Safer Child Products

I posted a video on my Safer Child Products FB page the other day that really upset me.  It showed wonderful family bonding, but at least 2 out of the 3 children appeared to be improperly restrained.  The child sitting in the front seat couldn't have been more that 8y/o.  The front passenger's seat is not a safe place for young children to sit, especially if there is an active airbag.  Until you are at least age 13 you should ride in the rear seat if at all possible.

Then a friend asked me if I could give a ride to her small 1st grade daughter.  She is about 7 y/o and about 50 pounds.  When I asked if she rides in a booster, the mom said no.  After careful consideration, I realized that I was not comfortable with this.  My 8 y/o who is taller and slim but probably close to 50 pounds rides in a backless booster.  I told the Mom that in my car I would be more comfortable if her child would ride in a booster.  I explained that a Belt Positioning Booster Seat(BPB) raises the child up to a position where the Vehicle Seat Belt will fit them properly. Ideally, a child should be in a belt positioning booster seat from the time they outgrow their forward facing seat with harness (usually between ages 3-5) until they reach 4'9" tall.

The child should be able to pass The Safety Belt Fit Test.  Did I just say 4’9”?  Yes I did.  Did I forget to mention the age limit?  No, I chose not to, because it is not about their age, it is about how the adult seat belt fits them.  Whether in a BPB or not, the seat belt needs to cross between the shoulder and the neck and the lap belt needs to sit across the hard hip bones or upper thighs,  NOT on the soft tummy.  If a seat belt does not fit properly, a child is likely to sustain life-threatening injuries in a crash.  The shoulder belt will not hold them back into the seat, and the lap belt can cause a number of injuries to the internal organs.

For more information on Booster Seat Safety and on the Safety Belt Fit Test go to http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/big-kids/on-the-way/booster-seat-and-seat-belts.html