Car Seat Requirements for Infants and Children

Every day, children are seriously hurt and die in motor vehicle crashes.  Many of these deaths and injuries can be avoided by simply using the child car safety seat and seat belt correctly.  Statistics show that 80% to 90% of children’s safety seats are installed or used incorrectly.  Many parents are unaware that they are using the child car safety seat wrong, they have no idea of the risks to their child. Most parents take their children out of a child restraint, car seat, much too early.  The South Windsor Child Safety Seat Team follows the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which is:

  • Infants should stay in an Infant Seat or a Convertible Seat, rear facing,  from birth to 2 years old or to the height or weight limits of the convertible seat 
  • Children from two years old to eight years old should be forward-facing in a harnessed seat, up to the limits of the Child Restraint, then in a belt-positioning booster seat until the child can fit properly in a safety seat-belt. This is typically when the child is about eight to twelve years old.
  • When using the vehicle’s safety seat belt always use the lap-shoulder belt for best protection.
  • A final, best-practice recommendation is for all children under 13 years old to ride in the back seat.
  • Please read and follow the instruction manual of your child’s safety seat and your vehicle to find the safest installation configuration.