Motor Vehicle Safety
Motor vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of injuries in children. Car seats and seat belts can help prevent injuries and deaths caused by car crashes. It is important to buckle up your child on every ride and every time in the right seat for them. Children grow quickly, so making sure you have the right car seat for every stage of your child’s development is important.
Rear-Facing
The AAP recommends that all infants ride rear-facing, starting with their first ride home from the hospital. All infants and young children should ride in a rear-facing seat as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat manufacturer. Some seats can stay rear-facing up to 35 pounds, which is typically between ages 2 to 4 years.
- Does the child sit upright with hips all the way back against the vehicle’s seat back?
- Do the child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the vehicle’s seat?
- Is the lap belt below the abdomen, on the top part of the thighs and snug across the hips?
- Is the shoulder belt centered over the shoulder and across
the chest? - Can the child stay seated in this position for the whole trip?
If you answered “no” to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to ride safely in the car. (Source: www.carseat.org)
Parents Should Be Role Models
Child Passenger Safety and Car Seat Options at Children’s of Alabama
Need Help with Your Car Seat?
Call 1-800-504-9768 to find a car seat inspection station close to you.
Open: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Please leave a message if there is no answer during business hours.
Visit the sites below for more detailed instructions about what type and when to change car seats:
safekids.org (select the Ultimate Car Seat Guide) or visit nhtsa.gov.
