In plain words
A child restraint system is the official name for a car seat or booster used to protect a child in a vehicle. infant seats, convertible seats, forward-facing seats with a harness, and booster seats are all child restraint systems. The name matters on paper, because car seat laws and safety standards use it. A mother may see it in a product label or in a state law. Each seat has height and weight limits and a set of installation steps in its manual. Choosing a seat that fits the baby's size and the car is part of planning for the trip home.
The deeper version
Child restraint systems in the United States are regulated under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 (FMVSS 213) and must pass dynamic crash tests before sale. Current American Academy of Pediatrics guidance recommends rear-facing use until the child reaches the highest weight or height allowed by the seat, which for many convertible seats now exceeds two years of age. Crash data analyses show that rear-facing seats reduce the risk of serious injury in children under two compared with forward-facing use. Installation method, either the vehicle seat belt or the lower anchors and tether, does not change the rating of the seat, but both must be used correctly. Standard terms differ by country, and some jurisdictions use child safety seat or child car seat.
Where it comes up
- Car seat safety day to dayBaby Basics
- Holidays, travel, and events with a newbornSupport, Home, and Village
- Car seat: choosing, installing, getting it checkedGetting Ready for Birth
What mothers here say about child restraint system
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Sources
- American Academy of Pediatrics — Car safety seats: a guide for families, updated policy statement
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213: Child restraint systems