What are the current guidelines for infant and child safety seats in automobiles?
As a pediatrician, much of my time deals with the prevention of diseases, behavioral problems, and injuries. Proper use of child safety seats is among the most important advice that I give. Unfortunately, despite the existence of laws in all 50 states requiring the use of child restraints, more than one-third of young children still ride unrestrained and thus unprotected in motor vehicles. The present recommendations are as follows: 1. Premature and low birth weight infants should be in an infant car bed. 2. Birth to one-year-old (birth to 20 lbs.) children should be in a rear facing infant restraint. 3. One-year-olds to four-year-olds (20 to 40 lbs. or 26″ to 40″ inches tall) should be in a forward facing child restraint. 4. Four-year-olds to eight-year-olds (40 to 80 lbs.) should be in a booster seat. A rear seat is the safest place for all children to be secured. If a toddler or older child must ride in the front seat, adjust the vehicle’s seat as far back as possible. During this t
