Car Seat Safety

Back in 2001, the federal government took a stand on car seat safety.  Statistically, studies showed that 82% of the child safety seats deployed in cars were not installed and used correctly.  That's why cars manufactured after September 2002 are required to have LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) installed; a system that makes attaching a car safety seat easier.

LATCH Child Safety Systems

The LATCH child safety system for car seats eliminates the need to use the car's seat belt to hold down the child's seat.  It was designed to take the guesswork out of installing child safety seats by standardizing the anchoring design.  The one drawback to LATCH is the requirements apply to vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) under 8,500 pounds, which might exclude some of the larger trucks and SUVs on the roadways today.

You can recognize a LATCH-compliant vehicle by looking for the metal anchors, which are usually located on the seat back or rear bulkheads (which hold the safety seat's upper tether).  The lower anchor points located in the seat seams receive the metal LATCH connectors, which are built into the lower part of all new child safety seats.

Although LATCH was intended to make installation easier, the total combinations of car seats and vehicles on the road make it confusing to install these seats.  Parents still need to take the time to open the car's owner manual to ensure the seat is connected properly.

If you're still not sure how to connect the seat, or you want someone else to look at your installation, then check with your local police station.  Most officers have been trained to assist parents in the correct installation of a child safety seat.

Choosing Child Safety Seats

When it comes to car seats, there are three general categories of child safety seats:  rear facing seats, forward facing seats, and booster seats.  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has a great deal of information on child seats and their installation.  In the paragraphs below, we're going to provide a brief overview of each type of seat.

Rear Facing Car Seats

Rear facing seats are used for all infants until they've reached the age of 1 and weigh at least 20 pounds.  The important factor here is the infant meets both standards:  age and weight.  If the baby reaches 20 pounds before 1 year of age, they should remain in a rear facing seat.  There are two types of rear facing seats you'll find in stores, infant-only seats and convertible seats.

Infant-Only Seats

Infant-only car seats are usually small and portable.  These seats can be used for infants up to around 22 pounds.  They are sometimes sold as part of a baby stroller system.  These seats often come with a detachable base, which stays connected to the car.  Most of these seats also have some type of carrying handle.  This type of seat will usually have a three or five point harness to hold the infant in place.

Convertible Car Seats

Convertible seats are a little bit bigger than infant-only seats, and are termed "convertible" because they can also be turned around to be a forward facing seat as the child gets older.  Because of their size, they often have higher weight limits than infant-only seats.

The flexibility of convertible seats does come at a cost.  While they may work well for larger babies, they may present problems in securing smaller babies.  That's why some convertible seats come with removable padding to help keep smaller babies from "flopping" over to one side.

Forward Facing Car Seats

Once your child has reached at least 1 year of age and 20 pounds, they can ride in a car facing forward.  While this may be more "comfortable" for parent and child, a rear facing seat generally offers more protection, and you might want to keep the child rear facing until they reach the weight and or height limit of the safety seat itself.

There are three categories of forward facing seats that you'll find in stores:  convertible seats (already discussed), forward facing seats, and combination booster / forward facing seats.

Booster Seats

Booster seats are the final stage of car safety seats for children.  Your child is ready for a booster seat once they've reached the upper limit of height or weight for their forward facing seat.  Until then, the harnesses found on forward facing seats offer an added layer of protection.

The purpose of a booster seat is to raise your child up, so that the lap / shoulder belt that comes with your car fits properly.  A proper fit is low across the thighs and crossing back across the middle of the chest.  Booster seats are sold with and without seat backs.

Child Protection Laws

State laws governing the use of car seats are confusing at best.  Car dealers should be familiar with local laws, as will your local law enforcement officials.  If you're having your first baby, make sure you understand the laws that apply before putting the infant in a car seat for the first time.

If you're traveling out of state, car rental agencies should be able to help you figure out what's required in addition to supplying you with the right equipment.  Penalties for unrestrained, or improperly restrained, children vary from state to state from stiff fines to warnings.

Child Seat Safety Ratings

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is now entering its tenth year of publishing Ease of Use Ratings for child safety seats.  The good news is that assembly, labels, and instructions continue to improve for all types of child restraint systems.

In 2011, there were 225 different child restraint systems selected and tested from a variety of manufacturers.  Based on the results of those tests, the NHTSA publishes ratings, which help educate parents about child safety seat features and guide them in the process of finding the appropriate safety seat for their child.

The child seat safety ratings are published on a five-point scale, with five stars being the highest rating.  Each type of seat receives ratings in labeling, instructions, installation, securing of the child, and overall ease of use.  All car seats rated by the NHTSA meet Federal Safety Standards as well as strict crash performance standards.  You can visit the NHTSA website for a complete listing of car safety seat rating results.

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