Infant Car Seat and Booster Seat Regulations
Requirements for Child Safety Restraints in the U.S.
Nov 17, 2008
Car seats were initially invented in 1921, but they were very different from what we use today. These car seats were basically a sack with a drawstring that was attached to the back of the rear seat. At this period of time, a car seat was not even mandated. Designs have obviously changed since then. In 1978, Tennessee became the first state to enact legislations requiring the use of a car seat or booster seat (herein called "child seat").
Studies have shown that 413 children under 5 years of age were saved in a car accident because of the child seat they were using [Child Passenger Safety Statistics, Seatcheck.org, 2004]. Many states have passed regulations that govern the use of these security items, and this is a brief overview of those requirements.
Child Seat Inspections
All child seats are required to pass an inspection from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This process first began in 2002 when the organization found many flaws in the design of these safety seats. This allowed for changes to be implemented and the groundwork laid for many of the child seats used today. A link to NHTSA is provided for you below.
Proper Installation of Child Seats
Proper installation of a child seat is imperative to keep your children safe. Many hospitals will not allow parents to leave the facility without checking the car seat first. This is to ensure the seat is installed correctly and that the baby is secured correctly as well.
If you are not sure your car seat is installed correctly, there are people that can help you. Most police and fire departments have car seat clinics to help check the installation of the seat. These are usually free, and the department can also advise if the seat is too old to use.
Mandate on Vehicle Manufacturers
The NHTSA placed a mandate on vehicles manufactured after 2002. The LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) requires that anchors be available to secure the seat, as well as the seat belt. NHTSA estimates that 20,000 lives are saved each year from the use of child seats.
Requirements Shared by All States
Some states have different child seat laws. However, there are minimum requirements that must be matched by each state.
- You must use a rear facing car seat for children under the age of 1 and under 20 pounds.
- You must use a forward facing seat until your child is 5 years old or weighs 40 pounds.
- You must use a booster seat for children until they reach six years old. These booster seats must use a shoulder and a lap seatbelt.
- If your child is over 60 pounds, he can sit in the front passenger seat.
- If your child is less than 60 pounds, he must sit the back seat of the vehicle.
Child seats are designed to keep a child secure in case of an accident. There have been many reported instances of a child surviving an accident because of the child seat, while everyone else in the vehicle was not so lucky. It is imperative that the child seat is installed in your vehicle correctly. If not, you are risking your child's life.
Car seats are life savers, and there is no doubt about it. Be sure to take the time to correctly install the car seat or booster seat, and obey the laws governing use of child restraints in your state. Your children are your most precious cargo when driving. Make sure you treat them as such.
Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for updated information about child seat safety and laws. They provide you with an inspection locator, as well, so you can find a facility to check your car seat in your area.
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