To keep your baby safe while riding in the car, here's what you need to know about car seats:
Birth to Age 3
- Infants under age 1 should ride in a rear-facing car seat with a harness. In the event of a crash, the seat cradles and moves with your child to reduce the stress on her neck and spinal cord.
- Your child should remain in a rear-facing seat until she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer.
- If your child outgrows the rear-facing seat, move him to a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether, which limits your child’s forward movement in a crash.
- 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.
For All Ages
- All children (13 and younger) should ride in the back seat, and in a car seat, as long as possible, according to the height and weight requirements of the seat.
- Choose a car seat based on your child’s age, weight, and height.
- 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.
Sources: Governors Highway Safety Association; National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Safe Kids USA; State of NJ Dept of Law & Public Safety.
