This coming Sunday, September 18, starts Child Passenger Safety Week.
According to Safe Kids USA, a government site devoted to all things related to children’s safety, Child Passenger Safety Week is celebrated every year to remind parents and other caregivers of the need to keep children of all ages properly restrained in the seat that meets their weight and height requirements.
Important facts to remember:
- Children grow at different rates and restraints should be checked frequently to ensure safety.
- For the best possible protection keep infants in a back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible—up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat. Never turn a child forward-facing before age 1 and at least 20 pounds, although keeping kids rear-facing until at least age 2 is safer and preferred if the seat allows.
- When children outgrow their rear-facing seats, they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats, in a back seat, until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the particular harnessed seat. Many newer seats exceed the old 40 pound weight limit.
- Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats, they should ride in booster seats, in a back seat, until the vehicle seat belts fit properly.
- Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt rests on the shoulder or collar bone (usually when the child is between 8 and 12 years old, approximately 4’9” tall and 80 to 100 pounds).
CAR SEAT CHECK-UP EVENTS
Car Seat Check-Up Events will be held in all 50 states through the end of October. To find an event in your area, visit the Safe Kids USA website here: Find a Car Seat Check-Up Event.
Stay safe!