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Dear Mom:
It Better safe than sorry! Motor-vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children under the age of nine. It's no exaggeration to say that choosing the right type of car seat for your child could be a matter of life and death. In fact, 75 per cent of crash-related deaths and serious injuries can be prevented by the correct use of a child restraint on every trip. But alas, as many as half of car seats are not installed properly, and often, booster seats are not used at all.
Children who weigh less than 40 pounds must be in a car seat – that's the law. Make sure the seat is installed correctly, and keep it facing the rear at least until your child is able to pull to a stand on his/her own.
Toddlers weighing between 40 and 60 pounds should be put in a booster seat, regardless of their age. A booster seat prevents the seat belt from going around the child's neck, positioning it instead across the chest for safe restraint. The bonus: a booster seat will also allow the child to see out the window, helping to keep him or her amused and allowing you to enjoy a more peaceful trip!
There are several styles of booster seats. A system that uses the shoulder belt permits the least amount of forward head movement in a crash, says the Infant and Toddler Safety Association. Whichever model you choose, make sure it has a label saying it meets the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard as regulated by Transport Canada. Keep your child in the booster seat until he/she reaches the weight or height limit of your booster, or when the middle of the child's ears is above the back of the vehicle seat, says the Association.
So don't let your child be a sitting duck for a motor-vehicle injury. Make sure he or she is properly restrained, and you'll both be sitting pretty!
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