Which safety seat is "the best" for my child?

The short answer: The "best" seat is the one that fits your child, fits your car, and fits your family's needs in terms of comfort and convenience, so that you'll use it on every single ride. Try before you buy! For the long answer -- read on.

How can I tell which seat fits my child?

Consider both the age and the size of your child. Follow these general rules:

• Keep babies rear facing as long as possible.
• Keep small children in a seat with a harness as long as possible.
• Keep older children in a belt-positioning booster as long as possible.

Don't "graduate" your children into a seat that gives them less protection!

Newborns usually fit best in an infant-only seat (labeled up to 20- 35 pounds), because the harness can be adjusted snugly. It may be more economical to use a convertible seat from birth, but the slots for the shoulder and crotch straps generally are not as close to the infant's body.

Babies must ride rear facing until they are at least one year old to protect the spine, possibly preventing death or lifelong disability. Babies have heavy heads and weak necks with soft bones and stretchy ligaments. In a frontal collision, which is the type most likely to cause death or severe injury, a forward-facing baby's neck may stretch up to two inches, but the spine can only stretch one-fourth of an inch. At about one year, the bones start to harden, and the baby gradually becomes less vulnerable.

Older babies usually outgrow infant-only seats before they are old enough to face forward at one year. As the baby grows, make sure there is at least one inch of space between the top of her head and the top of the safety seat (the hard plastic, not the puffy fabric). Otherwise, the baby's head may not be fully contained within the seat for best protection in a crash.

When selecting a convertible seat, be sure to check the maximum rear-facing weight, which varies from 20 to 35 pounds. The average baby weighs 20 pounds at nine months and 22 pounds at 12 months. It is wise to choose a convertible seat which allows the baby to face the rear as long as possible.

Convertible seats come with three harness styles: five-point, T-shield, or tray-shield. If a convertible seat is used from birth, it is important to choose one with a simple, five-point harness instead of a harness with an attached shield. The five-point harness can be adjusted to fit almost all sizes and shapes of children up to 40 pounds.

A harness system with a shield is not appropriate for a baby, since the shield sits in front of the face or neck and holds the harness straps away from the baby's body. A 5-point harness has several advantages for a forward-facing child. The straps are placed on the child's shoulders and low on the hips, so that crash forces are absorbed by the strongest parts of the child's body instead of the soft abdomen. If the child is husky, a T-shield may press on chubby thighs, while a tray shield may squeeze the tummy. In smaller cars, it may be hard to remove the child if the tray shield cannot be raised up completely.

Safety experts have concerns about safety seats with shields. According to Kathleen Weber, University of Michigan, Child Passenger Protection Research Program, tray-shields usually are not covered with energy-absorbing padding to protect the head if it hits the shield. This contact is more likely with a shorter child and a loose harness. In a test series with a 12-month-sized dummy, peak head acceleration was 35% higher for tray shield restraints than for 5-point harnesses. At least one child (19 lbs.) is known to have received a fatal head injury from contact with a tray shield.

Children from one year to 40 pounds

After age one, a child may ride in a forward-facing safety seat; for best protection, however, a small toddler should continue to ride rear facing as long as possible (based on the weight limit shown in the instructions). A few convertible seats are labeled to face forward at 20 to 22 pounds, but the child should not ride facing forward before age one.

When it is time to turn a convertible safety seat to face forward, based on the child's age and size, it is important to re-read the manufacturer's instruction booklet. In general, the safety seat should be adjusted to the upright position, the shoulder straps moved to the top (not center) slots, and the vehicle belt moved to a different part of the safety seat. It is essential that these adjustments be made according to the manufacturer's instructions to prevent possible serious injuries to the child.

Another type of seat for a child who is at least one year old and weighs at least 20-30 pounds, depending on the model, is a child seat, which is a forward-facing-only seat with a harness. Most of these seats come with a removable harness and are called combination seats or child seat/boosters. (Some manufacturers call these seats high-backed boosters, which is confusing, because the term "booster" generally is used to describe a seat that lifts the child up to improve the fit of vehicle lap/shoulder belts.) A tall, thin, child can fit in a seat with a harness longer by using a combination seat, which is taller than a convertible seat and may have higher strap slots. For best protection, use the built-in harness until the child outgrows it; then remove the harness and use the seat as a belt-positioning booster with the vehicle lap and shoulder belt. Never use a booster with only a lap belt.

Children over 40 pounds

If a child is ready to stay properly seated in a vehicle lap/shoulder belt, a belt-positioning booster seat is the next step. Choose a high-backed model if your child often falls asleep in the car or sometimes rides in a car with a low seatback. If the child's head is supported by the vehicle seat, consider using a backless booster. It may fit the vehicle seat better, and there are special head-positioning pillows for improved comfort. Most boosters fit up to 80 pounds; some fit up to 100 pounds. Look for a wide or adjustable base if the child is short and chunky.

If the child already has a combination child seat/booster with a removable harness, remove it at 40 pounds and use the seat as a booster with the vehicle lap and shoulder belt. If the child has been using a convertible safety seat, however, it is less expensive to replace it with a booster (no built-in harness). Most boosters have a belt-positioning strap or clip for improved comfort. The shoulder belt should be placed at the center of the shoulder, not near the top of the arm.

Most children need to use a belt-positioning booster until they are at least eight years old, depending on the child's height and where the safety belt is attached to the car. The child should continue using a booster until he or she can sit all the way back against the vehicle seat with the knees bending comfortably at the edge of the seat cushion. Otherwise, the child may slouch or slide forward to the edge of the seat, which is very dangerous. The lap belt should cross the hips or tops of the thighs, and the shoulder belt should be centered on the shoulder and chest. The child must be able to sit like this for the whole trip; otherwise, he or she is not ready for a booster.

Children who are under three or four years old or are very active may not stay put if they are not strapped in snugly. Booster seats do not work well for these children because they may lean forward or place the shoulder belt behind the back or under the arm. The Fisher-Price Futura 20/60 is the only conventional safety seat with a harness, no tether required, and certified for use up to 60 pounds. Safety harnesses without a plastic shell* and safety seats marketed primarily for children with special needs are available in larger sizes. These products require the use of a tether strap, which is attached to the car with a special bolt and bracket.

If there are no shoulder belts in the back seat, a booster cannot be used. If the family plans to keep the car for some time, it may be worth the effort and expense to order and install a shoulder belt retrofit kit. These kits may be ordered from vehicle dealers for most cars built between 1972 and 1989. (For a list of kits available, request #428 from SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.)

Booster seats with a plastic shield in front of the child are not recommended. Shield boosters do not pass current federal standards for children over 40 pounds, and children under 40 pounds should ride in a regular safety seat with a harness. If the booster has a removable shield, the base of the booster may be used with a lap/shoulder belt. Never use a booster with only a lap belt.

*Available from E-Z-On Products (800) 323-6598
 
Visit a local hospital or public health department or police department where they work with helping parents and other adults in placing child safety seat and child restraints in vehicles.  Determine how they work with the public in helping reduce child related motor vehicle injuries.  What type of programming do they conduct to help the public.  Write a one page summary of your findings/interview/observations and send this report to safety@siu.edu.