** National Child Passenger Safety Week **
Moms View Message Board: Parenting Discussion: ** National Child Passenger Safety Week **
In honor of National Child Passenger Safety Week February 12-18th...
Child Passenger Safety and Car Seat Resources
Trnia, I just want you to know how much I appreciate all of the work you do for child vehicle safety. I know it is your passion and it truly benefits others and I am glad you share here on the board. What is your best recommendation for Kayla's age? She weighs 52 pounds. I still have her in a booster to get her to the right height but I always wonder if it is the correct type and what the best brand is. She gets mad at me because none of her friends have one but I made Kyle use one until 80 lbs also.
Anyway, Thank you!
You're welcome, Kim. 
Safety experts now recommend kids stay in a belt positioning booster seat until they are at least 4'9" and can pass the The 5-Step Test.
5 Step Test
1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to make both the shoulder belt and the lap belt fit right for the best crash protection. Your child will be more comfortable, too!
Both my kids (7.5 & 9.5) still ride in boosters and will for a long time yet because neither pass the 5 Step Test. Ty (my oldest) gave me a hard time for awhile until we sat down together and went over CPS literature and watched crash test videos. The clincher for him was when he read that kids in boosters are 60% safer than their peers who ride in seat belts alone. I haven't heard a complaint from him since!
More info about the benefits of booster seats at the link below. A MUST READ! (Warning - A graphic photo showing an injury caused by improper seat belt use is shown.)
Benefits of Booster Seats
More info:
BoosterSeat.gov
Shield boosters are no longer recommended.
More photos and information:
The Dangers of Shield Boosters
U.S. Transportation Chief Declares Low Child Booster Seat Use
"Unacceptable"
National statistics showing less than one out of every five kids between
the ages of four and eight is riding in a car booster seat are a sign of
"failure" and must be addressed immediately, U.S. Transportation
Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said today during a visit to the Children's
Hospital of Philadelphia.
First responders and emergency room doctors and nurses are "doing their
part to address the consequences of this country's failure to put
children in booster seats," Mineta said at a news conference, but he
labeled "unacceptable" the effort to get kids buckled up. "Starting
right now we must all do a better job."
Over the past two years, Mineta said less than 20 percent of kids who
should be in booster seats are actually in them when they are riding in
cars.
He used the occasion to announce a new federal initiative that will
provide $25 million over the next four years to states that pass and
enforce new or tougher booster seat laws. He said 34 states and the
District of Columbia already have booster seat laws, but took time to
call the names of the 16 states that don't have such protections on the
books.
These states, Mineta said, should "do the right thing and pass a law
now."
Mineta also called on parents to do a better job, saying they should
make sure their children are in booster seats regardless of local
statutes.
"Just because they may not be the law of the land, does not mean they
should not be the law of your house," Mineta said.
As for the low use rates, Mineta said people were either "unfamiliar
with the risks or unaware of the benefits."
"Either way, ignorance isn't bliss...it's deadly," he said.
Mineta encouraged parents to visit BoosterSeat.gov to find out if their child should be in a
booster seat and said his Department would spend $285,000 for new
billboard and radio and television advertisements to promote booster
seat use nationwide.
Mineta was joined by Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), whom he thanked for his
support and passage of critical highway safety and infrastructure
legislation last year.
The Secretary's Speech can be found at
http://www.dot.gov/affairs/minetasp021306.htm
To find a Child Passenger Safety Technician in your area:
SeatCheck.org
I did car seat inspections this morning. Wow. Please, please read and follow the car seat and vehicle instruction manuals!
Trina, they were talking about carseats on the news yesterday. Ds heard them say that you should be in a booster until 8 and/or 80 lbs. Well, he will be 8 next month, so he wants to know if he can get out of his booster then. Isn't there a test or guidline about when it is safe for them to be out of a booster?? He isn't even close to 80 lbs. He is actually only around 50 lbs, but he is very tall. I want to say he is around 55 inches tall.
Deb, Read my response to Kim above.
Duh...thanks, Trina. I guess it would help to scroll all the way through the thread. . That is exactly what I was looking for.
You're welcome, Deb.
Never leave kids unsupervised in a vehicle. Luckily this child wasn't hurt, but it could have been much worse.
Toddler Unharmed After Taking Mom's Van For A Spin
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