Where to Begin
Before choosing a car safety seat, consider the following:
- Child's age
Some car safety seats and safety restraints are designed for specific
ages
- Child's weight
Most car safety seats have specific weight ranges
- Child's height (both seated and standing height)
Car safety seats have their own height specifications, however, a common
guideline to follow for car safety seats is that the top of the ears should
not be above the top of the back of the car safety seat if forward-facing
and one inch below if rear-facing, for most seats (refer to specific instructions)
- Child's medical condition
What special considerations are a medical necessity for this child? Breathing
problems, medically fragile, brittle bones, tracheotomy, halos, feeding
tubes, neck braces, etc.
- Child's positioning needs
as recommended by a physician Can the child sit up unassisted, or does
he/she require a reclined position, or lying down on his/her tummy or
back during transport, ect.
- Child's additional medical equipment requirements
How these can be safely transported in the vehicle
- Child's drivers or transportation caregivers
Parents, babysitter, school bus personnel, ect.
- Vehicle limitations/accommodations
What is the type and size of the vehicle, how many seating positions are
there and what type of seat belt systems does it have
- Family Size--Some specialized car safety seats and
safety restraints take up more than one seating position
- Availability of these specialized car safety seats
and safety restraints
- Amount of travel
Is time/distance an issue
- Funding sources/options
Are available for purchasing the needed car safety seat or safety restraint
- Individual Education Plan (IEP)
Vehicle evacuation plan if applicable
With these considerations, you should be able to select a car safety seat
that meets your needs. Click here for a guide to
available car safety seats and manufacturers.
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