From
AAP News: Keep your toddler in a rear-facing car seat until age 2 (not
1) April 2009
New research indicates that toddlers are more than five times safer riding rear-facing in a car safety seat up to their second birthday. At this point this is just a recommendation but soon may become law. Some safety tips for car seat use:
All infants should ride rear facing in either an infant seat or convertible seat.
If an infanct car seat is used, the infant should be swithched to a rear-facing convertible seat once the maximum height (when the infant's head is within 1 inch of the top of the seat) and weight (usually 22 pounds to 32 pounds) have been reached for that infant seat as suggested by the car seat manufacturer.
Toddlers should remaing rear-facing in a convertible car seat until they have reached the maximum height and weight recommended for the model, or at least the age of 2.
To see if your car seat is installed properly, and to find a certified passenger safety technician in your area, visit www.seatcheck.org or www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm. You can also call 866-SEATCHECK(866-732-8243) or 888-327-4236.
Booster
Seat Law
Ohio is the newest state to adopt a booster seat law to protect kids who have outgrown a harnessed car seat but are not yet ready for an adult seatbelt. Real life crash data has shown that kids in the four to seven age range are not well protected by adult seatbelts alone. When small bodies are secured with lap and shoulder belts alone, poorly fitting seat belts can cause injury to the neck, spine and abdomen. Use of a booster seat lifts the child up so the seat belts rest on the strongest parts of the body, the shoulders and hips, rather than soft tissue areas. Ohio's new booster seat law is pretty standard - kids ages four through seven who are less than 4'9" tall must ride in a federally approved booster seat. The law went into effect on October 7, 2009 with a six month warning period.. There are now fewer than four U.S. states that do not have a booster seat law.
The warning period ended on April 7, 2010 and is a primary offense.
Children ages 8 to 15 years old must wear a seat belt or be secured in an appropriate child restraint system.
A Child Safety Restraint Law violation is a PRIMARY OFFENSE.
Requires a child who is less than four years of age AND weighs less than 40 pounds to be restrained in a properly used child safety seat that meets federal motor vehicle standards. Prior law stated 4 years OR 40 pounds. The new law also applies to handicapped and medically fragile children.
The new law applies to all drivers (including relatives, friends and neighbors, and day care center and kindergarten employees) who must have a child properly restrained in a child safety seat when transporting them.
Out of state residents transporting children and cited for a child restraint violation would have to prove they were in accordance with their home state's laws.
1st offense is a minor misdemeanor with a $100 fine.
2nd or more offense is a 4th degree misdemeanor with a $250 (maximum) fine and/or imprisonment of not more than 30 days.
The court is no longer allowed to waive fine for a child safety seat violation if the person proves purchase of a child safety seat.
EXEMPTIONS: Only public safety vehicles, taxi cabs and vehicles not required by law to be equipped with safety belts at the time of manufacture.
1-800-575-SEAT is a toll-free hotline the public may use to receive information about child safety restraints and how to use them properly.
For more information go to www.nhtsa.gov and choose Child Safety Seat information or click on the child passenger icon.