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Expert Q&A:
Should we get side-impact air bags for our new van?

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Suzanne Dixon
Answered by Suzanne Dixon M.D., M.P.H.
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"There is nothing so amazing as the development of a child," says Suzanne Dixon, M.D., a behavioral and developmental pediatrician who was one of the founding members of the Pampers Parenting Network. "Every day is a new adventure when you have a child around you. I never get tired of learning from the children who have been a part of my life, professionally and personally."Suzanne Dixon, M.D., M.P.H., was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. She did her pediatric training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and then completed a fellowship in Child Development at Boston's Children's Hospital. Dr. Dixon joined the faculty at the University of California, San Diego, and did patient care, teaching, and research for 20 years. She ran a large newborn service, performed research in early child development, and was involved in many community outreach activities in maternal child health. Throughout her entire professional life she has maintained an interest in cross-cultural activities, living and working in many parts of the world, including Mexico, India, Kenya, Indonesia, and several countries from the former U.S.S.R. Dr. Dixon is the author of numerous research articles, review articles, and textbook chapters in pediatrics, child and family development, and public health. Her textbook, written with Dr. Martin Stein, Encounters With Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development, has become a classic in child health education and is in its fourth edition. She is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, an international journal of high standing in the professional world. She also has served as an associate editor for Infant Mental Health and currently reviews for several major pediatric journals. Dr. Dixon is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and served in national positions in that organization. She is a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, the Society for Research in Child Development, the American Public Health Association, and the Executive Council of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. She serves as consultant to several national and international organizations and has received an award from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.Dr. Dixon continues to lecture and consult worldwide on aspects of maternal, child, and family health. She practices behavioral and developmental pediatrics in Montana and works with local advocacy groups on education and women''s health. Dr. Dixon has been married for over 30 years and has three sons. She and her husband travel frequently, are outdoor enthusiasts, and enjoy being amateur anthropologists.
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Question


Should we get side-impact air bags for our new van?

Answer


Great question. Side air bags add to the car safety for older children and adults but can cause serious injury to young children, those in car seats and boosters. So eliminate that option for the best safety for your youngest passengers. The air bag off-switch option isn't really a good one for families with young children. This places the safety of the adults in the car in jeopardy, with the chance of secondary injury to the passengers as well. Remembering to turn the switch on and off at the appropriate time is hard to do with a carload of kids and a busy schedule. So your best choice is to decline the side air bag option and put the car seat crowd in the back seat in properly installed and tightly buckled seats that are appropriate for the age and weight of the each child.

For more information, see this site, the American Academy of Pediatrics Web site, and the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration Web site. The last of these not only gives you all the latest safety information but also provides a list of certified technicians who can install that car seat according to the highest standards. Have safe and happy travel adventures in your new van.
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