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Child Safety Seats
Child Safety
Seat Inspections
Motor vehicle crashes are the number one
cause of death of children over the age of six months in the
United States. The proper use of child car seats is one of
the simplest and most effective methods available for protecting
the lives of our young children in the event of a motor vehicle
crash.
Please make sure that children are properly
protected while traveling in a motor vehicle. Only the correct
use of child car seats will offer the protection your child
needs. So please be aware of the facts listed on this page
regarding the proper use of child car seats.
There are many different types of child
car seats on the market today. Each one must meet federal
standards and all provide good protection for your child when
used correctly. The "right" seat for you is largely
a matter of personal choice. Choose a seat that fits your
child and your car, read the instructions carefully, and use
the seat correctly on every trip.
Correct use is easy
if you follow four steps:
| 1. |
Read the
manufacturer's instructions for your car seat. |
| 2. |
Face the child safety
seat in the proper direction
• Infant seats always
face backwards. Baby rides in a semi-reclining
position facing the rear of the car.
• Convertible seats
face backwards in a semi-reclining position for infants
under 20 pounds and under 1 year of age, and forward
in an upright
position for toddlers. |
| 3. |
Secure your child snugly
in the car seat.
• 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. |
| 4. |
Secure the child car
seat with a seat belt. |
• Anchoring
the seat properly with a seat belt is critical. A seat that
is not buckled
securely to the car can tip over, slide sideways or,
in a crash, be ejected from
the car.
• Check
your instruction manual to find out how to route the seat
belt properly and
fasten it tightly.
Protection for Children over 40 Pounds
•
A booster seat should be used
only when a child has outgrown a convertible/toddler
car seat.
•
When a child's shoulders grow
too wide to sit comfortably in the seat, or the tops of
his ears can be seen above the back of the seat, it
is time to graduate to a new
method of buckling up.
•
The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that
children between 40-80 pounds use a "belt-positioning"
booster seat.
Car safety tips
•
Never hold a child on your
lap while riding in either the front or back seat.
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for correct
installation.
•
The center rear seat is the
safest place in the car.
•
Remember: Infants face backwards.
Toddlers face forward.
•
Always use the car's seat
belt to anchor the care seat to the car.
•
Set a good example by wearing
your seat belt every time you travel.
All drivers and front seat passengers must wear a seat
belt in New Jersey. It's the law.
•
Studies show that when children
are buckled up correctly, they are less likely to be
injured during a crash.
•
Put your child in a car seat
every time you travel -- even on short trips.
•
Never use a car seat that
has been in a crash. Obtain a new car seat.
•
Use only federally approved
car seats that are less than 10 years old.
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