The Importance of Child Passenger Safety and What Seat is Right for Your Child

May is National Child Passenger Safety Technician Month, a time to reflect on proper child passenger safety and the importance of a car seat in protecting your child on the road. It’s important to understand which car seats are right for you, your child, and your vehicle, while also highlighting how to properly install and maintain your child’s car seat. 

Choosing the Right Car Seat or Booster Seat

Car seats and booster seats offer protection for infants and children in a crash. Unfortunately, car crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1-13. But why? The leading cause is incorrectly installed car seats. It’s important to choose the right seat and use it correctly in order to keep your child as safe as possible. First, you need to select the right seat for your vehicle that factors in your child, then install it correctly. 

Rear-Facing Car Seats

The first of the four car seat types, rear-facing seats are the best type of seat for younger children to use. These have a harness and, during a crash, cradle and move with the child to reduce stress on your children’s neck and spinal cord. These come in three different styles: 

• Infant car seats are designed for newborns and small babies, making this the most portable option. These are typically only used for the child’s first year before they transition to a larger seat. 

• Convertible seats use a tether and harness like a forward-facing car seat. They can be used with children of various sizes and utilize a harness and tether to keep your kid safe and in the rear-facing position longer. 

• All-in-one seats act as a booster and can transition into a forward-facing position as needed, meaning this can be used at any point in your child’s life. 

Forward-Facing Car Seats

One of the most common types of car seats, forward-facing seats utilize a harness and tether to limit your child's forward movement during a crash. This works similar to how normal seatbelts function, but with an added degree of protection. These come in three types: 

• Convertible seats are forward-facing seats that can shift back to rear-facing seats if needed. They’re flexible and easy to carry. 

• Combination seats are transitional seats, meaning these can be used at any point during your child’s growth to act initially as a forward-facing seat that can transition into a booster seat with tethers and harness. 

• All-in-One seats can adjust from rear-facing to forward facing and a booster to suit your child’s age. 

Booster Seats

Booster seats are raised and position a child so the vehicle's lap-and-shoulder belts fit properly over the stronger points of a child’s body, that being the hips and across the chest. These come in four different types: 

• High back booster seats are designed to boost the child’s height so seat belts fit them properly. It also provides neck and head support, making it ideal for vehicles that don’t have head rests or high seat backs. This seat may ease the transition from a harnessed car seat by having a similar structure and must be used with the standard seat belts to be effective. 

• Backless booster seats provide the same benefit without the head and neck support. These should only be used in vehicles that have preexisting headrests or high seat backs. 

• Combination seats are both forward-facing and a booster seat, but require a seatbelt to be fully effective. 

• All-in-one seats can act as forward-facing and backward-facing booster seats. 

Car Seat Safety is Child Safety

If under the age of 12, you should always ensure your child has a seat in the back of the car and is secured by a seatbelt. If you’re unsure how to install the seat, consult your vehicle’s owner’s menu. If you are ever in a vehicle accident and need assistance, don’t hesitate to contact Black Jack Fire Protection District. Our team of professionals is on standby to ensure you are safe no matter the situation.