Susan Lindenmuth
Public Relations Manager
21500 Three Oaks Parkway
Estero, FL 33928

Office:
(239) 390-8000

March 21, 2011

Email:
lindenmuth@esterofire.org
www.esterofire.org

Child Car Seat Safety

Child Passenger Safety Recommendations

WASHINGTON, DC - Safe Kids USA wholeheartedly endorses the newest child passenger safety recommendations developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
 
The policy statement is clear and concise as it encourages slowing the transition from one child restraint type to the next. It does this with five best practice recommendations:
 
1) All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat (CSS) until they are 2 years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of their CSS.

2) All children 2 years or older, or those younger than 2 years who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their CSS, should use a forward-facing CSS with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of their CSS.

3) All children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their CSS should use a belt-positioning-booster until the vehicle lap-and-shoulder seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age.

4) When children are old enough and large enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use lap-and-shoulder seat belts for optimal protection.

5) All children younger than 13 years of age should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection.
 
A large number of child restraints with high weight harnesses and taller seat backs have been available for some time in the US market. Parents may have already purchased a high weight harness seat without realizing the true benefit of it.
 
The policy statement and report encourages pediatricians to promote these new best practices with their patients and their families. It also familiarizes the pediatrician with the certified technician network and encourages them to use the services of certified technicians.
 
Safe Kids USA urges all nationally certified technicians to be familiar with these new “best practices” and share them with families at checkup events, inspection stations and community awareness programs.