The Academy of Pediatrics In The USA States That Positioning Children Under The Age Of Two In A Rear

Feb. 16, 2012 - PRLog -- Contained within a new policy introduced in the issue of April 2011 of Pediatrics, parents are advised to keep their children in a rear-facing car seat up till ages 2 or when they have attained the maximum height as well as weight for their particular seat. However, the AAP also emphasized the need and importance of children riding in a booster seat that are easily belt positioned for their safety until they have attained a height of four feet and nine inches and aged between eight and twelve years old.

An earlier published policy in 2002 informed parents of the need for their toddlers and infants to be placed in a rear-facing position as the safest way for their babies to ride, particularly mentioning 1 year old and weighing 20 pounds as the minimum age restriction. Consequently, a huge majority of parents began turning their child's car seat to a forward facing position immediately their child turned one year old.

"Parents are optimistic about the transition of their child from one stage to the other, nonetheless, these transitions can wait until they are needed, when the child completely outgrows the limits for his or her current stage," cited Dennis Durban, MD, FAAP, lead author of policy statement as well as accompanying technical report.

According to dr durbin, "a rear facing child safety seat does a better job of protecting vital areas that includes a child's neck, head and spine in the even of an accident or collision as it distributes the entire force of the crash through the whole entire body thereby reducing serious impact to vital organs". "for larger children, a forward-facing seat with a harness is safer than a booster, and a belt-positioning booster seat provides better protection than a seat belt alone until the seat belt fits correctly."

Irrespective of the fact that rate of deaths in motor vehicle accidents in kids under the ages of sixteen years has decreased dramatically, reducing forty five percent between 1997-2009, people will be amazed to discover that it is still the main cause of death for children ages four and above. Counting children and teens up to age 21, there are more than 5,000 deaths each year. The number of victims are just the beginning, for every casualty, approximately 18 kids get admitted in hospital as over 400 are seriously injured to the extent of requiring medical attention.

New research has found children are safer in rear-facing car seats. The 2007 journal injury prevention study unveiled that children within the ages of 2 yr were 75% less likely to be killed or obtain very severe injuries in the event of a crash if they are sat in a rear facing manner.

"Ages 2 suggested is not ideally a deadline but like a guide for parents to understand the right time to make the transition, Dr Durbin instigated." The category of smaller sized children tend to benefit more from being positioned rear-faced, while other larger sized children can reach the allowable height and weight necessary before they attain the age of 2 years old.

Kids are required to be transitioned from a rear facing car seat to that of a forward facing car seats that comes with a safety harness until they attain the maximum height and weight for that seat. So a booster seat will ensure the child's shoulder and laps fit appropriately for maximum safety. For an effective result, the shoulder belt must run across the middle of the chest and shoulder and should be no where near the face or neck of kids. While the lap belt on the other hand must fit low and snug on the upper thighs and hips instead of the belly. Booster seat will be required for most kids until they have reached 4'9" and aged between 8- 12 years old.

Kids should often be sat in a Booster seat or an infant car seat in the rear seat of the vehicle until they have turned 13 years in age. http://www.primoeurobath.com/booster-seat.html

Children under the age of 2 years old are often permitted by the Federal Aviation Authority to fly on the laps of adults in an airplane even though they are more secure in an age and size appropriate restraint. http://www.primoeurobath.com/infant-car-seat.html

Children should ride properly restrained on every trip in every type of transportation, on the road or in the air, Dr. Durbin said.

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