Which statement indicates an unsafe behavior for a 9-month-old related to home safety?

Which statement indicates an unsafe behavior for a 9-month-old related to home safety?

• A. In the car, she rides in a front-facing car seat.
• B. I put covers on all of the electrical outlets.
• C. There are locks on all of the cabinets in the house.
• D. I have a gate at the top and bottom of the stairs.

Answer: (A)

Rear-facing car seats are essential for infants and toddlers because they better protect the head, neck, and spine in a crash by distributing crash forces across the back of the car seat and reducing forward movement of the child. At 9 months old, a child should remain rear-facing until they reach the seat’s weight or height limit (often up to at least 2 years). Placing a 9-month-old in a front-facing seat exposes the neck and spine to greater injury risk in a collision, making that option unsafe. The other safety measures described—adding outlet covers, installing cabinet locks, and setting gates at the top and bottom of stairs—are appropriate precautions for a child this age and do not indicate unsafe behavior. They help prevent common hazards as the child becomes more mobile.

Rear-facing car seats are essential for infants and toddlers because they better protect the head, neck, and spine in a crash by distributing crash forces across the back of the car seat and reducing forward movement of the child. At 9 months old, a child should remain rear-facing until they reach the seat’s weight or height limit (often up to at least 2 years). Placing a 9-month-old in a front-facing seat exposes the neck and spine to greater injury risk in a collision, making that option unsafe.

The other safety measures described—adding outlet covers, installing cabinet locks, and setting gates at the top and bottom of stairs—are appropriate precautions for a child this age and do not indicate unsafe behavior. They help prevent common hazards as the child becomes more mobile.