Child Safety Seat Guide

AAA Recommendations for Young Passengers:

Child Safety Seat

Restrain your child in a “5-point” harness system until they weigh at least 40 pounds.
Secure the seat with upper tether strap and lower anchors where applicable (refer to your car seat and vehicle owner’s manual for more information).
Have infants facing the rear as long as possible for the best protection in a crash. Infants under one year of age AND under 20 pounds must ride in rear-facing position. Some rear-facing seats can accommodate infants up to 35 pounds.

Booster Seat

Use a booster seat in combination with the vehicle’s lap AND shoulder belt.
Consult booster seat manufacturer’s instructions for proper weight limits and fit.
Children age 4 through 8 years who are taller than 4 feet 9 inches are NOT required to use a booster seat, but must wear a safety belt.

Seat belts are required for the driver and all front seat passengers age 16 and older.
If the driver is under age 18, all passengers under 18 must be restrained in all seats.
Children age 8 through 16 are required to be in either a child restraint system or a seat belt.
Children under age 8 are required to be properly secured in a child restraint system.
Children over 40 pounds may be transported in the back seat of a vehicle with only a lap belt if the back seat is not equipped with a lap and shoulder belt.

Seat belts are required for the driver and all front seat passengers age 16 and older.
Children age 8 through 16 are required to be in either a seat belt or a child restraint.
Children age 4 through 8 must be in a booster seat.
Children under age 4 must be properly restrained in a child restraint system.
Children under age 8 must be restrained in an adult belt if it is reasonably determined that they cannot fit in a child restraint system.
Children over 40 pounds may be transported in the back seat of a vehicle with only a lap belt if the back seat is not equipped with a lap and shoulder belt.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for young children.
Child seats reduce the likelihood of an infant being killed in a crash by 71 percent and a toddler by 54 percent.
Children age 4 through 7 who use booster seats are 59 percent less likely to be injured in a crash than children restrained only by seat belts.
All 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have laws requiring children to be restrained in vehicles.

Never purchase a child safety seat second-hand that has been recalled, mistreated, involved in a crash, missing parts or has reached the expiration date per the manufacturer.
Child safety seats should be installed according to both the vehicle and child safety seat manufacturer’s instructions.
To obtain information about a child safety seat, call the Auto Safety Hotline at 888.327.4236 or visit www.NHTSA.DOT.gov.