Did you know that a seat belt alone is not enough to protect your young child in a car crash?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that child safety seats reduce the risk of being killed in a car crash by 71 percent for an infant and by 54 percent for a toddler. This is why all 50 states have laws that require the use of child safety restraints.

But at the time of buying a child safety seat, the wide range of makes and models on the market today has left more than a few parents confused. A recent NHTSA study reveals that 72 percent of parents (close to 3 out of 4!) don't know how to use child safety restraints properly.

Choose It Right

To help parents keep their children safer on the road, NHTSA developed the "4 Steps for Kids" guidelines:

1. For the best possible protection keep infants in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats. Do this until the child has reached the height or weight limit of the particular seat (at a minimum 1 year of age and at least 20 pounds).

2. Once children outgrow their rear-facing seats (at least 1 year of age and at least 20 pounds), they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats, in the back seat. Do this until the child reaches the upper weight or height limit of the particular seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds).

3. Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats (at least 4 years of age and 40 pounds), they should ride in booster seats, in the back seat, until the vehicle seat belts fit properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (usually at age 8 or when they are 4'9" tall).

4. When children outgrow their booster seats (once children reach 8 years of age or when they are 4'9" tall), they can use the adult seat belts in the back seat, if they fit properly (lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest).

National Seat Check Saturday

On Saturday, September 20, 2008, communities nationwide will offer free child safety seat checks! Stop by a local event to have a certified child passenger safety technician check your child's safety seat to ensure it's properly installed and provide tips for how to secure your child in the seat for optimal protection.

Child Passenger Safety Week

Child Passenger Safety Week (September 21-27, 2008) is an annual event that focuses on keeping America's child passengers safer on the road. For more information, visit the Child Passenger Safety Week campaign headquarters at www.nhtsa.gov.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Web Site: http://www.boosterseat.gov/