How long do you rear face your child

How Long Should You Keep Your Child Rear Facing in a Car Seat? – Cleveland Clinic

As a parent, you celebrate each milestone your child achieves — sitting up, crawling, taking first steps and saying their first word. But graduating to a front-facing car seat? That’s one such milestone that shouldn’t be rushed, according to guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). 

For years, parents have learned that keeping their child rear-facing in a car seat until age 2 is the best practice. But that recommendation has since been updated and now suggests that parents keep their children in rear-facing seats for as long as possible.

Purva Grover, MD, Director of Cleveland Clinic Children’s Pediatric Emergency Departments, says a child in a rear-facing seat has less risk for serious (or fatal) injury if involved in a crash. 

“Because of the way their head and neck is positioned, when there is a big car crash involving a massive force — if they were to be front-facing, the positioning of the head and neck would give them bad whiplash, and with small children, it could actually cause much more damage,” Dr. Grover explains. 

Types of rear-facing seats 

There are a few options when it comes to rear-facing seats.  

All-in-one seats 

As the name implies, all-in-one seats have multiple uses. They can be used as a booster seat, a rear-facing seat or a forward-facing seat. However, they should only be used for car rides. All-in-one seats don’t have handles or bases. They’re also much larger in size and have higher weight and height limits than other styles of rear-facing seats. If you decide to buy an all-in-one car seat, make sure it’ll fit in your car when it’s rear-facing as it’s a bigger seat.   

Convertible seats 

With these seats, you can start off using them as rear-facing and then transition to forward-facing when your child outgrows the weight and height limits for rear-facing seats. Convertible seats tend to be larger than rear-facing seats and they don’t have carrying handles or bases. They also tend to have a five-point harness that attaches between the legs and at the hips and shoulders.  

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Rear-facing only seats 

These seats are small and can carry infants between 22 and 35 pounds or 26 and 35 inches. Rear-facing only seats tend to have a base that stays in the car. However, rear-facing seats should only be used for travel and not for sleep or feeding times.  

Rear-facing car seat guidelines for installation 

Here are a few things to keep in mind when placing a rear-facing car seat in your vehicle. 

Make sure the harness is in the right place 

The car seat harness should be at or below your little one’s shoulders. Once situated, it should be snug. The harness’ chest clip should be in the middle of your child’s chest and lined up with their armpits.

Don’t place the seat in front of an active airbag

If the airbag for the front passenger’s seat is active, don’t put a rear-facing car seat there. Doing this could lead to serious injuries or even death. The reason being is if the airbag inflates, it’ll knock the car seat into your child’s head or worse.

Make sure the seatbelt is attached correctly

For rear-facing convertible or all-in-one seats, make sure the seat belt or lower anchor webbing is in the correct belt path. If you’re not sure, review the instructions. 

Check the car seat’s angle after installation

To ensure that your child’s head doesn’t flop around, refer to the manual for the right seat angle. Once you find it, adjust the seat as needed. 

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If you need help with car seat installation, a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) can make sure that it’s properly secured and ready for use.  

When can you turn the car seat forward?  

According to the AAP and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), children up to 3 years old should stay in a rear-facing car seat until they reach the top height or weight limit suggested by the car seat’s manufacturer. When your child hits one of these limits, they can ride in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether.  

The best way to protect your child 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), car accidents are a leading cause of death for children in the U.S. In 2019, more than 600 children age 12 and younger died in motor vehicle crashes, and more than 91,000 were injured. 

However, the CDC also states that car seat use reduces the risk for injury in crashes by 71% to 82% for children, when compared with seat belt use alone. 

The updated recommendations also say that once a car seat has been turned around, it should remain forward-facing until your child reaches the seat’s weight and length limits. Then, your child should start using a booster seat. Children who exceed booster seat limits should use a lap and shoulder seat belt in the back seat of the car until they’re 13 years old. 

Convenience shouldn’t come before safety 

Dr. Grover agrees with the recommendations and says that when it comes to minimizing injury risk, safety should always come before convenience. She adds that it’s important for pediatricians to talk to parents about the guidelines and explain why they’re in place. The complete recommendation is available through the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

Car Seats: Information for Families

One of the most important jobs you have as a parent is keeping your child safe when they are riding in a vehicle.

Each year, thousands of young children are killed or injured in car crashes. Proper use of car safety seats helps keep children safe. But, because so many different seats are on the market, many parents find this overwhelming.

