The recent reports regarding car seat safety, most notably the publication and then retraction by Consumer Reports on which car seats passed their crash tests, caused quite a stir in many news circles, not to mention causing concern and worry to millions of parents across the nation. Below are some recommended tips for car seat safety from the Columbus Health Department and OhioHealth.
- Car seats should be placed in the back middle seat of your car. For infants, the car seat should face the rear of the car.
- Use the level indicator on you rear-facing infant or convertible seat to get the correct angle as indicated in the instruction manual.
- Car seats should be installed with the LATCH system if you have it in your car.
- When placing your child in the car seat, check that the harness is snug. A snug harness lies flat against your child without sagging and does not press into the child's flesh or cause your child to sit in an uncomfortable or unnatural position.
General car seat recommendations
- Children must ride in a car seat until age 4 AND they have reached 40 lbs.
- Children ages 4-15 years old should ride in the backseat of your vehicle and must be in a safety restraint such as a booster seat or seat belt.
- Booster seats are recommended for children until their knees are able to bend at the seat edge and rest comfortably on the floor of the car and the lap part of the seat belt rests comfortably across their hips and not across their stomach.
More information on car seat safety is available on the following websites: