Car Seat Safety
One of the most important jobs you have as a parent is keeping your child safe when your child is riding in a vehicle.
Each year, thousands of young children are killed or injured in car crashes. Proper use of car safety seats helps keep children safe. But, because so many different seats are on the market, many parents find this overwhelming. If you are expectant parents, consider working with a certified passenger safety technician (CPST or CPS technician), before your baby is born, to ensure a safe ride home from the hospital.
Current recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics are as follows:
- Child is rear facing in car until age 2.
- Child may come out of car seat (five-point restraint) at age 5 or 40 lbs. They may continue if the actual seat accommodates the child's height and weight.
- By NC law, child can come out of booster at 8 years old; however, the current recommendation is for the child to be 4'9" and 80 lbs.
- Children should sit in the back seat until age 13.
