This post was sponsored by The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth A Pound of Cure
Today’s post is an important one. When the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning reached out to me about their booster seat campaign, I knew that this was an important message to share with my readers. As a mom of young children, and the wife of a physician who works with pediatric trauma cases, I know all too well the injuries and fatalities that can happen from motor vehicle crashes. They aways say that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and that really is true, especially when it comes to automobile safety. So what can you do to prevent child injuries on the road?
The Importance of Booster Seats
With four children, each and every one of them has been so excited to “graduate” from their baby carseat. But when we finally make that move, I keep their utmost safety in mind. I have to admit, I left my youngest child in his 5 point restraint for a very long time, mainly because he was always trying to wrangle out of his seat, and I just wanted to keep him properly restrained. When we finally did make the move to transition him out of the carseat, you better believe we put him in a booster seat with a high back. Why? Because booster seat use saves lives. Did you know that using a booster seat reduces the risk for serious injury by 45 percent for children aged 4–8 years when compared with seat belt use alone? 45% is a huge risk reduction. So why take your chances?
Booster Seats are Underutilized
I didn’t know this but Michigan children ages 4-7 have a much lower rate of booster seat use ( only 49.7 percent). I’m sure this is true throughout the country too. Research suggests parents underestimate the risk and/or are unfamiliar with best child safety seat practices. So this is why spreading the message about booster seat use is so important! We make it fun and exciting for our kids when we make the move. They get to pick out their own seat, and it becomes something that they identify as part of them. And my kids like sitting in them because they can actually see what is on the road in front of them too!
Under 4’9″? Use a Booster Seat
I know my kids can’t wait to grow up an gain their independence. If your child is under 4’9”, they’re not tall enough to ride in the car without a booster seat. For some kids this might mean they are over the age of 10. No matter how grown up they seem, just don’t do it. Adult seat belts are not made for little bodies. When using a seatbelt, the lap portion of the belt must sit low on the hips rather than across the stomach or somewhere on the legs. The upper portion should come across the chest and rest on the bony shoulder. With a smaller person, you can’t meet these conditions without the booster seat. And they should remain in the booster seat until they can do this on their own.
To learn more, head to the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.
I love this post, being a parent of a 10 year old daughter and 3 year old boy this hits home. Luckily for me both of them want to see outside and the only way is in either the booster seat or car seat. A must read for parents.
Car safety is so important! I see so many people that do not have their children in booster seats when they should just because they think they are too old. Thank you for sharing this valuable info.
Car seats are so important! My oldest is 5 and started kinder this year. I broke down and put him in a booster instead of his 5-point only because it’s the only way he can get in and out of the car on his own for the car rider line. But if we are going anywhere out of the neighborhood, we put the other seat back in. He will use that on longer trips until he gets to the max height or weight. My youngest wants to ride the booster but I won’t let him even though he legally weighs enough.
I am always amazed by your pictures! Car safety is extremely important and you very beautifully brought this to the reader’s attention – great one!
Car safety is very important especially if you have a kid this is a great advice from you. I love pictures and I like your blog.
The safety of little ones is so much important. Many thanks for these practical tips. I am sure that I will need them the next time we travel with the car.
Car safety is so imperative for the littles one! I love the advice you shared!
Any mother and father will find this article useful! I don’t have kids, so I didn’t know the difference between the regular and the booster seat, but now I can understand how important it is for children’s safe.
My oldest was always on the smaller side so was in a booster seat for a while. He couldn’t wait to get out of it, but I’m a bit too anxious to not listen to safety recommendations. I hope this post helps others keep their littles safe.
In Illinois kids have to be 8 to ride without a booster seat. I still kept my middle child in it whenever possible well past that age due to his height and weight.
That height thing is very serious for the little ones. No matter how they get, if they don’t make the height requirement, in the seat they go. They don’t like it much!
It kills me how many parents don’t understand the importance of and the laws related to child safety restraints in vehicles. Thanks for sharing this!!