Family Resources: January 2007

Noah, angel, Partial Trisomy 2p+

Ashton, 7 years, Trisomy 18

One of the of the aims of the TRIS project is to raise awareness of rare trisomy conditions and the variety of situations and concerns families encounter. This page is intended to share resources that families can use in their daily lives.

We are now archiving previous months' Family Resources pages.

Transportation Safety

With many of your children riding in minivans, school buses, cars, etc. TRIS decided to focus on transportation safety this month.

We have divided car seat information into three different age categories in order to assist you in finding information that suits you and your child. Please remember that no seat is the ‘safest’ or ‘best’. Seat selection depends on your child’s specific needs and its proper installation.

0-3 Years Old

There are a number of important things to take into consideration while transporting premature or low birth weight infants. The first thing to take into consideration is that travel should be limited. Make sure that if you are going on a long trip, you stop several times and take your child out of the seat. It is important for your child to have a car seat that fits their individual needs. There are specific car seats called ‘infant-only’ car seats, and these are sized specifically for small children. Positioning is also very important while using car safety equipment and there are several manufactures of car seats that have developed models specifically for infants. A chart of information on Special Needs Car Safety Seats/Restraints Product Information is provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Manufacturers such as Snug Seat, Tumble Forms, and Mulholland provide seating options for younger children.

If your infant is small for her age, you may want extra head, neck and trunk support in you child’s car seat you will be using. Amazon.com is a place to buy a Boppy Noggin Nest Head Support which is an advancement in infant head support, designed to relieve pressure off of the center of baby's head. The Baby Bungalow also offers another version called the Snuggle Soft. It gently surrounds an infant’s head and offers soft, comfortable support for babies of any size. It can be used with infant carriers, car seats and strollers.

3-5 Years Old

For children aged 3-5, there are additional considerations. On long trips, allow your child to stretch and be sure to check if the buckles, belts, etc. are secure and comfortable for your child. It is also important for you to know if your child needs a three or five-point harness for their seat. Information and recommendations are provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Older than 5 Years Old

American Academy of Pediatrics features an article on the importance of car safety for transporting older children. Children may still need assistance with head and trunk control. In order to know if your child is ready for a booster seat, take the following into consideration:

• They reach the top weight or height allowed for her seat with a harness. (These measurements are listed on labels on the seat and are also included in the instruction booklet that is provided with the car safety seat.)
• Their shoulders are above the harness slots.
• Their ears have reached the top of the seat.

If your child is older and still needs the support of a full car seat Britax is a manufacturer that sells car seats secure enough for children who weigh up to 100 lbs.

TRIS also suggests that you take a look at the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations to make sure your car seat meets or exceeds all Federal Safety Standards. Your local fire and police department personnel can also check car seats for proper installation.