Differences in car seats

Car seat restraints are not all the same. The type of seat your child needs depends on several things, including your child's age, size, and developmental needs. So, it’s important to read the vehicle owner's manual and the car safety seat manual each time you install the seat. All parents can benefit from getting installation help from a CPST to ensure that their child's seat is properly installed.

If you are expectant parents, consider working with a certified passenger safety technician (CPST or CPS technician), before your baby is born, to ensure a safe ride home from the hospital.

Here is more information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) about choosing the most appropriate car safety seat for your child. Also, find links to 2023 car safety seat product information with weight and height limits and other details for different types of car seats throughout this article.

Start your search

This chart is a quick guide on where to begin. It's important to continue your research to learn about each seat you use.

Installation information: seat belts & LATCH

Car safety seats may be installed with either the vehicle's seat belt or its LATCH (lower anchors and tethers for children) system. LATCH is an attachment system for car safety seats. Lower anchors can be used instead of the seat belt to install the seat, and many parents find them easier to use in some cars. The top tether should always be used with a forward-facing seat, whether you use the seat belt or lower anchors to secure it. The seat belt and LATCH systems are equally safe, so caregivers should use one or the other, whichever works best for them, for their car safety seat, and their vehicle. In general, caregivers should only use 1 of the 2 options unless the car safety seat and vehicle manufacturers say it is OK to use 2 systems at the same time.

Vehicles with the LATCH system have lower anchors located in the back seat, where the seat cushions meet. Tether anchors are located behind the seat, either on the panel behind the seat (in sedans) or on the back of the seat, ceiling, or floor (in most minivans, SUVs, hatchbacks, and pickup trucks). All forward-facing car safety seats have tethers or tether connectors that fasten to these anchors. Nearly all passenger vehicles and all car safety seats made on or after September 1, 2002, are equipped to use LATCH. See vehicle owner's manual for highest weight of child allowed to use top tether.

All lower anchors are rated for a maximum weight of 65 pounds (total weight includes car safety seat and child). Parents should check the car safety seat manufacturer's recommendations for maximum weight a child can be to use lower anchors. New car safety seats have the maximum weight printed on their label.

NOTE: Seat belts—If you install a car safety seat by using your vehicle's seat belt, you must make sure the seat belt locks to hold the seat tightly. In most newer cars, you can lock the seat belt by pulling it all the way out and then allowing it to retract to keep the seat belt tight around the car safety seat. In addition, many car safety seats have built-in lock-offs so you can lock the belt without having to lock the seat belt separately as well. Refer to the vehicle owner's manual for details about how your seat belt locks.

Middle of the back seat—The safest place to ride for all children younger than 13 years is the back seat. If possible, it may be best for the child to ride in the middle of the back seat. However, it is sometimes difficult to install a car safety seat tightly in the middle if the vehicle seat is narrow or uneven. Also, many vehicles do not have lower anchors for the middle seating position. It is safest to put the car safety seat in a position where you can install it tightly with either the lower anchor system or the seat belt; in some cases, this position may be on either side of the back seat rather than in the middle. A child passenger safety technician (CPST or CPS technician) can help you decide which place is best to install your child's car safety seat in your vehicle.

The AAP recommends that all infants ride rear facing starting with their first ride home from the hospital. All infants and young children should ride in a rear-facing seat as long as possible until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat manufacturer.

Three types of rear-facing seats are available: rear-facing–only, convertible, and all-in-one. Most convertible seats have limits that will allow children to ride rear facing for 2 years or more. When children reach the highest weight or length allowed by the manufacturer of their rear-facing–only seat, they should continue to ride rear facing in a convertible or all-in-one seat. Once infants outgrow their rear-facing–only seat, a convertible seat installed rear facing is needed.

• Used for infants up to 22 to 35 pounds and 26 to 35 inches, depending on the model.
  

• Small and have carrying handles.

• Usually come with a base that can be left in the car. The seat clicks into and out of the base so you don't have to install the seat each time you use it. Parents can buy more than one base for additional vehicles.

• Should be used only for a child's travel (not sleeping, feeding, or any other use outside the vehicle).
  

• Can be used rear facing and, later, "converted" to forward facing for older children when they outgrow either the weight limit or the length limit for rear facing. This means the seat can be used longer by your child. Convertible seats are bulkier than infant seats, however, and they do not come with carrying handles or separate bases and are designed to stay in the car.

