Information Station - Always use an appropriate car seat when traveling in a vehicle.
- The Academy of Pediatrics recommends using a rear-facing car seat until your child is over 1 year of age and weighs at least 20 pounds.
- The longer a child can ride rear-facing, the better. Therefore, allowing your child to remain rear-facing until he/she has met either the height or weight requirement of the car seat is ideal.
- Be sure to know how to use and adjust your car seat.
- Get your car seat inspected at your local police or fire station to ensure proper installation prior to taking your baby home.
- Find an inspection station near you at www.seatcheck.org and www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
- If your baby was born less than 37 weeks gestation, a car seat test may be required to ensure that your baby can ride safely in a reclined position.
- During a car seat test, your baby is secured into the car seat (by you or dad) and monitored for 1 hour for apnea (cessation of breathing), bradycardia (drop of heart rate below 100 beats per minute), and desaturations (drop in oxygen saturation < 90%).
- If your baby fails the car seat test, a retest will be done and if needed, arrangements for a car bed will be made.
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