Car Safety Seat Guidelines

Car seats are designed to keep an infant or toddler safe while in the car. The safety guidelines for these car seats are very specific so that any baby can stay safe. Each state may have their own safety guidelines for car seats but there are also national laws as well.

• If a child's car safety seat has ever been in the car while in an accident, the safety seat must be replaced. Even if there was no damage done to the safety seat, it may not be as safe as it once was. The plastic of the seat could have weakened or something may have been broken and lodged into a piece of the seat.


• Infants must ride rear facing in the car safety seat until they are either two years old or they reach the maximum weight and height restrictions set by the car safety seat manufacturer.


• On rear facing seats, there is a level that will change from red to green. Before placing the child in the seat, the level should be on green so that you know the car safety seat is as safe as possible in the seat. If you need to place a rolled up towel at the base of the seat so that it sits evenly.


• Be sure that the seatbelt is securely holding the car safety seat in place so that it doesn't move around. If the car seat can tip, it is not safe.


• Children should ride in a booster seat while in the car until they are four feet nine inches and between the ages of eight and twelve. This is a safety precaution that will ensure your child will be tall enough to survive an impact if the car is in an accident.