• Many have higher limits in rear-facing weight (up to 40–50 pounds) and height than those of rear-facing– only seats, a feature that makes convertible seats ideal for bigger babies and toddlers.

• Have a 5-point harness that attaches at the shoulders, at the hips, and between the legs.

• Should be used only for a child's travel (not sleeping, feeding, or any other use outside the vehicle).
  

• Can be used rear facing, forward facing, or as a belt- positioning booster. This means the seat may be used longer by your child as your child grows.

• Are often bigger in size, so it is important to check that they fit in the vehicle while they are rear facing.

• Do not have the convenience of a carrying handle or separate base; however, they may have higher limits in rear-facing weight (up to 40–50 pounds) and height than those of rear-facing–only seats, a feature that makes all-in-one seats ideal for bigger babies and toddlers.

Installation tips for rear-facing seats

First, read the vehicle owner's manual and the car safety seat manual before installing the seat.

When using a rear-facing seat, keep the following tips in mind:

• Place the harnesses in your rear-facing seat in slots that are at or below your child's shoulders.

• Ensure that the harness is snug (you cannot pinch any slack between your fingers when testing the harness straps over the child's shoulders) and that the chest clip is placed at the center of the chest, even with your child's armpits.

• Make sure the car safety seat is installed tightly in the vehicle with either lower anchors or a locked seat belt. Many car safety seats have an integrated lock-off system to keep the seat belt locked. If your seat has one, follow the manufacturer's recommendations on how to use it. If you can move the seat at the belt path more than an inch side to side or front to back, it's not tight enough.

• Never place a rear-facing seat in the front seat of a vehicle that has an active front passenger airbag. If the airbag inflates, it will hit the back of the car safety seat, right against your child's head, and could cause serious injury or death.

• If you are using a convertible or all-in-one seat in the rear-facing position, make sure the seat belt or lower anchor webbing is routed through the correct belt path. Check the instructions that came with the car safety seat to be sure.

• Make sure the seat is at the correct angle so your child's head does not flop forward. Check the instructions to find out the correct angle for your seat and how to adjust the angle if needed. All rear-facing seats have built-in recline indicators.

• Check the car safety seat instructions and vehicle owner's manual about whether it is okay for the car safety seat to touch the back of the vehicle seat in front of it.

• Still having trouble? Check with a certified CPST in your area who can help.
  

Common questions about rear-facing car seats

What if my child's feet touch the back of the vehicle seat?

What do I do if my child slouches down or to the side in the car seat?

• You can try placing a tightly rolled receiving blanket on both sides of your child. Many manufacturers allow the use of a tightly rolled small diaper or cloth between the crotch strap and your child, if necessary, to prevent slouching. Do not place padding under or behind your child or use any sort of car safety seat insert unless it came with the seat or was made by the manufacturer for use with that specific seat.
  

Why should I dress my child in thinner layers of clothing before strapping them into a car safety seat?

• Bulky clothing, including winter coats and snowsuits, can compress in a crash and leave the straps too loose to restrain your child, leading to increased risk of injury. Ideally, dress your baby in thinner layers and wrap a coat or blanket around your baby over the buckled harness straps if needed. See Winter Car Seat Safety Tips from the AAP.

Do preemies need a special car seat?

A car safety seat should be approved for a baby's weight. Very small babies who can sit safely in a semi-reclined position usually fit better in rear-facing–only seats. Babies born preterm should be screened while still in the hospital to make sure they can sit safely in a semi-reclined position. Babies who need to lie flat during travel may be able to ride in a car bed that meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213. They should be screened again while in the hospital to make sure they can lie safely in the car bed.

Forward-facing car seat restraints

The large array of forward-facing car seat restraints on the market can be dizzying.

As a parent, you may be uncertain which features to look for based on your child's age, size and other needs.

Any child who has outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for her convertible seat should use a forward-facing seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by her car safety seat manufacturer.

It is best for children to ride in a seat with a harness as long as possible, at least to 4 years of age. If your child outgrows a seat before reaching 4 years of age, consider using a seat with a harness approved for higher weights and heights.

Read on to learn more about selecting the most appropriate forward-facing car seat restraint for your child.

• Convertible seats: Seats can "convert" from rear facing to forward facing. These include all-in-one seats.
  

• Combination seats with harness: Seats can be used forward facing with a harness for children who weigh up to 40 to 65 pounds (depending on the model) or without the harness as a booster (up to 100–120 pounds, depending on the model).
  

