Car Seat Guidelines 2018: When Can I Move My Child?

You have probably heard that the American Academy of Pediatrics made some changes to their Car Seat Safety Guidelines this month.

But, if you are like most of the parents I know, you don’t have time to look those up and try to sort through what has changed and why.

So don’t worry, part of what I do at the Dream Baby Cafe is take that research off your hands so you have more time to enjoy your baby. (You're welcome!)

In this article I update you on the recent recommendations by the AAP on Guidelines for Car Seat Safety -  including when to transition your child from the car seat at the different stages of development.

If you want to watch the YouTube version of this article with just the highlights you can watch it here:

Maybe you are not aware that automobile accidents are the leading cause of death among children greater than one.

As a parent, I know that you spend a lot of your time worrying about your children’s health and safety. You do everything you can to keep them healthy and safe in your home.

 But, you can’t control what happens out on the roadways. The only thing you can do is make sure that you are driving safely and your children are protected inside your own vehicle.

So, let’s make sure that you are as well equipped as you can be!  

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently made changes to their recommendations in order to provide better guidelines for children. The previous guidelines recommended that children stay rear facing until the age of 2 years.

But, we know that there is too much variability in size among 2 year olds. In much of pediatrics, we base our standard of measurement, not on age, but on weight.

When your child is sick and your provider needs to prescribe medication, they dose based on your child’s weight, not age, because all two year olds don’t weigh the same. Your two year old could be a lot smaller than your neighbor’s child. So, they don’t require the same dose of medication.

The same is true for guidelines related to car seats.

Each manufacturer has made their car seat models with specific maximum height and weight limits.

To say that a child should be moved at a certain age, does not take into account those limits or a child's individual variability.

A child could still fit into the car seat at 2years, or could have already exceeded those weight or height limits, or could fit into that seat for a lot longer.

So, the AAP changed their recommendations to state that a child should stay rear facing “as long as possible” -  until they exceed the weight and height limits of the specific seat they are riding in.

(These limits will be listed on the outside of your child’s car seat as well as in the manual.)

Why is it important for the child to stay rear facing?

In an auto accident, the most vulnerable part of the child’s body,  is the head, neck and spine. That is the part we are the most concerned about protecting. If the seat is rear facing, the hard shell covering of the car safety seat takes the full force of the accident for your child.

Many parents are concerned about the position of their child’s legs in the car seat as they get bigger. They say, "My child’s legs are getting longer and they touch the back of the seat or have to be curled up."  That may be true but this does not hurt your child. Very few injuries occur to children's legs in an accident. The soft seat back may protect your child’s legs and most children sit with their feet crossed or curled up anyway so they are not uncomfortable.

But, if your child is turned forward facing, in an accident the harness will hold your child’s body in place, but your child’s head can still propel forward and your child can still receive injury to his head and back and spine.

Each time you transition your child from one stage of car safety seat to the next the risk of injury in an accident increases.

You want to make sure that your child is actually developmentally ready to move to the next stage  -  not that you are moving your child because you can't see him well, or he is crying or she is begging you to move her.  

Car Seat Safety is one area where we should not be too quick to want our children to progress in development.

Holding them back as long as possible is best in this case. Don’t be swayed by your child's arguments of  “None of my friends ride in a car seat anymore” or even your own friends saying that they turned their child around "a long time ago!". 

Types of Car Seats and Guidelines

Infants should ride in rear facing seats from their first ride home from the hospital.

Make sure you have a seat prior to your baby’s birth and familiarize yourself with how to properly install it.

Taking it out of the box and trying to figure out how to put that thing in the car with mom and baby waiting at the hospital entrance to go home is going to be a tiny bit stressful!!

There are so many different seats - it can be really overwhelming. Let’s break it down.

(This article by the AAP lists so much helpful information on types of car seats, lists of seats, installation tips and answers questions and links you to so much more helpful information. Check it out for more detailed information here 

Rear Facing Only

Typically small and comes with a carrying handle to transport baby

Usually fits babies up to 22- 35 lbs

Often has a base that the carrier clips into that can be left in the car (often can buy an extra base to leave in additional cars)

Only used for transporting baby - DO NOT LET BABY SLEEP IN THE CAR SEAT CARRIER as this is a SIDS risk!

Convertible car seats (used in rear facing position)

Larger car seat that can be used rear facing then when child outgrows this it converts to a forward facing seat

Stays in the car (Is not used to carry baby)  

Stays buckled in the vehicle

Has a maximum weight/height limit for rear facing then must be turned forward facing

Typically has higher weight limits so these seats can be used longer

DO NOT LET CHILD SLEEP IN CAR SEAT OUTSIDE OF CAR!

3 in I Seats

Can be used for rear facing, forward facing and as a  belt positioning booster seat

Has higher weight and height limits so these are bigger can be used longer for toddlers and preschool aged kids

Make sure that these will fit in your vehicle in the rear facing position according to weight/height limits

Once your child has reached the limits of the car safety seat they are riding rear facing in, transition them to a forward facing seat.

Some parents are concerned about their child crying  or not being able to see their child or entertain their child while rear facing. This is understandable. Some children are easily settled in the car, but some kids seem to hate getting in the car and cry the whole time. 

This is when you have to use your best parent tricks and hacks.

• Get creative
• Keep special car seat toys that your child only gets to play with in the car so that they remain favorites and your child does not get bored of them
• Use music.
• Talk to your child.
• Use mirrors so your child can see himself.

Try to determine if your child is getting too hot in the car seat or if your child is getting car sick.

