By Michigan State Police
The Michigan State Police is seeking to educate parents about how to choose the right car seat and how to install and use it correctly.
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children one to 13 years old, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers.
“Car seats, booster seats and safety belts save lives, but their misuse by well-intentioned parents and caregivers is far too common,” said Community Service Trooper Martin Miller of the Rockford Post. “Be proactive — get your child’s car seat or booster seat checked to ensure their safety.”
Car Seat Recommendations:
On Aug. 30, 2018, the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) published an update to its 2011 child passenger safety policy statement and technical report. The most significant change is modified language around how long children should remain rear-facing. Instead of recommending rear facing to at least age 2, the updated policy statement recommends children remain rear facing until they reach the weight or height limit allowed by their seat. Most current car safety seats will accommodate children rear facing to age 2 or more.
Further recommendations by the AAP:
All infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat (CSS) as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their CSS’s manufacturer. Most convertible seats have limits that will permit children to ride rear-facing for 2 years or more.
All children 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 their CSS’s manufacturer.
All children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their CSS should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle lap and shoulder seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 ft 9 inches in height and are between 8 and 12 years of age.
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.
All children younger than 13 years should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection.
For more information on child car safety and to find a free car seat check event near you, go to safercar.gov/parents.
