| I don't currently advocate road rage. Laying on | | | | the belly. The shoulder belt should cross the chest, |
| the horn, swearing like a sailor, and swerving | | | | not the upper shoulder and not the neck. Many of |
| around the slow guy in the passing lane is not my | | | | these boosters feature an adjustable clip to keep |
| style. Of course, tastes change over time, so I'd | | | | the shoulder belt in a good position. Never forsake |
| like to reserve the right to practice road rage in | | | | the shoulder belt. Serious injury is common among |
| the future. But understand this: It won't be the | | | | children in booster seats who only use a lap |
| slow guy in the passing lane that sets me off. | | | | belt.For all car seats and boosters, be sure to |
| Instead, it will be stupid parents.You know the | | | | follow the manufacturers guidelines for proper |
| ones I'm talking about. You see them on | | | | positioning and securing. You'll have to pay close |
| interstate highways and city streets and country | | | | attention here. Some seats are rear-facing only, |
| roads. You point them out to your spouse, and | | | | some only face forward, others are reversible. |
| explain their poor judgment to your children. At | | | | Also pay attention to minimum and maximum |
| least I hope you do. These are the parents who | | | | length and weight for a given seat. If your child |
| drive with unrestrained kids in the car, ones who | | | | outgrows the length recommendation of a |
| let Little Bobby climb over the headrest and | | | | rear-facing infant seat, but is not yet a year old |
| crouch on the floorboard and roam from window | | | | AND twenty pounds, you'll need a bigger |
| to window, pausing only to stick his tongue out at | | | | reversible seat. Keep it rear-facing until he is big |
| cars in the cruising lane.Why do some parents | | | | enough and old enough to face forward.When are |
| allow their children such freedom? I think it boils | | | | kids ready for seat belts without a booster? |
| down to convenience. Dad doesn't want to wear | | | | When their feet reach the floor while their back is |
| a seatbelt and he doesn't want to hear Little | | | | against the seat. The lap belt must fit snuggly |
| Bobby screaming to get out of his. So Dad lets | | | | across the pelvic bones (not the stomach), and |
| him roam.In every state, they're breaking the law. | | | | the shoulder belt must fit snugly across the chest |
| Not that it matters. Most states have secondary | | | | (not the upper shoulder or neck). The exact age |
| seatbelt laws, even for kids. This means police | | | | varies from kid to kid. If your son or daughter is |
| can only write a citation for an unrestrained | | | | petite, he or she might be 10 or 11 years old |
| occupant in the course of pulling a car over for | | | | before meeting this criteria. I realize this is much |
| another violation. But let's face it, toughening | | | | older than most people (especially children) want |
| seatbelt laws into primary violations would do little | | | | to believe. But I bring you the facts. Please, don't |
| to reduce the thousands of unrestrained children | | | | shoot the messenger.There's much more to say |
| killed and injured in the United States each year. | | | | about car safety. When can kids ride up front? |
| Why? Because you can't force common sense | | | | What about air bags? How do you secure |
| through legislation. Don't forget, these parents are | | | | premature babies and disabled children? The |
| stupid.If you are still reading, I suspect you are | | | | American Academy of Pediatrics has an excellent |
| either not a stupid parent or you are motivated | | | | resource answering these and other questions at |
| to rise above your stupidity. And since smart | | | | what do we do with the dad who won't buckle |
| parents ask lots of good questions about the | | | | Little Bobby? It's a tough call. This is America. |
| appropriate use of car seats, booster seats, and | | | | Parents have rights. Does Little Bobby have the |
| seatbelts, I will review the basics for you.The | | | | right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? |
| rules are pretty simple really. Until your child is a | | | | Is Dad interfering with that right? Maybe. Until we |
| year old AND twenty pounds, use a rear-facing | | | | sort that out, you'll do well to avoid Dad's mistake. |
| infant carrier in the back seat of your car. The | | | | Be a good example to your children and always |
| middle of the seat is safest. Once your child is | | | | wear your seat belt. Insist on your children being |
| twenty pounds AND one year of age, it's safe to | | | | properly secured from day one. Always use a car |
| use a forward-facing car seat. Again, keep it in | | | | seat. Make no exceptions. Little Bobby figured out |
| the back, and if possible, put it in the middle.When | | | | that if he screams loud enough and long enough, |
| do you graduate to a booster seat? For most | | | | he gets to roam the car and stick his tongue out |
| kids, you can make the move when they weigh | | | | at passing cars. If you have a Little Bobby in your |
| forty pounds. Start with the type that has its | | | | car, it's not too late. Let him scream. It won't last |
| own restraining harness. When your child | | | | long. Will you be interfering with his life, liberty, and |
| outgrows the harness (usually between 50 and 65 | | | | the pursuit of happiness? Maybe. But I know |
| pounds), advance to a booster that incorporates | | | | which choice I'd make. How about you?Copyright |
| the car's safety belt. The important thing here is | | | | 2006 Mike Patrick Jr, MDMike is an American |
| to make certain the belt fits properly. The lap belt | | | | pediatrician. |
| should fit over the pelvic bones and not slip up to | | | | |