What types of regulations and laws govern car seat usage?

Question

What types of regulations and laws govern car seat usage?

Answer 1

Regulations vary widely by state - with some requiring boosters to a certain age, some only requiring some child restraint to age 3 or 4, some listing weights in their requirements, some not. Some have specific laws about rear facing, some don't.

Here, you can check by state:

Remember, thought, that it is not law that's the important part, since many laws are just plain too lax, and only outline the barest minimums of safety. It is more important to consider what's safe - the laws of physics don't change just b/c lawmakers haven't caught up with what we now know yet.

STAGE 1: babies belong in rear facing car seats - and should stay rear facing AS LONG AS POSSIBLE! Babies should stay rear facing AS LONG AS POSSIBLE! Turning kids forward at 20lbs/1year is an outdated practice that could cost you your child's life! American Academy of Pediatrics says to keep kids rear facing to the limit of their convertible car seat. All current models go to at least 30lbs, many higher.

A forward-facing child under 2 years old is 4 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured in a crash than a rear-facing child of the same age. A child's vertabrae do not fully fuse until 3-6 years old, before then, she is at great risk for internal decapitation. The spinal column can stretch up to 2 inches in a crash BUT the spinal cord can only stretch up to 1/4 inch before it snaps and baby is gone.

STAGE 2:forward facing in a 5 point harness. Once turned forward, a child should stay in a 5 point harness AS LONG AS POSSIBLE! Many seats are now available that will keep a child harnessed to 50, 65, even 80lbs!! A 5 point harness is much safer than a booster and seatbelt. Bare minimum for safe booster use is 4 years AND 40lbs. But most 4 year olds aren't mature enough to sit correclty in a booster and seat belt.

STAGE 3: high back booster seat with seat belt. Seatbelt needs to go across shoulder and lap, not neck and abdomen! Kids need boosters until they are both 4'9" tall AND 80lbs, which is about 8-10 years old.

STAGE 4:seatbelt only. Not until a child is at least 4'9" tall AND 80lbs AND passes this 5 step test: 1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?

2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?

3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?

4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?

5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

Answer 2

Try this site.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/