Children younger than 2-years-old are safest sitting in a rear-facing car seat, according to new advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The medical group and federal agency updated their guidelines for child safety seats, saying children should be in a rear-facing car seat until they are 2-years-old instead of the current guidelines of one-year-old. The age change is to protect the toddlers in crashes where the force can jerk the child’s head causing spinal cord injuries, according to news reports .
Safety guidelines were also suggested for older children. Children who have outgrown front-facing car seats should ride in booster seats until the lap-shoulder belt fits them, until they are about 4 feet 9 inches tall, according to the agencies. They also said children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat.
The new guidelines will appeared in the journal Pediatrics on Monday.
As a Greenville personal injury lawyer , I urge parents to follow these safety guidelines for their children riding in vehicles. These seat recommendations will help protect your child the best possibly way in the event of a car accident.
If you or your loved one has been injured in a car accident, contact a personal injury lawyer in Greenville.