• Integrated seats: Some vehicles come with built-in forward-facing seats. Weight and height limits vary. Do not use a built-in seat until your child has reached the highest weight or height allowed for your rear-facing convertible car safety seat. Read your vehicle owner's manual for details about how to use these seats.

• Travel vests: Vests can be worn by children 22 to 168 pounds and can be an option to traditional forward-facing seats. They are useful for when a vehicle has lap-only seat belts in the rear, for children with certain special needs, or for children whose weight has exceeded that allowed by car safety seats. These vests usually require use of a top tether.
  

Installation tips for forward-facing seats

Always read the vehicle owner's manual and the car safety seat manual before installing the seat.

It is important that the car safety seat is installed tightly in the vehicle and that the harness fits your child snugly.

To switch a convertible or all-in-one seat from rear-facing to forward-facing:

• Move the harness shoulder straps to the slots or position that is at or just above your child's shoulders. Check the instructions that came with the seat to be sure you are positioning the shoulder straps correctly.

• You may have to adjust the recline angle of the seat so that it sits more upright in your vehicle. Check the instructions to be sure.

• If using a seat belt, make sure it runs through the forward-facing belt path (be sure to follow car safety seat instructions) and that the seat belt is locked and tightened. Many car safety seats have an integrated lock-off to keep the seat belt locked. If your seat has one, follow the manufacturer's recommendations on how to use it.
  

• If using the lower anchors, make sure that the weight of your child plus the weight of the seat does not exceed 65 pounds. Most seats now state in the manual and on the stickers on the side the maximum child weight to use the anchors. If the child weighs too much, caregivers must use the seat belt to install.

• Always use the tether when you can. A tether is a strap that is attached to the top part of a car safety seat and holds the seat tightly by connecting to an anchor point in your vehicle (often on the seat back or rear shelf; see your vehicle owner's manual to find where tether anchors are in your vehicle). Tethers give important extra protection by keeping the car safety seat and your child's head from moving too far forward in a crash or sudden stop. All new cars, minivans, and light trucks are required to have tether anchors as of September 2000. Forward-facing seats come with tether straps. A tether should always be used as long as your child has not reached the top weight limit for the tether anchor. Check the car safety seat instructions and vehicle owner's manual for information about the top weight limit and locations of tether anchors.

• Watch the Video: How to Install a Forward-Facing Car Seat

Common question about forward-facing car seats

What if I drive more children than those who can be buckled safely in the back seat?

• It's best to avoid this, especially if your vehicle has airbags in the front seat. All children younger than 13 years should ride in the back seat. If absolutely necessary, a child in a forward-facing seat with a harness may be the best choice to ride in front. Just be sure the vehicle seat is moved as far back away from the dashboard (and airbag) as possible.
  

Booster seats are for older children who have outgrown their forward-facing seats. All children whose weight or height exceeds the forward-facing limit for their car safety seat should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, typically when they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years of age. Most children will not fit in most vehicle seat belts without a booster until 10 to 12 years of age. All children younger than 13 years should ride in the back seat. Instructions that come with your car safety seat will tell you the height and weight limits for the seat. As a general guideline, a child has outgrown a forward-facing seat when any of the following situations is true:

• They reach the top weight or height allowed for their seat with a harness. (These limits are listed on the seat and in the instruction manual. )

• Their shoulders are above the top harness slots.

• The tops of their ears have reached the top of the seat.

High-back and backless are 2 standard types of booster seats. They do not come with a harness but are used with lap and shoulder seat belts in your vehicle, the same way an adult rides. They are designed to raise a child up so that lap and shoulder seat belts fit properly over the strongest parts of the child's body.

Most booster seats are not secured to the vehicle seat with the seat belt or lower anchors and tether but simply rest on the vehicle seat and are held in place once the seat belt is fastened over a child. However, some models of booster seats can be secured to the vehicle seat and kept in place by using the lower anchors and tether along with lap and shoulder belts. (Currently, only a few vehicle manufacturers offer integrated booster seats.)

Installation tips for booster seats

When using a booster seat, always read the vehicle owner's manual and the car safety seat manual before installing the seat. Booster seats often have a plastic clip or guide to correctly position vehicle lap and shoulder belts. See the booster seat instruction manual for directions on how to use the clip or guide. Booster seats must be used with lap and shoulder belts. When using a booster seat, make sure:

• The lap belt lies low and snug across your child's upper thighs.

