American Academy of Pediatrics Recommends New Child Car Safety Seat Guidelines
After the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced its Most Wanted List for Transportation Safety Improvements, car safety seats and other child safety measures became a top priority in its mission for promoting highway safety and reducing car accidents.
Working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in developing safety standards for children, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently published updated recommendations for child safety seat guidelines.
The Academy, founded in 1930, has remained dedicated to promoting the health, safety and well-being of our nation's young. The last car safety standards were recommended in 2002. But, the recent initiative was prompted by newly-published research in the reputable journal, "Injury Prevention." Using NHTSA crash data from 1988 to 2003, University of Virginia researchers found that, for all crash types, children in front facing car seats (FFCSs) were significantly more likely to be seriously injured than those children rear facing car seats (RFCS). In reviewing these car seat comparisons, the AAP formulated its recommendations.
In the AAP's 32-page guide, "Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families," parents are offered more than just information on recalls and installation tips; the guide also explains the new guidelines.
Under the AAP's guidance, parents and care providers are encouraged to keep infants and toddlers in rear-facing car seats until the age of 2 years. Additionally, the amended safety protocols suggest that children over age 2 should use forward facing safety seats with harnesses, and that booster seats should be used for those children under 4 feet 9 inches or who are between the ages of 8 and 12 years.
Awareness of child seat laws and new studies are vital to ensure the safety of our smallest citizens. With these new car restraint guidelines, parents and other advocates of child safety will help reduce the risks of highway tragedies involving infants and children.
