Valley Health Journal

VHJ Fall 2005

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Guest Columnist

by Brenda Thurlow, MD, Pediatrician
MeritCare Children's

Buckle Up

By now, many parents in North Dakota know – and hopefully practice – the new child passenger safety law. Effective August 1, children must now be properly secured in a car seat or booster seat until the age of 7*. Previously, children could legally use the vehicle's seat belts without a booster seat at age 4, but this was by no means safe. Seat belts are designed to protect adult bodies, not the small bodies of children.

Though the new law underscores age, we at MeritCare Children's tend to place more emphasis on the stature of the child – the weight and height. This helps ensure the safest possible setup with regards to equipment. The key points we discuss with families include:

  • Children up to 40 pounds should be in a car seat.
  • Children who weigh from 40 to 80 pounds should be in a booster seat.
  • Children who are at least 80 pounds and 57 inches tall can use the vehicle's seat belts.

Please note that based on these guidelines, it's not unusual for children older than 7 to require a booster seat for proper positioning and maximum safety. It's also important to note that the rearcenter seat is the safest place for children, but unfortunately, many vehicles only have a lap belt in this position. A lap belt alone can be used for a child safety seat, but never for a booster seat.

Another way to determine if your child is ready to use the vehicle's seat belts without a booster seat is to observe how they sit in the car. When they're ready to make the transition from booster seat to the vehicle's lap and shoulder belts, they should be able to:

  • Sit with their back against the vehicle seat back
  • Have their knees bent at the edge of the seat without slouching
  • Have the lap part of the belt over their hip bones and not over the soft stomach tissue
  • Have the shoulder strap cross at the middle of the chest and shoulder and not at the neck
  • Ride comfortably in this position for the entire trip

In talking about the different types of car seats, we always advise parents to note the manufacturer's guidelines regarding the child's weight and size. Maximum safety depends on following these guidelines, which vary from one model to the next. You'll typically find the guidelines in the accompanying manual. You should also read your vehicle's owner's manual to learn where in your vehicle it is safe place a child. This brings up one more point: If you're considering a used car seat or booster seat, make sure it has been manufactured within the last six years. Plus, it's important to know the complete history of a used car seat or booster seat to ensure its protective ability hasn't been compromised (i.e., no recalls and no motor vehicle accidents).

Research strongly supports the importance of properly restraining children in vehicles, both in preventing and reducing injuries, but even more importantly, in saving young lives. In my six years of working in pediatrics, I've been very pleased at the number of families I visit with who make buckling up a habit. Many children today know the rule: unless they're buckled in, the vehicle doesn't move. That's the best lesson you can teach your child, and you teach it every time you buckle up. Make it your good habit and it will become theirs, too.

To learn more, attend a Car Seat Safety Check held the third Thursday of each month at F-M Ambulance (2215 18th St. S., Fargo), visit meritcare.com (keyword: car seat) or call (701) 234-7233 or (800) 437-4010.

*In Minn., the law requires children to be in car seats until the age of 4.

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