Every state has laws regarding the use of child safety seats. Your child will use a car seat for quite awhile, so make sure you choose the best fit for your child.

Types of Child Safety Seats
How do you know what safety seat is right for your child? Use your child’s age, weight, and height along with manufacturer’s instructions and your own vehicle’s accommodations. Listed below are types of safety seats that are available. Always refer to manufacture’s instructions as weight accommodations vary by model.

Infant (Rear-Facing)

• This seat is designed for infants under 1 year of age and who weigh between 5 and 22 lbs. These seats are usually sold as part of a “travel system” and can be used together with a stroller. Extra bases can be purchased to put in alternate vehicles. Installs with either the LATCH system or the vehicle’s seat belt.

Convertible

• This seat can be used rear facing for an infant and then forward facing when the infant reaches 1 year of age AND weighs at least 20 lbs. Installs with either the LATCH system or the vehicle’s seat belt system.

Transitional Booster Seat

• This seat is for forward facing only. An internal harness is used for a child over the age of 1 and weighing 20 to 40 lbs. Once the child weighs over 40 lbs, the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belt is used and the harness and LATCH system are no longer needed.

Belt Positioning Booster Seat

• This seat is for forward facing only. For children 40 to 100 lbs, this seat installs with the use of the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belts.

What is LATCH?
-(Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) is a child restraint system that comes standard in all cars and child safety seats made since September 1, 2002. The LATCH system consists of at least 2 small bars (lower anchors), in the back seat and three top tether anchors on the rear shelf. Rear facing seats use the lower anchors and forward facing seats use both the lower anchors and 1 of the top tethers.

-To be effective, both the child safety seat and your vehicle must be equipped with the LATCH system. If one or the other does not have the LATCH system, the vehicle’s safety belts must be used. If both are LATCH equipped it is up to you to decide between the safety belt system and the LATCH. Never use both systems together.

Make sure that your child’s safety seat is properly installed by a certified installer. To find one in your area visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website at www.nhtsa.gov.dot.

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