Quick Safety Seat Checkup Tips
Does your child ride in the back
seat? The back seat is
generally the safest place in a crash. If your vehicle has a passenger
air bag, it is essential for children 12 and under to ride in back.
Does your child ride facing the
right way? Infants should ride
in rear facing restraints (in the back seat) until age 1 and at least
20-22 lbs. Infants who weigh 20 lbs. before 1 year of age should ride
in a restraint approved for higher rear facing weights. Always read
your child restraint manual for instructions on properly using the
restraint. Children over age one and at least 20 pounds may ride
facing forward.
Does the safety belt hold the seat
tightly in place? Put the belt
through the correct slots. If your safety seat can be used facing
either way, use the correct belt path for each direction. Check the
vehicle owner's manual and safety seat instruction book for guidance.
Is the harness buckled snugly around
your child? Keep harness straps
snug over the child's shoulders. Place the chest clip at armpit level.
Does your child over 40 pounds have
the best protection possible?
Keep your child in a safety seat with a full harness as long as
possible, at least until 40 pounds. Then use a belt-positioning
booster seat which helps the adult lap and shoulder belt fit better. A
belt-positioning booster seat is preferred for children between 40-80
pounds. It is used with the adult lap and shoulder belt.
How should a safety belt fit an
older child? The child should
be tall enough to sit without slouching, with knees bent at the edge
of the seat, with feet on the floor. The lap belt must fit low and
tight across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should rest over the
shoulder and across the chest. Never put the shoulder belt under the
arm or behind the child's back. The adult lap and shoulder belt system
alone will not fit most children until they are at least 4'9"
tall and weigh about 80 pounds.