Safer Child Products

Did you know that last April the American Academy of Pediatrics and Safe Kids Worldwide made new recommendations for keeping children Rear Facing in Car Seats until age 2?  This is a big change.  If this is your first child, you may not know any different, but if this is not your first you may want to say “What?  That sounds crazy!”  However, the recommendations for “best practice” are not crazy.  It goes along with a 2007 study in the journal Injury Prevention that “children younger than 2 are 75% less likely to die or be severely injured in a crash if they are riding in a rear-facing child seat.” 

The purpose of buckling your child into a car seat is to secure them so they do not move in the event of a short stop or crash.  The seat should be tight like it is “one” with the car.  The harness’ job is to keep the child in the seat, so that should be snug to their body, not their clothes.  The goal is to have the child restraint (car seat) take and distribute the force of the crash, over the child’s entire body.  When forward facing, the heavy head is likely to snap forward, injuring or cracking the spine.  As discussed in an article in the Chicago Tribune, “A rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash.”
NHTSA reported in USA Today that car crashes remain the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14, but a “Properly used child safety seat decreases the risk of death by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers.” NHTSA also said that ”Children are 59% less likely to be injured in a booster seat than if they were using seat belts alone.”

Always check the height and weight restrictions on the side of your child car seat and follow the recommendations.  If you are using the vehicle seat belt to attach the car seat check daily to be sure that it did not accidentally get popped open. 

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/story/2011-09-15/gaps-in-child-seat-safety/50419556/1

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-10-05/health/ct-x-1005-car-seat-guidelines-20111005_1_child-safety-rear-facing-car-seats

Safer Child Products

It’s back to school time for many of us whether your child is 4 or 14!    Backpacks are an essential component of back to school gear.  Your child may tell you that it has to be their favorite color or favorite character or everyone’s wearing a messenger bag this year!  However, backpacks are not just for looks!  The improper usage of a backpack can have long term harmful effects on your child’s spine. 

I watched the past 2 years as my little one has worn her saggy backpack down by her but, while my older one struggled with carrying a messenger bag.  After reading up on Backpack Safety, this year I got smart.  I made sure that each of them tried on the backpacks before we bought any.  They had to fit properly and be easy to adjust.  They had to be comfortable so that the kids would want to wear them properly every day. This year I am expecting my big one to have more work and a heavier load, so I wanted a backpack that was up to the job!

According to Backpack Safety America, a child should never carry more than 15 % of their bodyweight in their backpack and it should not rest lower than the base of their spine.  “When worn correctly, the weight in a backpack is evenly distributed across the body, and shoulder and neck injuries are less common than if someone carried a briefcase or purse. As practical as backpacks are, though, they can strain muscles and joints and may cause back pain if they're too heavy or are used incorrectly.”

Dr. Chad Laurence advises that the backpack be worn snugly against the body, have a structurally reinforced base as well as a belt strap.

For more backpack safety recommendations and explanations of pain and risks from improper usage, visit:

http://www.communitypub.com/education/x1528797569/Backpacks-Not-your-spines-best-friend