Automobile Safety Seat Selection for Children

 

Parameters:

(1) age and/or weight of child

(2) characteristics of the safety seat

(3) characteristics of the automobile's seat relative to the height of the child

 

Groupings:

(1) infant from birth to 20 pounds in weight

(2) infant less than 1 year of age and weighing more than 20 pounds

(3) child older than 1 year and weighing 20-40 pounds

(4) child weighing 40-80 pounds

 

Infant from birth and weighing up to 20 pounds in weight:

(1) Seat selection: infant only or convertible seat

(2) Location: back seat

(3) Facing: towards the rear of the car

(4) Child orientation: at a 45 degree angle (a vertical orientation may cause the child to fall forward)

(5) The seat should be tightly attached using the car's safety belts.

(6) The harness straps should insert into the safety seat at or below the child's shoulders.

(7) The harness straps should be snug on the child with the clips at armpit level.

 

Infant less than 1 year of age and weighing > 20 pounds:

(1) Seat selection: infant only or convertible seat, using one designed for large infants

(2) Location: back seat

(3) Facing: towards the rear of the car

(4) Child orientation: at a 45 degree angle (a vertical orientation may cause the child to fall forward)

(5) The seat should be tightly attached using the car's safety belts.

(6) The harness straps should insert into the safety seat at or below the child's shoulders.

(7) The harness straps should be snug on the child with the clips at armpit level.

 

Child > 1 year and weighing 20-40 pounds:

(1) Seat selection: convertible seat, forward facing child seat, high back booster with harness

(2) Location: back seat

(3) Facing: forward

(4) The seat should be tightly attached using the car's safety belts.

(5) The harness straps should insert into the safety seat at or above the child's shoulders.

(6) The harness straps should be snug on the child with the clips at armpit level.

 

Child weighing 40-80 pounds:

(1) Seat selection: belt positioning booster seat (base only), high back booster with harness

(2) Location: back seat

(3) Facing: forward

(4) The seat should be tightly attached using the car's safety belts.

(5) If the child's head extends above the rear of the seat, then a high back booster seat should be used.

(6) Position the shoulder belt to run snugly across the chest. The shoulder belt should pass over the lateral shoulder; the child should not be allowed to move the arm over the belt on that side. The belt should not run across the child's neck, jaw or face.

(7) Position the lap belt low across the thighs.

(8) Endpoint for booster seat: when the child can sit with her or his back against the backseat, with knees bent and feet flat on the floor.

 

Notes:

(1) Placing the infant seat in the backseat is mandatory if an airbag is present on the passenger side of the car. Placing the infant in the backseat is recommended even if an airbag is not present, since this is associated with fewer injuries in the event of an accident.

(2) Placing the child in the lap of another passenger is no substitute for a safety seat.

(3) No one should be allowed to ride in the back bed of a pickup truck.