According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 6,532 passenger vehicle occupants 14 and younger were involved in fatal crashes in 2007. Although the parents aren't always at fault for the accident, they are responsible for making sure their children are properly restrained in a vehicle. You can keep your toddler as safe as possible by putting him in the right car seat and following the recommendations offered by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Backward Until Age 2
The AAP once told parents to leave children in a rear-facing seat until age 1, or around 20 pounds. However, it updated its guidelines in 2009 to state that parents should keep children in a rear-facing position until the age of 2, or until they have reached the maximum weight (often 30 to 35 pounds) allowed in the car seat. The AAP bases the update on statistics showing that toddlers between 12 and 23 months old are five times safer when they ride rear-facing as opposed to forward-facing.
Forward-Facing Seat Options
The AAP says that you have a handful of options when it comes to choosing the right forward-facing seat for your older toddler. Convertible seats are handy because you can simply convert them to turn around once your toddler has reached the appropriate age. Forward-facing seats used with a harness can accommodate children weighing up to 80 pounds, depending on which model you choose. A forward-facing seat that also functions as a booster seat is another option. It can be used as a forward-facing harness seat for children up to 40 to 65 pounds, or used as a booster seat without a harness for children up to 80 to 120 pounds, depending on the model. If you have a car that comes with forward-facing child seats, you should read your car owner's manual for instructions on using them. Travel vests are your alternative to using a traditional forward-facing seat; they can accommodate children between 20 and 168 pounds depending on the model.
Converting a Seat to Forward-Facing
To turn your convertible seat from a rear-facing seat into a forward-facing seat, take the following steps: move the shoulder straps to slots above your toddler's shoulders, adjust the seat's recline angle, check to be sure the seat belt goes through the path of the forward-facing belt and (if your car was made after 2002) secure the car seat to the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system. The AAP recommends that you consult the instruction manual of your individual car seat when it comes to executing each of the aforementioned steps.
Use of a Tether
A tether allows you to attach the top of a car seat to an anchor point in your vehicle. The AAP recommends looking at your vehicle instruction manual to determine the location of the tether anchors in your vehicle. Tethers help keep your child's seat and head from bucking too far forward in the event of a crash or abrupt stop. If the car seat you have didn't come with a tether, you can purchase a tether kit.
Traveling in Other Cars
The AAP says that you should always ensure that your toddler is safe with other drivers (or in other vehicles) by checking to see if the car seat is compatible with the vehicle, that the seat intended for your toddler is appropriate for his age and size and that the person transporting your toddler is able to correctly install and utilize the car seat.
