A Review of Current Technology in Child Safety Seats for Infants

Abstract

Although nearly all infants younger than 1 year of age are restrained when riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle in the United States, there are still problems with misuse of the child restraint devices. This article reviews current technology in child safety seats for infants. The author notes that the essential elements of appropriate transportation of infants include: rear-facing, in the back seat, and secured appropriately in the child restraint device. The device itself must also be securely installed in the vehicle. One lengthy table summarizes the presently-available, rear-facing child restraint devices on the market in the U.S.; for each device, the chart lists the manufacturer, model, type, rear facing weight limit, rear facing height limit, and online retail price. The author cautions that securing the child restraint device to the vehicle is one of the most complex parts of the process. Readers are walked through the process in some detail. The author also outlines the numerous resources available for parents who need assistance with child restraint seats. The author concludes by stressing that, through active advocacy, pediatric health care providers can influence parents tremendously in preventing unnecessary injuries and death from motor vehicle collisions.