Below is a release on a clinical report appearing in the May issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

For Release: April 27, 12:01 am (ET)

Proper selection and use of car seats or car beds are important in ensuring that preterm or low birth weight infants are transported safely. The new AAP clinical report, “Safe Transportation of Preterm and Low Birth Weight Infants at Hospital Discharge,” provides important and safe transportation guidelines for pediatricians and caregivers counseling parents with preterm babies. According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, correctly used car safety seats are 71 percent effective in preventing fatalities to infants in a passenger car crash. It is suggested that preterm and low birth weight infants at risk for adverse cardiorespiratory events or episodes of apnea should have a period of observation by trained hospital staff of 90 to 120 minutes in a car safety seat before hospital discharge. Parents should be advised that car safety seats should be used only for travel, and a rear-facing car safety seat in the back seat is the safest place for all children.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.