car seat (child safety seat)

^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

Epidemiology

90% of parents incorrectly use car seats when bringing their newborns home from the hospital^[3]

children < 2 years should ride in rear-facing car seats
children who surpass the weight & height restrictions for rear-facing seats may switch to forward-facing seats
rear-facing weight limit is generally 35-40 pounds.
children older than age 2 should use a forward-facing seat with a harness for as long as possible (until at least 4 years)
children 4-8 years of age who have outgrown their safety seat may transition into a belt-positioning booster seat, until at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall^[4]
children 8-12 years who are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall may use the vehicle seat belt alone without a booster seat
children aged 12 and under should ride in the back seat []

↑ COMMITTEE ON INJURY, VIOLENCE, AND POISON PREVENTION. Policy Statement--Child Passenger Safety. Pediatrics. 2011 Mar 21. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21422088 (corresponding NGC guideline withdrawn Nov 2016)
↑ Durbin DR; COMMITTEE ON INJURY, VIOLENCE, AND POISON PREVENTION. Technical Report--Child Passenger Safety. Pediatrics. 2011 Mar 21. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21422094 (corresponding NGC guideline withdrawn Nov 2016)
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 Hoffman BD, Gallardo AR, Carlson KF. Unsafe from the Start: Serious Misuse of Car Safety Seats at Newborn Discharge. Journnal of Pediatrics. Dec 18, 2015 <PubMed> PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26707620 <Internet> http://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476%2815%2901459-6/abstract
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 Durbin DR, Hoffman BD. COUNCIL ON INJURY, VIOLENCE, AND POISON PREVENTION American Academy of Pediatrics Pediatrics. August 30, 2018 <PubMed> PMID: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30166368, PMID: 30166367 <Internet> http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2018/08/28/peds.2018-2460 http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2018/08/28/peds.2018-2461