You & Your Family

Home / Pregnancy Articles / Your Baby / Safely Seated

Safely Seated

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
2010-07-14 15:02:38

You took great care of yourself and your baby while you were pregnant. Now that you’re a new mom, you will want to learn as much as possible about keeping your child safe, happy and healthy — beginning with your first trip home.

To help ensure your child’s safety in your car, truck or SUV, restrain him or her in the proper safety seat. It is important to follow your vehicle owner’s manual and the seat manufacturer’s instructions for correct safety seat installation. Here is what you need to know about using safety seats both now and as your child grows.

REAR-FACING SEATS
You should always position infants in a rear-facing child safety seat, in the backseat, until they reach the height and weight limit of the safety seat. They must ride rear-facing until they are at least age one and at least 20 pounds.

FORWARD-FACING SEATS
When children outgrow their rear-facing seats, they should sit in a forward-facing child safety seat, in the backseat, until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the safety seat — usually at about four years of age and 40 pounds.

BOOSTER SEATS
Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats, they should ride in a booster seat, in the backseat, until the vehicle safety belt fits properly. The fit is appropriate when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs, and the shoulder belt fits across the chest.

SEAT BELTS
When children outgrow their booster seats, they can use the adult seat belt in the backseat. A child is usually about eight years of age or four feet nine at the time of transition to a seat belt.

NOTE: ALL CHILDREN UNDER 13 SHOULD RIDE IN THE BACKSEAT

For more information, call the DOT Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, or go to www.nhtsa.gov. If you need a child safety seat inspection by a certified technician, call 1-866-SEAT-CHECK, or visit www.seatcheck.org.

 

Related Articles

	Beauty Q & A Hope Ricciotti, M.D., answers your pregnancy beauty questions.
	Weight Watch Your baby has arrived but how can you safely get back into shape? Here's how to tip the scales in your favor.
	Birthing Choices One of the big decisions to be made during pregnancy is how you want to give birth. Here are some options.
	Beauty Questions and Answers III Hope Ricciotti, M.D., Responds to Your Questions
	Pregnancy Q & A III Hope Ricciotti, M.D., responds to herbal tea, preterm labor and childbirth education classes
	Getting the Support You Need Preparing to become a mother can be stressful - all the more reason to get the nurturing you need now.
	The Second Act With the first trimester's morning sickness fading fast, it's time to enjoy your growing baby. Graham McColl explains what to expect during the second trimester.

 

<< back to Your Baby Articles