Demographic predictors of infant car seat use

Demographic family data obtained from mothers exposed to an inpatient postpartum child restraint device (CRD) education program were correlated with the results of direct observations of how the infant was restrained at a two-week posthospital physical examination visit. Those correctly restraining their infants in an approved CRD were found to be from a higher socioeconomic group than those who did not use CRDs or used them incorrectly. Additionally, the group correctly using the CRD demonstrated a heightened interest in other aspects of preventive medicine and stated that they had a family dentist. This demographic profile enables prediction of which family is most likely to respond to traditional education programs and may be a first step in designing new or alternate approaches for reaching parents not influenced by currently employed instructional methods.