Child Safety Seat Recommendations
rev. 10/26/2011
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Infants should be placed in a rear facing child safety seat until they are at least 1 year of age. - Children between the ages of 1 to 3 years should be kept in a rear facing child safety seat until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the child safety seat's manufacturer.
- Children between the ages of 4 to 7 years should ride in a forward facing child safety seat with a harness until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the child safety seat's manufacturer. If they outgrow the forward-facing child safety seat with a harness, they should ride in a booster seat.
- Children between the ages of 8 to 12 years should continue riding in a booster seat until they are big enough to fit in a safety belt properly.
- Children between the ages of 0 to 12 years should ride in the back seat of the vehicle.
- Avoid using secondhand child safety seats especially if it does not have the original instruction booklet, if it has been used in a crash, if it does not have the manufacturer's date and model number on it or if it is more than six years old.
- If your car has lap/shoulder combination belts, it could be critical to use a locking clip to properly secure your child safety seat to the car. Consult the vehicle owner’s manual.
- Children should never be held on an adult’s lap. The force of the collision would tear a child from the adult’s arms. The child could be crushed between the adult’s body and the dashboard.
- See the NHTSA child safety seat guidelines for more information.