We were happy to once again take part in the Baby and Beyond Expo and we all hope every attendee had a great time. We talked to hundreds of parents and parents-to-be and out of all the questions we received this weekend, four in particular came up a lot.
When can children move from a 5-point harness to a high back booster?
Even though each state has their own laws, *NHTSA and *AAP and are the best to refer to. Most booster seats have a lower weight threshold of 40 pounds, though some still have a 30-pound minimum weight. We advocate for waiting as long as possible to move a child to the next step in any child restraints. That means waiting until the child has topped the height and weight limit of their harnessed car seat before transitioning to a booster seat.
Do car seats expire?
Yes, car seats expire. It is recommended that a car seat be thrown out after seven years or so. The reason is not because of danger that the plastic is degenerating. Regulations and standards are changing every day and even though the plastic is good for at least 10 years, it will still wear down over the years. To ensure the upmost safety for your child, check the owner’s manual and find the car seat expiration date.
When should children be switched from rear facing to forward facing?
In a policy statement published in Pediatrics, *AAP now advises parents to keep toddlers in rear-facing car seats until at least age two, or until they exceed the height or weight limit for the car seat, which can be found on the back of the seat.
What is a child ID sticker?
We handed out a lot of child ID stickers this weekend and many parents weren’t familiar with them. Child ID stickers are to be placed on the bottom or back of a child safety/booster seat to help emergency personnel identify your child if an accident disables the adults in the vehicle. The emergency personnel will be able to treat your child with the help of the child’s medical information written on the identification sticker.
We had a great time meeting so many families and expectant mothers and fathers. We hope everyone was able to learn something new or jog their memory on important guidelines regarding their child’s safety in a vehicle. Some parents may want to speed up the booster seat or rear facing to front facing process but it’s important to remember that it’s about the child’s safety, not what they want. They grow up fast enough, don’t rush it!
September is National Child Passenger Safety Month and we are partnering with Evenflo and Cincinnati Children’s to give away 12 car seats. Be sure to visit our website, wwww.gcada.net to register!
*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
*American Academy of Pediatrics
