How Safe are Car Seat Belts for Small Children?

QUESTION: I read an answer about crossing seatbelts over to take care of
three kids in your column. However, I have another real concern that stemmed
from your answer. How safe are car seat belts for small children?
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ANSWER: Seat belts are not particularly safe for small children, but they are
safer than nothing. Small children (those under age 4 or under 40 pounds in
weight) should be strapped into federally approved child car seats. These
seats will help keep a child from being thrown violently within the car during
an accident. Children's car seats are available in sizes to fit infants and
toddlers and should be used each time the child is in a car. In some states,
it is the law that a child must be in a car seat or strapped in at all times.
If a car seat is not available, strapping a child in with a lap seat belt
is better than not using anything. A small child is very top heavy. Their
heads are the heaviest part of their bodies. If a car is stopped suddenly,
the unrestrained child is thrown forward and a serious head injury or death is
often the result. In a severe accident, an unrestrained child can fly around
the car like a rag doll. Remember, car accidents are one of the leading
killers of our children.
The best answer, of course, is to do the right thing, do it right, and do
it regularly. That may mean buying an extra child's car seat or two, but it's
the only way I know of preventing the tragedy that can occur when youngsters
are not properly buckled up in devices that have been engineered to protect
them.