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 Can
car seats be recycled? 2006 Car Seat
Update
Gwenn Schurgin O'Keeffe, MD, FAAP
Your Child's Health
2006 #4
Dear Dr. Gwenn,
I am having a 2 nd child after an 11 year gap. Most of my baby gear is in great shape and I'd like to re-use as much as possible. The car seat people say I shouldn't use a seat over 10 years old - but my infant seat was hardly used. Is there really that big a difference in technology or are they simply assuming that a 10 year old car seat has seen more than the limited use that mine had? Also, what is your favorite source for side by side comparison of gear?
Jennifer, "Older 2 nd time mom - with STUFF", Wellesley , MA
PS Thank you for being such a GREAT resource!
Dear Jennifer:
What a timely question with the image of Britney Spears driving with her infant son in her lap fresh in our minds! It is tempting to reuse baby items as we expand our families, especially when you consider the price tags on most durable baby items these days. Luckily a great deal of baby gear can be reused: cribs, clothes, toys, swings, highchairs, changing tables, strollers. Car seats, however, are a different story as they are not as durable as they appear. Older seats run the risk of forming weak spots in the materials that you may not be able to see visually. The safest practice is to not use a car seat older than 5 years.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has one of the most comprehensive buying guides complete with a side by side comparison of the major brands on the market: www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm .
Other helpful links:
Ultimately, the "right" seat is the one that fits your baby and your vehicle. Price isn't a helpful guide of durability or safety. The more expensive seats are not necessarily the best and the less expensive seats are not necessarily the worst. It's akin to buying a car; the pricier cars may look better and offer that extra zing but don't run better or offer more safety than a more basic version.
Installation is not always as easy as you'd think. The instructions that come with the seat may not apply to your vehicle so check your vehicle's user's guide to be sure you are installing the seat correctly. www.seatcheck.org can help you find a car-seat inspection station in your area, which is often the local police station.
There are specific age and weight requirements for all infant and child care seats. Each seat has its own specific weight restrictions that are important to follow but here are the general rules of thumb:
- Infants: rear facing from birth until at least 1 year of age and 20 lbs.
- Older infants can be in rear-facing convertible seats
- Toddlers and preschoolers ages 1-4: forward-facing convertible seats until 40lbs
- Children age 4-8: booster seat until 57 inches tall and 80-100lbs, or until they can sit in the car seat just as you would. Use Safe Kids safety-belt test with your older kids to determine if they are ready to graduate from a booster seat and use the car seat and seatbelt/shoulder strap: www.usa.safekids.org/CPSWeek2006/documents/safety-belt-test.pdf .
The back seat is the safest location for all infants and children, especially if the car has an airbag, which all should today. And, always wear a seat belt and shoulder strap when you in the car to set a good example and insist on this for all other riders.
Infants and young children are not always willing participants to wanting to be placed in their car seats (or strollers for that matter) but this is an issue where you need a tad of uncompromising tough love. Britney was lucky - motor vehicle accidents are still the leading cause of death in kids, especially when improperly restrained. But the use of child-safety seats has dramatically improved the outcome in even the worst of accidents reducing the chance of injury or death by 71% in infants under 1 year of age and by 54% for children ages 1-4.
Thanks for asking about this important topic. This should get you on your way - and keep your infant safe and sound!
Dr. Gwenn
Do you have a question or story to share? Email me at drgwenn@pediatricsnow.com . More parenting and child health information can be found at www.pediatricsnow.com .
© 2006 Pediatrics Now. All rights reserved. PEDIATRICS NOW is a trademark of Pediatrics Now |
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