Forward Facing Child Safety Seats

Forward Facing Child Safety Seats Information

Child safety seats help protect children riding in a vehicle. When used properly, they reduce the risk of death or serious injury in an accident. Forward-facing safety seats are positioned so they face the front of the vehicle.

The following are best-practice recommendations for use of child safety seats and other child restraint systems. These recommendations may not apply to children with physical or behavioral conditions. Talk with your health care provider if you think your child may need a specialized seat.

Who should use this type of seat?

Children should sit in a forward-facing safety seat with a harness if:

  • They have outgrown the weight and height limits of their rear-facing seat.

Children should not be in a forward-facing seat until they are at least 2 years old. They should continue to use this type of seat until they are at least 4 years old. It is best that they continue to use the seat until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat manufacturer.

What types of forward-facing seats are there?

There are several kinds of forward-facing seats:

  • Convertible seats. These seats convert from rear-facing to forward-facing. Depending on the model, they can be used by children who weigh up to 40–50 lb (18.1–22.7 kg).
  • Combination forward-facing booster seats. Depending on the model, these seats can be used with a harness by children who weigh up to 40–90 lb (18.1–40.8 kg), or they can be used without a harness as a booster seat by children who weigh up to 80–120 lb (36.3–54.4 kg).
  • Forward-facing only toddler seats used with a harness. Depending on the model, these seats can be used by children who weigh up to 40–80 lb (18.1–36.3 kg).
  • Vehicle built-in forward-facing seats. These seats are available in some vehicles. Check the vehicle owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer for information about use of these seats. Weight and height limits vary for this type of seat.
  • Travel vests. Travel vests are useful in vehicles with lap-only rear seat belts or for children who have outgrown the weight limits of the safety seat. Travel vests may require the use of a top tether. Travel vests can be worn by children who weigh 20–168 lb (9.1–76.2 kg).

How to use a forward-facing safety seat

Important information

  • Use the seat as directed in the child safety seat instructions and the vehicle owner’s manual.
  • Replace a safety seat following a moderate or severe crash.
  • Do notuse a safety seat that is damaged.
  • Do notuse a safety seat that is more than 5 years old from the date of manufacturing.
  • Do notuse a safety seat with an unknown history.

Where to place the seat

In most vehicles, the safest spot to place the seat is in the rear seat of the vehicle. The center rear seat is best. In vans, the safest spot is the middle seat.

Placing the seat in a rear seat helps prevent serious injury or death in the case that air bags inflate. If a vehicle does not have a rear or middle seat, and if it is absolutely necessary for the child to ride in the front seat:

  • Deactivate the air bag on the passenger side where the child will be seated. If this is not an option, consider alternate transportation.
  • Use a forward-facing safety seat with a harness.
  • Move the safety seat back from the dashboard (and the air bag) as far as you can.

How to install the seat

  • Follow the installation instructions in the child safety seat instructions and the vehicle owner’s manual.
  • Position the safety seat flat against the vehicle seat’s bottom and back using either of these methods:
    • Place the safety seat in the upright position rather than the reclined position whenever possible.
    • Use locking clips as directed in the child safety seat instructions and the vehicle owner’s manual.
  • If the combined weight of your child and the seat is less than 65 lb (29.5 kg), the safety seat may be installed with the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system. Review your vehicle’s owner manual to locate the anchors.
  • If the combined weight of your child and the seat is over 65 lb (29.5 kg), use the vehicle’s seat belt system. Always make sure the seat belt is locked and tightened.
  • Always use a top tether that anchors the top of the safety seat to the vehicle when available.
  • Make sure to install the safety seat tightly.
  • Check for correct installation by pulling the safety seat firmly from side to side and from the back of the vehicle to the front of the vehicle. A correctly installed safety seat should not move more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) forward, backward, or sideways. A seat without a tether may have a small amount of movement at the top of the safety seat.

How to secure your child in the seat

  • If there is more than one harness slot, move the shoulder straps to the slot that is at or above your child’s shoulders. The top harness slots must be used on some convertible seats in the forward-facing position. Check your seat’s instructions to make sure.
  • Do notadd any pads or other products under or behind the child or between the child and the harness unless the pad or product came with the seat.
  • Do notdress your child in bulky clothing, such as a winter coat, before strapping your child into the seat. This may cause straps not to be snug enough against your child’s body. Dress your child in thin layers, then wrap a blanket or coat over your child after you buckle the straps.
  • Make sure the seat harness fits your child snugly. The harness will need to be readjusted with any change in the thickness of your child’s clothing. The pinch test is one method to check the harness for a correct fit. To perform the pinch test, pinch the harness at your child’s shoulders from top to bottom. The harness fits correctly if you cannot make a vertical fold in the harness. You will need to readjust the harness with any change in the thickness of your child’s clothing.

How do I know if my child has outgrown the seat?

These are some signs that your child has outgrown the seat:

  • Your child is over the weight and height limits of the seat.
  • Your child’s shoulders go above the top harness slots.
  • Your child’s ears are at or above the top of the seat.

If your child outgrows his or her forward-facing safety seat before 4 years of age, consider placing him or her in a forward-facing seat with a higher weight limit.

Contact a health care provider if:

  • You have any questions about which car seat is right for your child.

Summary

  • Child safety seats help protect children riding in a vehicle.
  • Children should sit in a forward-facing safety seat with a harness if they have outgrown the weight and height limits of their rear-facing seat.
  • Children should not be in a forward-facing seat until they are at least 2 years old.
  • In most vehicles, the safest spot to place the seat is in the rear seat of the vehicle. The center rear seat is best.
  • Follow the installation instructions in the child safety seat instructions and the vehicle owner’s manual.
15585

Sign up to receive the trending updates and tons of Health Tips

Join SeekhealthZ and never miss the latest health information

15856