Safety Belt Fit Test

Test all children under age 13 to be sure they are big enough to safely wear the adult safety belt without a booster seat:

a. Have the child sit all the way back on the vehicle seat. Check to see if the knees bend at the seat edge. If they bend naturally, move on to the next step. If they do not, return to the booster seat.

b. Buckle the lap and shoulder belts. Be sure the lap belt lies on the upper legs or hips. If it stays on the upper legs or thighs, move on to the next step. If it does not, return to the booster seat.

c. Be sure the shoulder belt lies on the shoulder or collarbone. If it lies on the shoulder, move on to the next step. If it is on the face or neck, return to the booster seat. DO NOT place the shoulder belt under the arm or behind the child's back!

d. Be sure your child can maintain that correct seating position for as long as you are in the car. If your child begins to slouch or shift positions so the safety belt contacts the face, neck or stomach, return your child to the booster seat until all the test steps can be met.

Require your child to use a safety belt in every vehicle, whether or not you are there to remind him or her.

What You Need to Know

Once your child passes the Safety Belt Fit Test, require him or her to use safety belts in a back seat on every ride, whether or not you are there. A lap and shoulder belt provides the best protection to your child and helps to maintain the correct seating position.

SAFETY BELTS

• Move children from booster seats to safety belts in a back seat only after the child passes the Safety Belt Fit Test in every vehicle. Return your child to a booster seat if the safety belt does not fit perfectly.

• Use the Safety Belt Fit Test on any child you transport in your car.

• Ensure that all kids sit upright when using safety belts. Never let them lean against windows or car doors or lie down. Never put the shoulder belt under the child's arm or behind the child's back.

• Tell every driver who transports your child that safety belt use is a must when your child is in their vehicle.

• Teach your child to use a safety belt in a back seat in every vehicle he or she uses. This is most important when the child rides in vehicles driven by family and friends.

• Wear your safety belt correctly every time you are in a car. Children learn from adult role models.

• Get help with your child's seat belt by contacting a Safe Kids coalition near you.

Safety Belt Fit Test

• 1 - Have your child sit all the way back on the vehicle seat. Do his or her knees bend at the front edge of the seat? If they bend naturally, go to #2. If they don't, return to the booster seat.
  

• 2 - Buckle the lap and shoulder belt. Be sure the lap belt lies on the upper legs or hips. If it does, go to #3. If it lies on the stomach, return to the booster seat.
  

• 3 - Be sure the shoulder belt rests on the shoulder or collarbone. If it does, go to #4. If it's on the face or neck, return to the booster seat. Never put the shoulder belt under the child's arm or behind the child's back.
  

• 4 - Check whether your child maintains the correct seating position for as long as you are in the car. If your child slouches or shifts positions so the safety belt touches the face, neck or stomach, return your child to the booster seat.

What You Need to Know

Use a booster seat with the vehicle lap and shoulder safety belts until your child passes the Safety Belt Fit Test.

Vehicle safety belts are designed to fit an average-sized adult. Children usually need a booster until they are about 4 feet 9 inches tall and weigh between 80 and 100 pounds to get the best protection from a safety belt.

Take the next step to the safety belt when you answer "yes" to these questions:

• Does your child exceed the booster seat's height or weight limits?

Does your child pass the Safety Belt Fit Test?

1. Have your child sit in a back seat with their bottom and back against the vehicle's seat back.  Do the child's knees bend at the seat's edge?  If yes, go on.  If not, the child must stay in a booster seat.

2. Buckle the seat belt.  Does the lap belt stay low on the hips?  If yes, go on.  If it rests on the stomach, the child must stay in a booster seat.

3. Look at the shoulder belt.  Does it lay on the collarbone and shoulder?  If yes, go on.  If it's on the face or neck, the child must remain in a booster seat.

• Never put the shoulder belt under the child's arm or behind the child's back. Do not allow children to play with the shoulder portion of a seat belt. Treat it like any cord.

4. Can the child maintain the correct seating position with the shoulder belt on the shoulder and the lap belt low across the hips?  If yes, the child has passed the Safety Belt Fit Test.  If no, the child should return to a booster seat and re-test in a month. 

40 to 80 or 100 pounds

• Use a booster seat correctly in a back seat every time your child rides in a car.

• Older kids get weighed and measured less often than babies, so check your child's growth a few times a year. Use a booster seat until your child weighs between 80 and 100 pounds, is about 4 feet, 9 inches tall and can pass the Safety Belt Fit Test. For most children, that will be between ages 8 and 12.

• Tell all drivers who transport your child that booster seat use is a must when your child is in their vehicle.
  

• A booster seat uses no harness. It uses the vehicle's lap and shoulder belts only. Be sure the safety belt is properly buckled.
  

• Booster seats are not installed the same way car seats are. They sit on the vehicle seat and are used to properly position the adult safety belt for an older child. Always use a lap and shoulder belt with a booster seat.
  

• Never place the shoulder belt under the child's arm or behind the child's back.
  

• Be sure all occupants wear safety belts correctly every time. Children learn from adult role models.

• Get help with your child's booster seat by contacting a Safe Kids coalition near you.

Parents should use the Safety Belt Fit Test on every child under 13 you transport. All children under age 13 should ride properly restrained in a back seat.

What You Need to Know

Use a forward-facing car seat (convertible or combo seat) until the harness no longer fits. Take the next step to a booster seat when you answer "yes" to any of these questions:

• Does your child exceed the car seat's height or weight limits?

• Are your child's shoulders above the car seat's top harness slots?

• Are the tops of your child's ears above the top of the car seat?

Older than age 1 and more than 20 pounds

• Use a forward-facing car seat correctly in a back seat every time your toddler rides in a car.
  

• Use the right car seat with a harness for your toddler's weight and height. Toddlers are weighed and measured at every doctor visit, so be sure to keep track.

• Use the car's safety belt or LATCH system to lock the car seat into the car. Your car seat should not move more than one inch side to side or front to back. Grab the car seat at the safety beltpath or LATCH path to test it.

• Put harnesses through the slots so they are even with or above the child's shoulders. Some seats require use of the top slots when the seat is forward-facing, so check instructions.

• Be sure the harness is tight, so you can't pinch extra webbing at the shoulder.

• Use a top tether if your vehicle and car seat are both so equipped. Tethers limit the forward motion of your child's head in a crash. If you don't have them, contact your car dealer.

• Adjust the chest clip to armpit level.

• A child is too big for the seat when the shoulders are above the top slots, the tops of the ears are above the back of the seat or the weight limit is exceeded. If you have a heavier or taller child, find a car seat with a harness that fits larger children. Some seats hold children up to 80 pounds.
  

• Be sure all occupants wear safety belts correctly every time. Children learn from adult role models.

• Get help with your child's car seat by contacting a Safe Kids coalition near you.

What You Need to Know

Use a rear-facing car seat until your child is at least age 1 and 20 lbs. Use your rear-facing car seat longer if the seat has higher weight and height limits. Take the next step to a forward-facing car seat when your child is at least one year old and you answer "yes" to either question:

• Does your child exceed the car seat's rear-facing height and weight limits?

• Is your child's head within one inch of the car seat top?

From birth to at least age 1 and 20 lbs.

• Use a rear-facing car seat correctly in a back seat every time your baby rides in a car.

• Use the right car seat for your baby's weight and height. Infants are weighed and measured at every doctor visit, so be sure to keep track.

• Use the car's safety belt or LATCH system to lock the car seat into the car. Your car seat should not move more than one inch side to side or front to back. Grab the car seat at the safety beltpath or LATCH path to test it.

• Put harnesses through the slots so they are even with or below the infant's shoulders. Be sure the harness is tight, so you can't pinch extra webbing at the shoulder.

• Adjust the chest clip to armpit level.

• Use your baby's car seat rear-facing and reclined no more than 45 degrees, so the baby's head stays in contact with the seat and the baby's airway stays open. Read the car seat instructions.

• Keep your baby rear-facing until at least age 1 and 20 pounds. Move to a rear-facing convertible seat if the seat has higher weight and height limits than the infant only seat.

• Find where the frontal airbags are in your vehicle by checking the owner's manual. Never put a rear-facing car seat in front of an active airbag. Children are always safest in a back seat.

• Be sure all occupants wear safety belts correctly every time. Children learn from adult role models.
• Get help with your child's car seat by contacting a Safe Kids coalition near you.

The current recommendations is that children remain rearfacing until they are two.  The reason for this is that the support of the seat makes them safer in a crash and allows their neck muscules and ligaments to grow stronger.  This is a recommendation, parents can choose to have their child forward facing after they reach the mark of 1 and 20lbs. 

Child Passenger Safety Week

This is a great week to take a good look at your car seats and make sure they are the right one for your child and installed correctly.   I have been a certified car seat technician and instructor since 2006 and have seen many missteps and misuses with car seats they all start with great intentions and are easily solved with good instruction.  This week I would like to feature a topic each day to give you all some valuable information.

I would like to start out the week focusing on some basic information about purchasing a car seat and installation.

When purchasing a car seat you want one that is right for your child, fits in your car and you will use correctly every time. 

PUCHASING:

•-           Make sure the seat your are purchasing fits the stage, weight and height of your child

•-          When considering a used seat the best practice is not to use one.  However if you insist on using a second had seat you need the following:

•o   Most importantly do you know the history of the seat,  if the seat was ever in an accident do not use it.

•o   Is it more than 6 years old?  On every car seat is a manufactured date.  If the car seat is more than six years old the recommendation is not to use it.  The main reason is that manufactures do not trust how the plastic will hold up over time. 

•o   Does it have the owner's manual, this is very important so that you understand how to install the seat.

•o   Are all the stickers on the seat or do you see any damage? 

•-           New Seats:

•o   With new seats we often see the parent or grand parent who has purchased what they feel is the best seat on the market.  When we get it out of the box it is to big for their car.  Most car seat dealers will let you take there demo seats to your car and you can see how they fit. 

•o   There is also an ease of use rating on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration web site (www.nhtsa.gov) This web site lets the consumer know about the ease of installation.  This is not however a rating of which seat is safer.  All the seats on the market meet the same standards set by NHTSA.

INSTALLATION:

•-           Make sure you have both the car seat manual and the vehicle manual when you are installing your car seat. 

•-          Decide if you are going to use the LATCH system or the vehicles seat belt system to install the car seat

•o   They are both safe but do not use them both at the same time.

•o   Try using both systems and see which one you use better.

•-          To make sure the seat is tight enough pull on back and forth and side to side where the seat belt is and it should move less than an inch.  It does not have to rock the car back and forth.

 The Harness should be tight enough that you can not pinch any material at the top.  The retainer clip (which is the plastic clip you snap together) should be at arm pit level.  This prevents internal injuries.

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