Rear-facing-
Children forward facing in a car seat are more likely to be injured in a car accident versus those who are rear-facing.
Children under 2 who are forward facing are 4-5 times more likely to be injured in an accident than those who are rear facing.
An article published in Pediatrics (the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics) states that children under 2 are 75% safer rear-facing vs. forward facing.
1years old and 20 lbs. is the absolute minimum to forward face.
It's basically minimum law vs. best practice. The 1 and 20 law is meant for parents who otherwise wouldn't protect their kids, it's better to keep them rear-facing to the limit of their seat.
The AAP recommends using a convertible seat rear-facing to it's limit.
There are many seats that can stay rear facing up to 35 pounds.
In a crash, a forward facing child will have tremendous stress put on their necks from their large heads. The mass of the head of a small child is 25% of their body weight, as compared to an adults 6%. Rear facing does a much better job protecting children because there is less stress on the head, neck, and spine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRP7ynNI8mI
I highly recommend watching this-it did make me a bit teary eyed
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/stayrearfacing.aspx
Article w/ pictures about benefits of rear facing
http://myangelsaliandpeanut.tripod.com/id5.html
Article w/ pictures about benefits of rear facing-also got me teary-eyed
http://forum.carseatdata.org/convertible-seats/1827-rear-facing-is-best-true-story.html
Another story about rear-facing-also highly emotional
5-point harnesses-
After rear facing, a 5 point harness is the next safest thing for children.
There are seats that can keep a child in a 5 point harness up to 80 pounds.
5 point harnesses are better than T-shields and overhead shields. They allow more room to move around during a crash, they don't fit as snugly as a harness does.
A child should be kept in a harness as long as possible.
Experts have said you should keep a child harnessed anywhere from to age 6-10, which is when the iliac crests are fully developed.
Compare these 2 videos and watch how the dummy moves in each:
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/kisitest_2002/videos/test2002/frontcrash/maxicosipriori.mpg
This is of a harnessed seat similar to those sold in the U.S.
http://www.oeamtc.at/netautor/html_seiten/kisitest_2002/videos/test2002/frontcrash/maxicosirodi.mpg
This is of a booster seat similar to those sold in the U.S.
Boosters-
Many children need to be in boosters much longer than they are. It depends in large part on their size. Some 10 year old's should still be in boosters.
Age 4 is the minimum age for a booster, but it is really much better to keep a child harnessed until they are about 50-60 pounds, or a minimum age of 5-6.
Children should be mature enough to sit properly in a booster and not fall over while asleep.(Although you could look for one with good side impact protection and they can use that to rest their heads on while they sleep.)
Boosters with backs are safer than those without. They should be used with a seat belt that has a shoulder belt, not just a lap belt.
A child may need a booster in one car/seating position but not another. You should follow the test below:
SafetyBeltSafe USA has developed a simple, 5-step test:
- Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
- Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
- Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
- Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
- Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
Latch and Top tethers (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren)-
Latch is found in newer cars and are there to make car seat installation easier. It is not any safer to use this versus a seat belt to install your car seat, as long as the seat is installed properly. If you have latch you need to read your car owner's manual to find out the weight limits for using latch. Once you surpass the weight limits you should use the seat belt.
http://www.saferidenews.com/html/LATCH_P8.htm
Expiration-
Car seats do have an expiration date on them. They are usually 5-6 years, although some are longer. If it is expired you shouldn't use it. Plastic breaks down over time, especially after being exposed to extreme temperatures that you find in cars. As the plastic breaks down the car seats becomes brittle and unsafe. This is true even if you can't see signs of the break down. Expired car seats need to be destroyed and replaced.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvCRz7BRAM0
Crash test of an expired car seat
Accidents-
You should never use a car seat that has been in a moderate to severe car accident, sometimes even minor accidents can make a seat unsafe. In an accident the car seat is placed under a lot of stress and the plastic is stretched and weakened. Car seats are made for only one crash, then they are done. Seat belts are also made this way. They, too, should be replaced in the event of a crash. Most insurance companies will pay to replace your seat.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/ChildRestraints/ReUse/RestraintReUse.htm
Used car seats-
You should never use a car seat if you don't know it's history, you never know if it's been in a crash. Even if you don't see signs of a crash, it may have been in one, and the seat may be expired.
Winter coats-
You shouldn't use bulky coats in car seats. In an accident the coat will compress leaving too much slack around your child. They could fly right out of the seat if forces were strong enough. The same is true for adults. You can use blankets and fleece jackets to keep the child warm in the car. Using pillows in seat belts as a car seat would probably have that same effect.
http://www.car-safety.org/faq.html#Q57
After market products-
Things that have been made for car seats or seat belts are considered after-market if they weren't made and crashed tested by the manufacturer of the car seat. Such things include belt adjusters and toys that attach to car seats. They may claim to be safety tested, but since there is no federal standards for these products there is nothing to test it against. If it came with the car seat it is okay to use.
Proper use of car seats-
A child in a seat belt that is too small can be seriously injured, even in a minor fender bender. Car seats should be installed as tightly as possible in a car, and should move no more than 1 inch at the belt path. Harness straps should also be snug, allowing no more than 1 finger between the strap and the child. They should not be so tight that the child is bent in an uncomfortable or unnatural position. The chest clip should be at armpit level.
Here are some other links:
http://www.carsafety4kids.com/
http://www.carseatsite.com/
www.car-safety.org/links2.html
http://www.kyledavidmiller.org/
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