With the risks of texting, drunk driving, bad weather conditions, and the poor judgment of others, drivers need to exercise caution every time they go out on the road. But accidents do happen, and when we have children in the car we must do everything we can to keep them safe. According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, car crashes are the number one cause of death in children from 1 to 12. One of the best ways for parents to help keep their children safe is by using child safety seats and by following these car seat safety tips:
  1. For babies under 2, use a rear-facing car seat in the back seat for as long as possible. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies should be kept in their rear-facing seats until their second birthday.
  2. Never put a rear-facing seat in front of an airbag because the child could be seriously injured or die if the airbag goes off.
  3. Older children need a car seat or a booster seat until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall and weigh between 80 and 100 pounds, usually between the ages of 8 and 12.
  4. Under Georgia state law, children under 8 or under 57” must sit in the rear seat.
  5. For children in booster seats, never put the shoulder belt behind the child’s back or under the child’s arm.
  6. Child car seats can be inspected for proper installation and to ensure that the seat is the right one for your child’s height and weight. Georgia offers 190 Child Safety Seat Inspection stations, and many local police and fire stations often have safety inspection days where parents can bring their car seats to be inspected.
Children are our most precious cargo, and in case of an automobile accident, having the right child safety seat will help you do everything you can to keep them safe.