Car Seat Tips

More children are killed or injured from car accidents than any other injury. According to New Jersey law, children under eight years or eighty pounds must be secured in a child restraint when traveling in your car. These are guidelines to keep your child as safe as possible.

Install the car seat in your vehicle properly:

  • Rear-facing car seats can not be used with airbags
  • Certain vehicle seat belts must be used with a locking clip to keep the car seat from slipping
  • Check your automobile owner’s manual and car seat manual

Buckle your child into the car seat properly. Adjust straps to securely fit your child.

The rear seat of the car is safer than the front sear for children of any age. If you must use the front seat, slide it back as far as possible.

Send in the car seat registration card so you can be notified of recalls.

Do not use a car seat that has been in a crash.

There is no "best" car seat. Be sure the one you use meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.

Use a car seat as long as possible; seat belts are made for adults. Remember, New Jersey law requires that children be buckled into a belt-positioning booster seat until eight years / eighty pounds (effective December 2001).

It is best for the tips of the child´s ears to be below the top of the seat.

Children with special health problems may need different guidelines. Contact the National Easter Seal Society (800-221-6827) about their Special KARS (Kids Are Riding Safe) program.

Types Of Car Seats

Infant seat

  • From birth to 20 pounds
  • Must be rear-facing
  • Cannot be used with airbag
  • Do not use an infant carrying seat as a car seat

Convertible car seat

  • From birth to 40 pounds
  • Face backward until 20 pounds AND one year
  • Three types:
    • 5-point harness- uses 5 straps (best choice for infants)
    • T–shield – a padded rigid shield is attached to the shoulder straps
    • Tray shield - a tray-like shield swings down over child´s head

Built-in seat

  • Forward facing only
  • Check manual for limitations

Booster seat

  • For children 40-80 pounds
  • Two types:
    • Belt-positioning booster- car must have shoulder belt
    • Shield booster- not as good as belt-positioning booster

Vehicle seat belt

  • For children over 80 pounds/ 8 years
  • Lap belt must lie across hips, not stomach
  • Shoulder belt must lie across shoulder, not neck. Never tuck the shoulder belt behind the child.

Resource Information

Hunterdon Medical Center and several local police departments (including Flemington Borough, Raritan Township and Readington Township) provide free child car seat safety checks performed by a Child Restraint Certified Technician.

Contact the Hunterdon Medical Center Car Seat Safety Program at (908) 788-6667.

Auto Safety Hotline (800) 424-9393

National Highway Safety website: www.nhtsa.dot.gov

Remember that for a car seat to work, you must properly buckle the SEAT into the CAR and properly buckle the CHILD into the SEAT!

Happy traveling!