the seat strap slots.

(b) Toddler-only seat or vest.

(c) Integrated child seat. Many new vehicles come equipped with this type of integrated child safety seat.

(d) Booster seats.

There are two types of booster seats. A belt-positioning booster seat (uses a combination lap/shoulder belt) and a the less desirable- booster with a small shield ( only has a lap belt). Booster seats should only be used when the child has outgrown a convertible safety seat but is too small to fit properly in a vehicle safety belt.

What is the safest position for older children over 8 years of age and 25- 30kg (± 60 lbs )?

These children should travel in the rear seat of the car using a lap/shoulder belt. The position of the shoulder belt should be across the chest and the lap belt snug and low across the thighs. If no shoulder belt is available then a lap belt only should be used, snug and low across the thighs.