Child Passenger Safety
Car SeatChoosing and installing a car seat is one of the most important parts of getting ready for your new baby, and an important part of your baby’s transition from infant to toddler and from toddler to preschooler.  That’s because motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and injury for children over the age of 1.  Because of their small size and unique physiologies, young children are at risk of injury even in low-speed crashes, where adults may walk away unscathed.

Properly used car seats are the single best means of protecting infants and toddlers in car crashes, yet research shows that 4 out of 5 car seats are used incorrectly.  When car seats are not secured properly in vehicles, children are placed in seats that are inappropriate for their age and weight, or children are not belted correctly in their seats, it places children at risk of injury or death in a crash.  Puzzling directions, a huge variety of seats on the market and a wide array of vehicles and seat belt systems add to major confusion for parents.

Rainbow offers a free Car Seat Fit Stop at the hospital’s main campus in University Circle, where parents and caregivers can get help in choosing a car seat that is appropriate for their child’s age and weight and have car seats checked for correct installation.  Experts at Rainbow’s Car Seat Fit Stop can help walk parents through these important decisions—whether it is picking out the first car seat for a new arrival, deciding when it is appropriate to turn a rear-facing infant forward facing, or making the transition out of car seats into booster seats or seat belts.

The Rainbow Injury Prevention Center is dedicated to protecting child passengers throughout Northeast Ohio by aiding parents and caregivers in making important decisions about how best to restrain their child passengers, providing assistance with properly using and installing car seats, and working to ensure that all families—regardless of their financial circumstances—have access to the resources they need to help their children travel safely.  

If you have questions about how best to protect your little traveler, or need help with installing a car seat, call the Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention Center at 216-844-2277.