Martha Sustaita, RN, Director, Edinburg Family Emergency Center

Installing your child's car seat properly -- and using it every time your youngster rides in the car -- will help keep him or her safe when you're out and about.

"Car seats help protect the fragile skeletal anatomy of a baby or young child," says Martha Sustaita, RN, director of the Edinburg Family Emergency Center at Edinburg Children's Hospital. "Because babies have weak necks and undeveloped spines, they're more likely to suffer injuries in a car accident."

Car seats can help prevent whiplash in the event of a collision by supporting your child's head, neck and spine. Rear-facing car seats also help to spread the force of a crash more evenly.

"It is estimated that car seats reduce the risk for death by 71 percent in infants and 54 percent in children ages 1 to 4," says Peter Palmieri, MD, a pediatric hospitalist at Edinburg Children's Hospital.

Rules for car seat installation
Following these recommended guidelines when installing your child's car seat will help you keep your child safe on the road:

• Put your infant in a backseat, rear-facing car seat until age 1 (or until your child weighs at least 20 pounds).
• Make sure the seat belt is properly attached to the car seat, and your child's safety harness is secure.
• Switch to a larger, front-facing car seat as your child grows. Read the owner's manual to determine when to readjust the car-seat settings and when to purchase a larger car seat.

What if your child has outgrown his or her car seat due to weight or height?

"Most children switch to booster seats around age 4," says Dr. Palmieri. "They help to guide lap and shoulder belts into the appropriate positions."

By the time your child reaches age 8 (or 57 inches tall), he or she can begin wearing an adult lap and shoulder belt when riding in the car.

To learn more about car-seat safety, stop by the Edinburg Family Emergency Center for a free brochure.

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