Is Your Child in the Right Car Seat?

Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death of children over the age of six months in the United States. The proper use of child car seats is one of the simplest and most effective methods available for protecting the lives of our young children in the event of a motor vehicle crash.

However, 3 out of every 4 children in child safety seats are not properly secured, or even worse, not restrained at all. Only the correct use of child car seats will offer the protection your child needs.

There are many different types of child car seats on the market today. Each one must meet federal standards and all provide good protection for your child when used correctly. The “right” seat for you is largely a matter of personal choice. Choose a seat that fits your child and your car, read the instructions carefully, and use the seat correctly on every trip.

New Jersey Child Passenger Safety Law
  • Children under 8 years of age who weigh less than 80 pounds to ride properly secured in a child safety seat or booster seat in the rear seat of the vehicle. If there is no rear seat, the child may sit in the front seat, but s/he must be secured by a child safety seat or booster seat.(Note: A rear-facing infant seat should never be placed in a front seat with a passenger-side airbag unless the vehicle is equipped with an air bag on/off switch. Learn More.)
  • Children under 8 years of age who weigh more than 80 pounds to ride properly secured in a seat belt.
  • Passengers 8 to 18 years of age (regardless of weight) ride properly secured in a seat belt.

 

The four steps to child passenger safety can help ensure that young passengers are kept safe from harm.
  1. REAR-FACING SEATS: For the best possible protection, keep infants in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, up to the maximum height or weight limit mandated by the child safety seat manufacturer (this information can be found on a label affixed to the seat and in the seat owner’s manual). Parents should keep infants rear-facing until s/he is at least one year of age and 20 pounds.
  2. FORWARD-FACING SEATS: When children out grow their rear-facing seats (at a minimum age of one and at least 20 pounds), they should ride in forward-facing, child safety seats in the back seat, up to the maximum height or weight limit mandated by the child safety seat manufacturer (this information can be found on a label affixed to the seat and in the seat owner’s manual), which is usually no younger than age 4 and when they weigh at least 40 pounds.
  3. BOOSTER SEATS: Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats (usually no younger than age 4 and when they weigh at least 40 pounds), they should ride in a booster seat, in the back seat, until the vehicle seat belts fit properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9” tall).
  4. SEAT BELTS: When children outgrow their booster seats, (usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9” tall), they can use the adult seat belt in the back seat, if it fits properly (when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest). Adults should set a good example for children by buckling up, every ride, whether they are riding in a front or rear seat.

 
For more information and FAQs, review New Jersey’s Child Passenger Safety Law.

Safercar.gov/therightseat

Safecercar.gov published a wonderful guide to help you through the decision-making process of finding the right car seat: How to Find the Right Car Seat


Information for this article retrieved from nj.gov on 1/12/2015, as such it may become inaccurate over time.