family » health Before leaving home, check to see the stroller’s clips or buckles are securely fashioned to avoid a fall. Don’t overload the stroller with heavy items such as a bag of groceries, as that might cause it to tip over. Young children should also be protected from the rays of the sun — but without heavy clothing that could cause overheating. If you stop on your walk, lock the stroller’s wheels so it won’t suddenly roll away. And never leave your child unattended in a stroller, even for a few moments. TIPS FOR CAR SEAT SAFETY The best type of car seat or carrier depends on the size and age of your child. Infants should ride in rear-facing car seats until at least age 2, according to recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). If your child is small, it’s a good idea to stick with a rear-facing seat even after that age. For children older than 2, a forwardfacing car seat with a five-point harness should be used until the child’s height and weight exceed the guidelines for your particular car seat. (Usually, 65 pounds is the upper limit for most car seats.) A booster seat can be used to bridge the gap until the child fits the vehicle seat belt system, usually when the child is taller than 4 foot 9. All children ages 12 and under should be properly secured in a back seat on every ride. Unfortunately, studies indicate that nearly a third of children ride in the wrong restraints for their age and size, and four out of five child safety seats are used incorrectly. For instance, you should never use a rear-facing child seat with an active frontal air bag, which could cause serious injury or death if it deploys. Here are some other safety tips on car seats and carriers: Read the manufacturer’s instructions about installing and caring for the car seat. Route the harness straps according to the manufacturer instructions, and adjust them so they fit snugly against your child’s body. When carrying an infant to the car, keep the carrier low to the ground. If you stumble or drop the carrier, your child will have less distance to fall. • Don’t allow your child to “graduate” from a booster seat or move from the back seat to the front of a car before they have grown enough to make the change safely. More tips are available from Safe Kids Worldwide at usa.safekids.org. Recognizing the vital importance of child safety, Nicklaus Children’s Hospi-
tal offers child safety seat inspections to ensure that car seats have not been subject to recalls and are installed properly. To schedule, please call 305-663-6800.
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, part of Miami Children’s Health System, is the proud lead organization for the Miami-Dade County SAFE KIDS Coalition.
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