Every child should be buckled in a child safety seat, a booster seat, or with a lap/shoulder belt that is appropriate for his/her age, weight and height.

All children ages 12 and under should sit in the back seat of a motor vehicle whenever possible. IT’S SAFER!

Child Safety Seats

Always follow manufacturers’ instructions when installing a child safety seat. Serious injury or death could result if the child safety seat is not used and installed properly.

Infants up to at least 20 pounds and at least 1 year old should ride in a rear-facing child seat. The child seat should be in the BACK seat and face the rear of the car, van, or truck. Harness straps should be at or below the baby’s shoulder.

Children in rear-facing child seats should NEVER be placed in the front seat of vehicles equipped with a passenger-side air bag. A deploying air bag striking a rear-facing child seat can result in death or severe injury.

Children over age one and at least 20 pounds may ride forward facing. Harness straps should be positioned at or above the child’s shoulders.

The seat belt needs to hold the child safety seat tightly. Route the seat belt through the child safety seat as directed by the seat manufacturer. The child seat should not move more than one inch forward or sideways.

There should be no slack in the harness; the straps should fit snugly. The chest clip should be at armpit level.

Parents often don’t realize they need to alter the type of child safety seats used as children grow.

Booster Seats

Children generally outgrow forward facing convertible child safety seats at about 40 lbs and 4 years of age.

Children between 40 lbs. and 80 lbs. and less than 4’9” tall should be in a booster seat.

A child who cannot sit with his or her back straight against the vehicle seat cushion, with knees bent over a vehicle’s seat edge without slouching, should use a booster seat.

A booster seat positions the adult-designed seat belt correctly and safely - and offers children greater comfort and visibility.

With so many child safety seats, seat belts, and vehicles on the market today, it can be very difficult to properly install a child safety seat. Parents should have their child safety seats inspected by a trained and certified child safety seat technician in their community.