• The shoulder belt crosses the middle of your child's chest and shoulder and is off the neck.

• Watch the video: How to Use a Booster Seat

If your booster seat has lower anchors or tether attachments, check its manual for installation instructions.

Common questions about booster seats

What if my car has only lap belts in the back seat?

Lap belts work fine with rear-facing–only, convertible, and forward-facing seats that h av e a harness but can never be used with a booster seat. If your car has only lap belts, use a forward-facing seat that has a harness and higher weight limits. You could also

• Check to see if shoulder belts can be installed in your vehicle.

• Use a travel vest (check the manufacturer's instructions about the use of lap belts only and about the use of lap and shoulder belts).

• Consider buying another car with lap and shoulder belts in the back seat.

What is the difference between high-back boosters and backless boosters?

• Both types of boosters are designed to raise your child so seat belts fit properly, and both will reduce your child's risk of injury in a crash. High-back boosters should be used in vehicles without headrests or with low seat backs. Many seats that look like high-back boosters are actually combination seats. They come with harnesses that can be used for smaller children and, later, removed for older children. Backless boosters are usually less expensive and are easier to move from one vehicle to another. Backless boosters can be used safely in vehicles with headrests and high seat backs.
  

Older children—seat belts

Seat belts are made for adults. Children should stay in a booster seat until adult seat belts fit correctly, typically when children reach about 4 feet 9 inches in height and are 8 to 12 years of age. Most children will not fit in a seat belt alone until 10 to 12 years of age. 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 the best protection. All children younger than 13 years should ride in the back seat.

Using a seat belt

An adult seat belt fits correctly when:

• The shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat.

• The lap belt is low and snug across the upper thighs, not the belly.

• Your child is tall enough to sit against the vehicle seat back with her knees bent over the edge of the seat without slouching and can comfortably stay in this position throughout the trip.

Other points to keep in mind when using seat belts include:

• Make sure your child does not tuck the shoulder belt under her arm or behind her back. This leaves the upper body unprotected and adds extra slack to the seat belt system, putting your child at risk of severe injury in a crash or with sudden braking.

• Never allow anyone to "share" seat belts. All passengers must have their own car safety seats or seat belts.

Common question about seat belts

I've seen products that say they can help make the seat belt fit better. Should we get one of these?

• No, these products are unapproved and should not be used. They may actually interfere with proper seat belt fit by causing the lap belt to ride too high on the stomach or making the shoulder belt too loose. They can even damage the seat belt. This rule applies to car safety seats too; do not use extra products unless they came with the seat or are specifically approved by the seat manufacturer. These products are not covered by any federal safety standards, and the AAP does not recommend they be used. As long as children are riding in the correct restraint for their size, they should not need to use additional devices.
  

Shopping for car safety seats

When shopping for a car seat, keep the following tips in mind:

• No one seat is the "best" or "safest."The best seat is the one that fits your child's size, is correctly installed, fits well in your vehicle, and is used properly every time you drive.
  

• Don't decide by price alone. A higher price does not mean the seat is safer or easier to use.

• Avoid used seats if you don't know the seat's history.

• Watch the Video: What to Look For When Purchasing a Car Seat

Never use a car seat that:

• Is too old. Look on the label for the date the seat was made. Check with the manufacturer to find out how long it recommends using the seat.

• Has any visible cracks on it.
  

• Does not have a label with the date of manufacture and model number. Without these, you cannot check to see if the seat has been recalled.

• Does not come with instructions. You need them to know how to use the seat. Instructions can be found on manufacturer websites or by contacting the manufacturer.

• Is missing parts. Used car safety seats often come without important parts. Check with the manufacturer to make sure you can get the right parts.

• Was recalled. You can find out by calling the manufacturer or contacting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888/327-4236. You can also visit the NHTSA Website.

• Do not use seats that have been in a moderate or severe crash. Seats that were in a minor crash may still be safe to use, but some car safety seat manufacturers recommend replacing the seat after any crash, even a minor one. The NHTSA considers a crash minor if all the following situations are true:

• The vehicle could be driven away from the crash.

• The vehicle door closest to the car safety seat was not damaged.

• No one in the vehicle was injured.

• The airbags did not go off.

• You can't see any damage to the car safety seat.

• If you have specific questions about the car seat, contact the manufacturer.

