Public Safety Program
Child Passenger Safety

Every day, children sustain serious injuries and die in motor vehicle crashes. Many of these injuries and deaths could be avoided through correct use of child safety seats, booster seats and safety belts. Safety experts believe that four out of five child safety seats are installed and/or used incorrectly thereby placing children at risk.

Which seat should my child be using?

• Rear-Facing Infant Seat: Infants should ride in a rear-facing infant safety seat from birth through one year old and 20 pounds.
• Forward-Facing Safety Seats: Toddlers and children weighing at least 20 pounds and one year of age should ride in a forward facing safety seat until they are approximately 40 pounds and four years of age.
• Booster Seats: Children who have outgrown their forward-facing safety seat should transition to a booster seat. Booster seats assure proper placement of the vehicles belt system. Children should remain in a booster seat until they are approximately 11 years old and five feet tall.
• Vehicle Safety Belt System: Children can than transition to the vehicles safety belt system.

Remember that at all these stages the back seat is the safest place for children!

Resources:

• Buckle Up Baby/Kid! Campaign
  http://www.dps.state.ia.us/commis/gtsb/BuckleUpBaby/index.shtml
  Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau
• National Safe Kids Campaign
  http://www.safekids.org
  
• National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration
  http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov