What to Expect the Toddler Years (237 page)

Children who have been facing rearward in a convertible car seat can start facing forward once they weigh twenty pounds and can sit up well alone. When reversing the seat, be sure to install it according to the manufacturer’s directions and to readjust the harness as your toddler grows. A child over twenty pounds can also ride in a toddler-only car seat.

Since safety seats are occasionally recalled for defects, register a new seat with the manufacturer, so if there’s a recall you’ll be notified immediately. With older seats, you can check the brand and model against a list of defective car seats available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) by logging on to their website (nhtsa.gov), or by calling the Auto Safety Hotline (888) 327-4236. The NHTSA website can also help you find a child safety seat inspection station near you.

Children who weigh over thirty pounds can ride in a toddler-only booster seat such as the one above, which raises a toddler up so that lap and shoulder belts fit correctly. Important: Such seats cannot be used with a seat belt unless they come with an optional shield for use when no shoulder belt is available.

The safest seat in a car is the middle one in the back, so when practical, put your toddler there. If you have a passenger-side airbag, it’s okay to put your toddler in the front seat, but
only
in a child restraint system and with the seat moved back as far as possible. An airbag alone is dangerous: The explosive inflation of the airbag during an accident could seriously injure or even kill a child who is not restrained. (A rear-facing infant seat should
never
be placed in a front seat with an airbag.)

Always buckle your child in according to the directions that come with the seat; many children in car seats are injured in accidents because they weren’t buckled in properly. The harness should fit snugly but not too tightly. (Adjust the straps as your toddler grows and when switching to or from bulky winter clothes.) If there is a retainer clip, always use it to hold the shoulder straps in place. Position the clip at chest level, as illustrated in your car seat instruction book.

An ideal traveling companion for a family with a toddler, this contraption converts from a car seat to a stroller to a plane seat and back again with ease—providing car seat protection en route to the airport and at your destination, a safe seat for the flight, and a stroller for vacation enjoyment.

Never start driving until all the car doors are locked and your child and everyone else in the car is properly buckled in. Every state requires a child to ride in an approved safety seat until at least age four or 40 pounds. Abide by these laws faithfully, even if you’re just going for a quick trip from one store to another. For tips on how to keep your toddler happy while buckled up, see page 150.

These safety restraints, which are particularly convenient for travel, are usually designed for children twenty to twenty-five pounds or more—but check the label, since weight recommendations can vary on these products. As with other safety restraints, these only protect when they are properly installed, so read and follow instructions carefully.

Don’t neglect car safety when you travel. Many parents find a convertible stroller-car seat useful (see above illustration): It can be a car seat in the cab en route to the airport, opened to a stroller for moving around the airport, then strapped into the plane seat for the flight, and finally used both as a car seat in a rented car and as a stroller at your destination. An inflatable travel seat can also be useful. For older toddlers, a simple harness that is worn with a seat belt can also be used for travel (auto or air) or even for short taxi rides.

If your child has special needs, a standard car seat may not be appropriate. Check with your child’s doctor or a local children’s hospital for information.