Binghamton NY - Today, more parents and caregivers than ever before secure their children in child safety seats. One explanation is that parents look to state child restraint laws for guidance.
Many parents believe laws are an accurate measure of what is safe for children.
However, many laws have gaps and thus do not provide the fullest safety benefit to children. For example, most child passenger safety laws only mandate that children be secured in safety seats to about age four and 40 pounds. Most caregivers do not realize the importance of changing child safety seats as their children grow and do not understand the danger that standard seat belts can pose to young children. Seat belts are designed for adults. On a small child, the adult lap belt rides up over the stomach and the shoulder belt cuts across the child's neck.