Car seats & airbags

Front airbags are installed in all new cars. When used with seat belts, airbags work well to protect teenagers and adults; however, airbags can be very dangerous to children, particularly to those riding in rear-facing seats and to preschoolers and young school-aged children who are not properly restrained. If your vehicle has a front passenger airbag, infants in rear-facing seats must ride in the back seat. Even in a relatively low-speed crash, the airbag can inflate, strike the car safety seat, and cause serious brain injury and death.

Vehicles with no back seat or a back seat that is not made for passengers are not the best choice for traveling with small children; however, the airbag can be turned off in some of these vehicles if the front seat is needed for a child passenger. See your vehicle owner's manual for more information.

Side airbags are available in most new cars. Side airbags improve safety for adults in side-impact crashes. Read your vehicle owner's manual for more information about the airbags in your vehicle. Read your car safety seat instructions and the vehicle owner's manual for guidance on placing the seat next to a side airbag.

Carpooling with carseats

If your child is being driven by someone else, make sure:

• The car safety seat your child will be using fits properly in the vehicle used for transport.

• The car safety seat being used is appropriate for the age and size of your child.

• The person in charge of transporting your child knows how to install and use the car safety seat correctly.

Child care programs and schools should have written guidelines for transporting children, including

• All drivers must have a valid driver's license. In some states, school bus drivers need to have a special type of license.

• Staff to child ratios for transport should meet or exceed those required for the classroom.

• Every child should be supervised during transport, either by school staff or a parent volunteer, so the driver can focus on driving.

• School staff, teachers, and drivers should know what to do in an emergency, know how to properly use car safety seats and seat belts, and be aware of other safety requirements.

About car safety seats on airplanes

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the AAP recommend that children less than 40 pounds be securely fastened in certified child restraints when flying. This will help keep them safe during takeoff and landing or in case of turbulence. Most rear-facing, convertible, and forward-facing seats can be used on airplanes , but booster seats and travel vests cannot.

Read your seat's instruction manual and look for a label on the car safety seat that says, "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft." You can also consider using a restraint made only for use on airplanes and approved by the FAA. Larger children may use the airplane seat belt or continue to use their car safety seat on the airplane as long as it is labeled for use on aircraft and the child has not exceeded the seat's weight or height limit. Remember that your child will need an appropriate car safety seat to use at your destination. For more information, visit the FAA Website or the CARES (Airplane Safety Harness for Children) Website.

If you need installation help

If you have questions or need help with installing your car safety seat, find a certified child passenger safety technician (CPST or CPS technician). Lists of certified CPSTs and child seat–fitting stations are available on the following websites:

• National Child Passenger Safety Certification (Click on "Find a Tech" or call 877-366-8154.) – Includes list of CPSTs fluent in Spanish and other languages or with extra training in transportation of children with special needs.

• NHTSA Parents & Caregivers

Important reminders

Be a good role model. Make sure you always wear your seat belt. This will help your child form a lifelong habit of buckling up.

Make sure that everyone who transports your child uses the correct car safety seat or seat belt on every trip, every time. Being consistent with car safety seat use is good parenting, reduces fussing and complaints, and is safest for your child.

Never leave your child alone in or around cars—and lock your vehicle when it is not in use. Any of the following situations can happen when a child is left alone in or around a vehicle. A child can

• Die of heatstroke because temperatures can reach deadly levels in minutes.

• Be strangled by power windows, retracting seat belts, sunroofs, or accessories.

• Knock the vehicle into gear, setting it into motion.

• Be backed over when the vehicle backs up.

• Become trapped in the trunk of the vehicle.

Always read and follow the manufacturer's instructions for your car safety seat. If you do not have those, write or call the company's customer service department. Staff will ask you for the model number, name of seat, and date of manufacture. The manufacturer's address and phone number are on a label on the seat. Also, be sure to follow the instructions in your vehicle owner's manual about using car safety seats. Some manufacturers' instructions may be available on their websites.

Remember to fill out and mail in the registration card that comes with the car safety seat. You can also register your seat on the manufacturer's website. It will be important in case the seat is recalled.

Follow manufacturer directions for cleaning car seats. Cleaning but not disinfecting is usually permitted. That's because disinfectant products may decrease the protection provided by the seat and harness.

More information

• Ask the Pediatrician: Is it safe for my baby to travel in a car seat a few hours at a time?
  
