Car Seat Safety
One of the most important jobs you have as a parent is keeping your child safe when riding in a vehicle. Each year thousands of children are killed or injured in car crashes. Proper use of car safety seats helps keep children safe. But with so many different car safety seats on the market, it’s no wonder many parents find this overwhelming.
According the the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The type of seat your child needs depends on several things including age, size, and type of vehicle. To be sure your child is using the most appropriate seat, read on:
Types of car safety seats at a glance
The below guidelines will help you start your search. Select the links for more information on each type of child car seat; installation tips, and AAP answers to frequently asked questions. Once you've found the right car safety seat for your child, REMEMBER: it's critical to read the manufacturer's use instructions to protect your child as effectively as possible.
Infants |
Infant-only or Rear-facing convertible |
| All infants should always ride rear-facing until they are 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. |
Toddlers and Preschoolers |
| Children 1 year of age and at least 20 pounds can ride forward-facing. It is best to ride rear-facing as long as possible. |
School-aged Children |
Booster seats are for older children who have outgrown their forward-facing car safety seats. Children should stay in a booster seat until the adult seat belts fit correctly (usually when a child reaches about 4' 9" in height and is between 8 and 12 years of age). |
Older children |
Children who have outgrown their booster seats should ride in a lap and shoulder belt; they should ride in the back seat until 13 years of age.
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