Car Seat Safety Guide

Let us look at these car seat safety recommendations according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The NHTSA suggests selecting a car seat based on your child’s age and size, not the price. Choosing a carseat that fits in your vehicle securely and is easy to use and operate will help prevent injury or death.
Most car seat manufacturer’s provide detailed instructions on how to use and install your infant car seat properly. Studies have shown that 3 out of 4 children are not as safe in their seats due to improper car seat installation and use which increases your chance of seriously injuring your baby. Make sure you read and understand the car seat requirements such as height and weight limits for your model.

Car Seat Installation

You will want to consult your vehicle owner’s manual as it will instruct you on how to best install the car seat using the seat belt or LATCH system. The LATCH system has become mandatory on most vehicles since 2002. Your babies car seat comes equipped with attachments that fasten to anchors between the cushions in the backseat.

As children grow, how and where they sit in the automobile will of course change. We will now discuss infant, baby and child car seat safety regulations.

Infant Car Seat Safety

To keep your loved one safe and protected while traveling you will want to keep your baby in the back seat, in a rear facing child safety seat for as long as possible. Minimum infant car seat safety regulations state that infants under the age on one year and weighing less than twenty pounds must ride in a rear facing car seat.
For babies one to three years of age you will still want him or her to sit in a rear facing car seat as long as your baby has not out grown the weight and weight limits according to the car seat guidelines. To help keep baby travel safe you can extend the time your young one rides this way by investing in a convertible or 3 in 1 car seats which typically have higher height and weight restrictions.

Car Seat Regulations

Forward facing car seat requirements are meet when you little one weighs between twenty and forty pounds and is between one and four years old. Once children outgrow their forward facing seats at around four years of age and about forty pounds, you will want to use a booster seat.

Booster Seat Requirements

If you child is less than four feet nine inches tall and weighs less than fourty pounds then its time to use a booster seat. It makes sure the seat belts fit properly across the upper thighs and across the chest. Once the youngster reaches eight years of age and is taller than four feet nine they are ready to use the adult seat belt in the back seat.

Car Seat Installation Video