What is the safest way for a child to ride in a vehicle?
All children 12 years of age and younger need to ride in a back seat properly restrained. Infants need to ride in a rear-facing safety seat as long as possible-according to manufacturer instructions, until they are as least 12 months old and weigh at least 20 pounds. Children, who are at least 1 year old, weigh 20-40 pounds and can no longer ride rear-facing, need to ride in a forward-facing child safety seat. Children over 40 pounds need to be correctly secured in belt-positioning boosters or other appropriate child-restraints until the adult lap and shoulder belts fit correctly (around age 8). Once the vehicle safety belts fit children, both lap and shoulder belts should be correctly used. Any safety seat must be installed and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and your vehicle owner’s manual.
