LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (NHTSA/AAP) - Everything you thought you knew about car seats may be wrong.
The National Highway and Transportation Administration, along with the American Academy of Pediatrics recently announced new guidelines that parents are recommended to follow before strapping their kids into a car.
Betsy Mowery, a car safety seat speciality with UAMS, stopped by 'Today's THV This Morning' to break down everything parents need to know.
- Under 1: Always put your child in a rear-facing car seat.
- 1-3 years: Keep your child in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top heigh or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer.
- 4-7 years: Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer.
- 8-12 years: Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. The lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face.
- Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.
For a car seat to do its job, it must be installed and used properly to provide adequate protection, and they must be adjusted to fit the child securely. If you have any questions, you can get your car seat inspected by a certified technician one of the following locations.
For more information, you can call Betsey Mowery at 501-351-2436.
(Source: National Highway and Transportation Administration)