These problems can be remedied and can make a miserable trip easier to bear for everyone.

A little crying will not hurt your child.

But moving to a less safe option certainly can.

Remind yourself of the risks of transitioning your child too early. This can help you when you are tempted to move your child too early. 

Forward Facing

When your child has outgrown the height/weight limits of the rear facing seat, then move to a forward facing seat. You can switch to a convertible or 3 in I seat, whichever your prefer, but make sure that you follow the guidelines for proper installation and safety.

When your child moves to a forward facing seat, make sure you follow the manufacturer's guidelines for installation of your car seat and all safety features, making sure you are using the correct lap shoulder belts and belt positioning devices. .

If switching from a convertible or 3 in I seat make sure you switch the straps into the correct positions.

Follow the guidelines for making sure your car seat is installed correctly here:

Your child can stay in the forward facing position until he reaches the maximum weight and height limits that your manufacturer sets.

You can find this on the seat itself or in the manual. Do not let your child talk you into moving out of the car seat too soon. Safety is your first priority.

Remember, each time you transition your child to a different stage of car seat, the greater the risk of injury from accident there is.

 Booster seat

When children outgrow their car seat they are ready for a booster seat.

How do you know your child is ready for a booster seat?

If your child:

• Has exceeded the manufacturer’s weight and height limits of the car seat in the forward facing position
• His shoulders are above the top slots where the harness straps come out
• His tops of his ears reach the top of the seat  

Then your child is ready to transition to a booster seat.  

Booster seats typically come in two types:

A high back booster and

A backless booster

It doesn’t matter which kind you get.

What matters is that you use the booster with the seat’s belt positioning booster straps.

Booster seats must be used with a lap and shoulder belt.

When using a booster seat, make sure:

• The lap belt lies low and snug across your child's upper thighs.

• The shoulder belt crosses the middle of your child's chest and shoulder and is off the neck.

• They will often come with special clips to position the seat belt - use these.

Some  people think that special seat belt adjusters that you put over the seat belt will help instead of a booster. These do not work and are not a substitute for a booster.

Do not cut corners on a booster seat.

If a child cannot sit in the booster with a seat belt fitting correctly than they are not ready and serious injury can occur.

When can a child transition out of the booster?

• A child must be 4’9” and
• 8-12 years of age before they are ready to transition to the regular car set.

You will meet the most resistance about staying in the booster because there is such variability in age and size in these years.

Many of your child’s friends may be sitting in a regular car seat.

But, You Are The Parent.

There is no negotiating when it comes to safety rules.

Just state the facts to your child. You can move when these conditions occur.

Let’s check. If your child has reached the benchmark, then prepare the move. If your child is not there yet, just be matter of fact. And state the rule again.

Check out these guidelines and a video for booster seats here: 

 When can the child transition to the vehicle seat with seat belts?

• Your child can transition to the vehicle seat when he is 4’9” AND between 8 -12 years of age.
•  They should be able to sit in the seat with their back to the back of the seat and their legs bent over the edge of the seat.
• Most children are usually older than 10.
• They must use a the lap and shoulder belt safely in order to sit in the car seat safely.
• The lap belt should lie low and snug across your child's upper thighs.

• The shoulder belt should cross the middle of your child's chest and shoulder and be off the neck.

Watch this video for more details about using seat belts with older children

• Make sure that the vehicle seat belt is properly positioned across the child’s lap and shoulder.
• If it is not, keep your child in the booster until the car seat belt fits correctly.
• Do not ever allow the child to tuck the shoulder strap behind their head or neck - this is extremely dangerous and could result in serious injuries in an accident.
• Do not use belt positioning devices as these are not considered safe
  

    

  When Can My Child Ride in the Car's Front Seat? 

• Children must be 13 years or older before they can ride in the front seat
• AND they must meet all of the other requirements for sitting in a car seat 
• The seat belt must fit appropriately
• The lap belt lies low and snug across your child's upper thighs.
• The shoulder belt crosses the middle of your child's chest and shoulder and is off the neck.
• Their back must fit against the back of the seat and their legs must bend over the edge of the seat.

We spend a lot of time in our cars. Some babies and children like it and are easier to entertain. Some babies cry every time they get in the car. Some children can really wear a parent down with their crying and begging. It can sometimes seem easier to give in to the thing that makes our children happy, especially if it stops crying.

When we understand WHY guidelines are created, and we know WHAT those guidelines are, it helps us to be able to stand firm against a fussy baby, or a whining toddler or a begging school age child.

I hope that these guidelines have now made car seat safety more clear for you. You might want to bookmark them as you will need to refer back to them as your child grows up.

But, it is not enough to JUST keep your child rear facing or in a booster seat. Your child's car safety seat needs to be installed correctly as well. 

So while you are thinking about car seat safety, you may want to take this opportunity to recheck the installation of your car seat. 

You can use this article from the American Academy of Pediatrics to refresh your memory about important facts about Car Seat safety such as the LATCH system, installation tips, winter safety, positioning for little babies, etc. Check out that valuable information here .

Then come on over to the Dream Baby Cafe Private FB group and let’s talk about some ways that you can keep your child entertained in that car seat. That is the tough part, I know.

But, there are some tricks and tips to keep your child happy and safe in the car seat. There is no one better to learn these tips from than other moms! Let's help each other out in this challenge. Come on over and post your most difficult challenging moments and see if other moms can help you come up with some creative solutions.

And as always, please share this information with your friends. They will thank you for bringing them information that will help make motherhood easier for them too!