Child Seat

Child Passenger Restraints Are Not An Option, They Are The Law!

Effective November 24, 2009- All Children MUST be restrained in an appropriate child restraint system while riding in a motor vehicle, until they reach their 8th birthday.

  • Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children in the United States.
  • Child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars.
  • Everyday in the United States during 2009, an average of 3 children age 14 and younger were killed and 490 were injured in motor vehicle crashes.
  • Results of child safety seat checks conducted throughout New York State in the last year revealed the "misuse rate" of child safety seats is more than 90 percent!
  • You can have your child's car seat checked for correct installation by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician at a fitting station. Click here to find one near you.

STEP 1:  Birth - up to 2 years

  • Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time. Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It's the best way to keep him or her safe.

STEP 2:  2 - 3 years

  • Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness, usually around age 2.

STEP 3:  4 - 7 years (up until the childs' 8th birthday)

  • Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer. Many new seats on the market can now accommodate children to higher weights and heights. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it's time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat. Always use both the shoulder and lap belt every time with all booster seats.
    NYS law requires that all children must use an appropriate child restraint system until their 8th birthday, however many children are not large enough by age 8 to begin using the adult seat belt.

STEP 4:  8 - 12 years

  • Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a adult seat belt properly, For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it's safer there, always using BOTH the shoulder and lap belt.