• Car Seat Checkup
  
• Car Seats and Obese Children: Suggestions for Parents
• Prevent Child Deaths in Hot Cars
• Travel Safety During COVID-19

_{Although the AAP is not a testing or standard-setting organization, this article sets forth the AAP recommendations based on the peer-reviewed literature available at the time of its publication and sets forth some of the factors that parents should consider before selecting and using a car seat.}

_{Figure 1 adapted from US Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). LATCH Makes Child Safety Seat Installation as Easy as 1-2-3. Washington, DC: NHTSA; 2011. DOT HS publication 809 489.}

_{Figure 4 from Bull MJ, Engle WA; American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention and Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Safe transportation of preterm and low birth weight infants at hospital discharge. Pediatrics. 2009;123(5):1424–1429.}

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

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Ways that allow you to get your child to listen to you without threats and shouting

Does the child seem not to hear you? Maybe you just don't know how to talk to him. Photo: photo bank Lori

You've already jumped out of your skin, and your dear child still doesn't want to sit down for lessons, eat porridge or put away toys. There is no strength to persuasion, grabbing a belt or yelling is non-pedagogical ... How to make a child obey you? Advice is given by our expert - family and child psychologist, mother of three children Regina BESEDA .

1. Stop and think

- Before you make any movements towards the child, pause and think: what exactly do you not like right now? Turn emotions into words, clearly formulate a thought before starting a conversation.

- And if you still shout?

- When we speak in raised tones, information rarely reaches the addressee. There is such an expression in psychology - "ears are turned off." And vice versa, the protection system turns on: the child begins to resist or pretend that he does not hear us at all. nine0004

2. Talk eye to eye

- You want your child to see your face. Clearly, with calm articulation, say what you want from him.

- Isn't it possible to talk without looking up, for example, from the stove?

- Everyone appreciates attention. If we adults talk with our backs to each other, that would be disrespectful, wouldn't it? Likewise, when you turn to a child, you show: yes, I have time for you. Then the child will not miss your requests and comments. nine0004

3. Do without "can't"

- We often use these words: "Don't do it! It is forbidden!" But there is a simple exercise for parents. Close your eyes right now and imagine an elephant. See? Now imagine the “not” particle. How does she look? Letters? But before you is a child who cannot read. And does not know any letters! He thinks in pictures. Therefore, when we say "elephant", the child sees an elephant. And when we say "don't do ..." - the child omits the particle "not" and hears everything else. "Don't scream," he screams. "Don't run" - he runs. nine0004

What to do? Instead of "can't" say "can", explaining what needs to be done in a particular situation. For example, your child ran across the street. Do not shout “no!”, but say: “You can only cross with your mother.” The child will remember this wording and will do so.

- And if he still does not respond?

- Alas, most often adults talk to a child either with orders (“Hush! Get up! Done!”) or with excessively frequent requests (“Speak more quietly, please”). But after all, you can respond to a request in different ways. And the child has the right to refuse to comply with it. If we ask the baby for something in a conflict situation, it should definitely not be a request. But it is not an order either - a rigid form of communication that violates personal boundaries. nine0004

- What to choose?

- Instructions. Instead of "do not run up the stairs - you will fall" we say "they walk calmly up the stairs." And the child will automatically do it. If you repeat the threat “you will fall on the stairs”, the child will fix this and will certainly fall ...

Psychologist Regina Beseda is a mother of three children herself. Photo: vk.com

in a fit of anger, the parents say to the child: “Vasya, finally put your toys away!” - starting with a name. Forget about this form! Why? Because a person should treat his name not as a punishment, but as an encouragement. Address somehow differently: "Baby, it's time to put away the toys, they want to go to the house." nine0004

But if you want to praise, use the name: “Yes, Vasya, you did a great job, you did it!” And fix your attention on this, finishing the discussion of the problem. And don't say: "Do you remember, you were afraid..."

How exactly? Involve the child in planning - whether it's a weekend or a trip. “Come up with your child what you will do every weekend for a month,” Evgenia Payson advises. - Write down his ideas and your ideas on pieces of paper, mix them up and pull them out by the weekend, so you get a varied cultural program, and everyone will be happy. Keep in mind when planning that your child may perceive educational activities as work rather than recreation, and keep this in mind. nine0016 And try, when thinking through things on the weekend, to plan them so that the child has a few hours of time with each of the parents .

By the way, gender roles have long been mixed up: there are mothers who love to fish, and fathers who cook well.

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