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| Infants
under 1 year and less than 20 lbs.
face rear only. |
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| Infants
less than 1 year, over 20 lbs. ride
in a seat approved for heavier infants
rear facing. |
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| Child
over 1 and at least 20 lbs. faces
the front. |
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| Belt-positioning
booster is used with both lap and
shoulder belts. |
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| Auto
booster seats are for children who
have outgrown safety seats, at about
40 pounds. |
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Tip #1
quick safety seat checkup
Does your child
ride in the back seat?
The back seat
is generally the safest place in a crash.
If your vehicle
has a passenger air bag, it is essential for
children 12 and under to ride in back.
Does your child
ride facing the right way?
Infants should
ride in rear facing restraints, preferably in
the back seat, until about age 1 and at least
20-22 lbs (A). Infants who weigh 20 lbs.
before 1 year of age should ride in a restraint
approved for higher rear facing weights (B).
Always read your child restraint owner manual
for instructions on properly using the restraint.
Children over
age one and at least 20 pounds may ride facing
forward (C).
Does the safety
belt hold the seat tightly in place?
Put the belt through
the right slot. If your safety seat can be used
facing either way, use the correct belt slots
for each direction.
The safety belt
must stay tight when securing the safety seat.
Check the vehicle owner's manual for tips on
using the safety belts.
Is the harness
buckled snugly around your child?
Keep the straps
over your child’s shoulder. The harness should
be adjusted so you can slip only one finger
underneath the straps at your child's chest.
Place the chest clip at armpit level.
Does your child
over 40 pounds have the best protection possible?
Keep your child
in a safety seat with a full harness as long
as possible, at least until 40 pounds (C).
Then use a belt-positioning booster seat which
helps the adult lap and shoulder belt fit better.
A belt-positioning
booster seat is preferred for children between
40-80 pounds (D). It is used with the
adult lap and shoulder belt. Check on special
products for heavy children too active to sit
still in a booster.
How should a
safety belt fit an older child?
The child must
be tall enough to sit without slouching, with
knees bent at the edge of the seat, with feet
on the floor. The lap belt must fit low and
tight across the upper thighs. The shoulder
belt should rest over the shoulder and across
the chest (E). Never put the shoulder
belt under the arm or behind the child's back.
The adult lap and shoulder belt system alone
will not fit most children until they are at
least 4'9" tall and weigh about 80 pounds.
For more information,
read Child Auto Safety Tips #2 to #9 and call
your local safety group or the DOT Auto Safety
Hotline: 1-888-DASH-2-DOT.
Even
the "safest" seat may not protect
your child if it isn't used correctly.
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Safety Tip #1
