NJ guidelines
- Infants under the age of 1 and/or under 20 pounds should always be secured in a car seat facing backwards. (Baby rides in a semi-reclining position facing the rear of the car.)
- When your child outgrows the rear-facing seat, move him to a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether.
- Always buckle the seat’s harness system securely to hold your child safely in the seat. Allow no more than one finger-width of slack between your child’s collarbone and the harness strap.
- Read your car’s manual, as well as the car seat manufacturer’s instructions, to find out how to install the car seat using the seat belt or the LATCH system.
- 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.
- Children under 8 years of age who weigh less than 80 pounds must 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 she must be secured by a child safety seat or booster seat.)
Get your set-up checked (for free)
Certified child passenger safety technicians will inspect car seats and help with installations at designated times throughout the month. Find a New Jersey car seat inspection station at nj.gov/oag/hts/childseats/childseatchecks.html.
Sources: Governors Highway Safety Association, ghsa.org; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nhtsa.gov; Safe Kids USA, safekids.org; State of NJ Dept. of Law & Public Safety, nj.gov/oag/hts/childseats
