Child Passenger Safety

 

You can help protect your children from injury or death in motor vehicle accidents by making sure they are correctly belted in a car seat or booster seat. 

 

 

From birth to age 13, follow these steps to keep your child passenger safe: 

 

 

Step 1 - Rear-facing car seats

 

Infants should be in a rear-facing car seat until they are both:

 

• at least one year old AND
• weigh at least 20 pounds.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using a rear-facing car seat until the child reaches the upper weight or height limit allowed by the manufacturer (usually 30 - 35 pounds.)

 

 

Step 2 - Forward-facing car seats

 

Children should ride in forward-facing seats when they are:

 

• at least 1 year old AND
• weigh between 20 to 40 pounds.
• Some harness systems are approved for over 40 pounds; read your manual.

 

 

Step 3 - Booster seats

 

Children who weigh between 40 and 100 pounds and are under 4 feet 9 inches tall should use a booster seat.

 

• Guideline: The child should be able to sit all the way back in the seat with their knees bent at the edge before they move out of the booster seat.

 

 

Step 4 - Safety belts

 

Children who weigh over 80 pounds and more than 4 feet 9 inches tall should wear the safety belts adults use.

 

All children under 13 years should ride in the back seat.