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National
Child Passenger Safety Week
September 12 - 18, 2009
Materials
for 2009 Child Passenger Safety Week
The
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) would like to take this opportunity to remind
pediatricians and parents of the AAP recommendations for safe transportation of
children.
- Infants should ride in rear-facing
car safety seats to the highest weight or height allowed
by their car safety seat's manufacturer. At a minimum, children should ride rear-facing until they have reached at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. When children reach the highest weight of length allowed by the manufacturer of their infant seat, they should continue to ride rear-facing in a convertable sear. Never place a rear-facing car
safety seat in front of an air bag.
- Children who have outgrown their rear-facing
seats should ride in forward-facing car safety seats for as long as
they fit well (ears below the top of the back of the seat and shoulders
below the top harness slots or until they reach the top weight or
height allowed for their seats).
- Children who have outgrown their car safety seats
but are too small to wear seat belts properly should ride in booster
seats. For more information about safe transportation of children
who have outgrown their car safety seats, please see the AAP/Partners
for Child Passenger Safety Issue Report on Booster Seats
 .
- Seat belts fit properly when they can be worn
with the lap portion of the belt low and snug across the thighs, and
the shoulder portion across the chest and shoulder without cutting
across the face and neck while sitting against the vehicle seat back
with feet comfortably hanging down.
Remember that all
children age 12 years and younger are safest in the back seat.
Information
on restraining children properly
AAP Policy on child passenger
safety
Further information on child passenger safety
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