South Carolina Car Seat Safety
When to Change Them Based on the Age of the Child
General Car Seat Safety Statistics
Age-appropriate car seats reduce the risk of death in a car accident by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers.
INFANTS 71% REDUCED
CHILD PASSENGER DEATH
43%DECREASE
TODDLERS 54% REDUCED
The use of car seats is a main contributor to the 43% decrease in child passenger deaths in car accidents.
Types of Car Seats
Rear-facing seats
are specially designed to protect the spines and heads of infants.
Forward-facing seats
are for children too old or big for rear-facing seats, but who still need harness straps.
Convertible seats
are seats that can be adapted from rear-facing into forward-facing as a child grows older.
Booster seats
are for kids old enough to sit in their seat correctly, with an adjusted seat belt for height.
age groups
The most common age range for rear-facing seats is 0 to 2 years old.
Despite previous guidelines, rear-facing seats should be used for as long as a child fits under the weight and height limits.
The most common age range for forward-facing seats is 2 to 5 years old, though the seats and straps should be used until outgrown
The most common age range for booster seats is 5 to 10 years old.
sources
- https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812494
- https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p0204-child-passenger-deaths.html
- https://csftl.org/the-four-steps-of-car-seat-safety/
- https://www.verywellfamily.com/car-seat-guidelines-2633328
- https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/AAP-Updates-Recommendations-on-Car-Seats-for-Children.aspx