My #1 pet peeve (among many) is children who are not properly restrained in a moving vehicle. It absolutely infuriates me to see a child hopping all over the backseat when I see their moving car in traffic. I could literally write a thesis on the importance of properly restraining a child in a vehicle.
When my first child (now 11) turned a year old in 2008, we moved him to a forward-facing position, because we thought that’s what we were supposed to do. We were better-informed with our second child (now 7), whom we didn’t turn to forward-facing until she was 4+ years old.
Yes, you read that right: 4+ years old. We only turned her that “early” because my husband was adamant that she was ready. She’s has always been very petite for her size and, to be honest, I would have been inclined to still have her rear-facing to this day because it’s just safer (more information on that fact coming later in this article).
Our 11-year-old was in a huge Britax booster seat until last year, when he maxed out the weight after reaching 100+ pounds. After doing some research, I purchased a “seatbelt positioner” before I let him move out of the booster. At this point, he is the size of a small adult, but he is not in the front seat… he is still in the back seat, and that is where he’s going to stay for a few years.
Since moving to the Central Coast of California last year, I have noticed an unusually high number of vehicles with:
- A child in the front seat,
- A small child in the backseat who is not in a car seat or booster, and
- An unrestrained child in the backseat.
Each time I see these occurrences, I am horrified. I wonder if this casual approach is happening because I live in a small town of 7,000+ people, and the thought is, “We’re not driving that far.” Please note the warning found in vehicles shown above.
However, it’s important to note that according to Esurance.com:
“… car accidents often take place within just 25 miles of home. While this is due to the fact that most driving occurs close to home, the relaxation we feel caused by the repetition of driving through our own neighborhood likely plays a role.” 1
A few years ago, in our small community in the Phoenix, AZ area, I noticed a routine behavior from two parents dropping off kids at our preschool: One parent had his kids loose in the backseat, their upper bodies hanging out the window. Another parent had one kid in the front seat of the car, and another in the backseat of the car—both unrestrained. My assumption is that both of these parents felt their drive to school was so short, their kids didn’t need to be restrained. However, it literally takes just one second for a car accident to take place, even in the smallest of neighborhoods.
This topic on child restraints is so important, and here are some sobering statistics to explain why:
According to the website Safer America2:
- Every year, roughly 1.3 million people die in car accidents worldwide—an average of 3,287 deaths per day.
- During a 16-minute car ride, driving with children in the car can cause parents to take their eyes off the road for an average of 3 and a half minutes.
- In 2017, seat belt use nationwide was 89.7 percent—a 0.4 percent decrease from 2016. (While in the statistical world, 89.7 percent may be fantastic, there isn’t any reason why that number shouldn’t be 100%.)
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control(CDC)3:
Motor vehicle injuries are a leading cause of death among children in the United States. But many of these deaths can be prevented.
- In the United States, 723 children ages 12 years and younger died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes during 2016,4 and more than 128,000 were injured in 2016.
- One CDC study found that, in one year, more than 618,000 children ages 0-12 rode in vehicles without the use of a child safety seat or booster seat or a seat belt at least some of the time.5
- Of the children ages 12 years and younger who died in a crash in 2016 (for which restraint use was known), 35% were not buckled up.4
If you aren’t familiar with your state’s laws (or lack thereof) on child restraints in a moving vehicle, you can find the most up-to-date information for 2019 at the Best Car Seat Hub website.
Since I live in the most populated state in the United States—California—here is this state’s “vehicle code”:
The Golden State’s vehicle code mandates children under age 8 ride in the back seat of a vehicle. Additionally:
- Rear-facing car seat – required for children less than age 2, unless the child is more than 40 pounds or three feet, four inches;
- Forward-facing car seat or booster seat – required for children under age 8;
- Vehicle’s seat belt system in the back seat of the vehicle – required for children under age 8 who are four feet, nine inches or taller;
- Vehicle’s seat belt system in any passenger seat of the vehicle – required for children ages 8 to 16.
This code explains why I see so many children sitting in the front seat, or merely restrained by a seat belt in the backseat. But, the question must be asked, “Is it acceptable to simply follow the law as a minimum effort when protecting your child in a moving vehicle? Should we, as parents, do more?”
Extended Rear Seat Facing
According to The Car Seat Lady4, the risk of small children being killed or seriously injured is five times higher for those sitting in forward-facing seats than those in rear-facing seats.
This 7-second video from “Buckle Up with Brutus” effectively demonstrates why rear-facing is best. It simulates two 12-month-old children, one rear-facing, the other forward-facing.
What is the best age/size to turn your child forward-facing in the car seat? Check this out.
If you’d like to know how you can do rear-facing with your child who is beyond the baby/toddler years, read:
“Best Seats for Extended Rear-facing”
Some parents will protest extended rear-facing, saying, “Their legs look uncomfortable.” But, think about all the crazy positions kids sit in. They are flexible and typically don’t get uncomfortable in the same way an adult does.
Others will protest saying, “I want to be able to interact with my child.” You can still talk to your child while they are rear-facing. And if you want to see them, you can put up a shatterproof backseat mirror for under $20.00.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Recommendations on Car Seats for Children5
- Infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their seat. Most convertible seats have limits that will allow children to ride rear-facing for 2 years or more.
- Once they are facing forward, children should use a forward-facing car safety seat with a harness for as long as possible, until they reach the height and weight limits for their seats. Many seats can accommodate children up to 65 pounds or more.
- When children exceed these limits, they should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle’s lap and shoulder seat belts fit properly. This is often when they have reached at least 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years old.
- When children are old enough and large enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use lap and shoulder seat belts for optimal protection.
- All children younger than 13 years should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection (compare this recommendation to California’s Vehicle Code stating a child of the age 8 and older can ride in the front seat. There is a huge difference in size between an 8-year-old and a 13-year-old).
My parenting philosophy is this: “Do what is best for your child, your family and your situation.” I invite you to do your own in-depth research on child restraints in vehicles for each size/age for your child (the links I have provided within this article are a good start). Don’t turn your baby to forward-facing at the age of one, just because you “heard” from somebody that’s what you should do—research the safest position for your child. Don’t put your child in the front seat at the age of 8 simply because your state’s vehicle code says you can—personally research the safest position for your child.
Finally, to be certain your child’s car seat is properly installed, follow this link, and search for a certified car seat technician in your area.
Footnotes:
- https://www.esurance.com/info/car/where-car-accidents-happen-most
- https://safer-america.com/car-accident-statistics/
- https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/child_passenger_safety/cps-factsheet.html
- https://thecarseatlady.com/why-ride-rear-facing/
- https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/AAP-Updates-Recommendations-on-Car-Seats-for-Children.aspx