Are Overweight Kids Safe In Child Safety Seats

Even with today’s advanced technology available in automobiles, car accidents can be devastating, especially for children. In fact, motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of injury and death among children in the United States.

This is why it’s so important that parents follow laws and guidelines regarding child safety seats.

Guidelines are set by the American Academy of Pediatrics to ensure the safety of children riding in vehicles. Typically, height and weight of the children will determine the size of the safety seat required by the Academy.

Recently, researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Prevention at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia set out to see if the safety seats recommended by the Academy were also effective in protecting overweight children, who make up 32 percent of all children.

The study followed 1,000 children between the ages of 1 and 8-years-old. The researchers found that overweight children who were placed in the correct size safety seat had no increased risk of injury during an accident. This suggests that the market of safety seats has sufficient sizes for children of all body types, the researchers concluded.

According to the Academy, children should stay in a rear facing seat for at least the first two years of their lives. The Academy also suggests that children should use five-point harness seats until they have reached the minimum requirements for a booster seat. Additionally, children should not be allowed to sit in the front seat until they are 4-feet-9-inches tall.

Researchers from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia added that parents should reevaluate their children’s safety seats at medical checkups. A good rule of thumb is to compare the heights and weights of their children to the safety seats manufacturer guidelines.

The bottom line is that there is no “one fits all” in child safety seats. Follow these tips to keep your children safe should you be involved in a motor vehicle accident.

Source: Torque News, “Car Seats Safe for Overweight Kids Too,” Katherine Tompkins, Nov. 28, 2011