AAA Urges Parents to Keep Their Young Children in Rear-Facing Child Car Seats Longer

Recommendation has been shown to reduce injury and death among infants and toddlers.

NEWS from AAA Oklahoma, Sept. 14 – AAA now advises parents of infants and young toddlers to secure their children in rear-facing child car seats for as long as possible, maxing out the upper weight or height limits of the car seat. Researchers indicate that toddlers are 75 percent less likely to die or be seriously injured in a crash when they ride in a rear-facing car seat up to their second birthday. National Child Passenger Safety Week is September 19-25 and comes just as AAA is updating its safety recommendations as part of the auto club’s Seated, Safe and Secure initiative.

“AAA’s safety advice to parents is rooted in available scientific evidence, and the latest research clearly shows that children should ride rear-facing as long as possible,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “Young lives can be saved by following a few simple guidelines.”

AAA recommends the following child passenger safety best practices:

• Keep children rear-facing as long as possible – into their second year of life until they reach the upper weight or height limit of their rear-facing convertible seat.  This will usually be around 30-35 pounds. 
• Once children outgrow the upper weight or height limit of their rear-facing convertible seats, they can ride in a forward-facing child safety seat.
• Children should use a forward-facing child safety seat until they reach the maximum weight (usually 40-65 lbs.) or height for the harness.
• Despite the fact Oklahoma law does not mention them, booster seats can be life-savers. AAA suggests children ride in booster seats until age 8 or older or until they are 4’9” tall.
• Move children to adult lap/shoulder belts when they are reach 4' 9" tall (usually between ages 8 and 12) and vehicle-installed safety belts fit properly.
• For all children under age 13, the back seat is the safest place to ride.
• Always read the car seat manufacturer’s instructions and vehicle owner’s manual. 

With three out of four child safety seats not properly installed, consulting an expert can be critical to ensure that children are secured in the safest manner possible.

Several AAA offices in Oklahoma have trained child car seat installation technicians on staff. To make an appointment to make sure your child’s car seat is properly installed in your vehicle, call Danial Karnes at (918) 748-1074 or email him at danial.karnes@aaaok.org, subject line: Appt.  For more information on AAA’s child passenger safety resources for parents and caregivers, visit AAA.com/SafeSeats4Kids.