April 12, 2011 By Claire McCarthy, M.D. Boston Children's
Hospital Here are some really scary facts from the National
Traffic Safety Administration: - 3 out of 4 parents do not
properly use child restraints in the car. - Half of the 1,500 or
so kids under age 16 who die every year in motor vehicle crashes
are wearing no restraints at all. That's a lot of parents who
may think they are taking the right precautions but aren't.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death of children
4 years and older. Child restraint systems can make a big
difference but only if we use them, and use them properly. In
March of 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued new
advice to help parents keep their children safe in cars. The
changes are based on solid evidence for how best to use child
restraint systems. Here are the five recommendations. - All
infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety
seat until they are 2 years of age or until they reach the
highest weight or height allowed by the maker