DHMH Urges Parents and Caregivers to Get Their Car Seats Inspected

Child Passenger Safety Week is September 18-24

New recommendations released

 

Baltimore, Maryland (September 15, 2011)  - Maryland Kids In Safety Seats, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's (DHMH) child passenger safety program, encourages parents and caregivers to have their children's car seats checked in light of new car seat recommendations recently released by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

 

The updated recommendations emphasize how important it is to keep children in each
restraint type for as long as possible before moving them to the next type.

Birth – 12 months
For the best possible protection, your child under age one should always ride in a rear-
facing car seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats: infant-only seats can
only be used rear-facing. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height
and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-
facing for a longer period of time.

1 – 3 years
Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height
or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. This may result in many
children riding rear-facing to age 2 or older. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing
car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.

4 – 7 years
Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the
top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child
outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat,
but still in the back seat.

8 – 12 years
Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt
properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper
thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snugly across the shoulder and
chest and not cross the neck or face.

Remember:
Select a car seat based on your child’s age and size, and choose a seat that fits in
your vehicle and use it every time.
Always refer to your specific car seat manufacturer’s instructions; read the vehicle
owner’s manual on how to install the car seat using the seat belt or LATCH system;
and check height and weight limits.
To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long
as the child fits within the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements.
Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.

For more information about Child Passenger Safety Week or to find your local car seat
event, visit www.nhtsa.gov.   

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Leland D. Spencer, M.D. : Health Officer