Car Seat Recommendations
for Children
New Jersey’s Guide to:Always Remember... Get Help!
WWW.NJSAFEROADS. COM
MP072018
n Put your child in a safety seat every time you travel,
even on short trips.
n Safety experts recommend that all children under
13 ride in the back seat.
n Never hold a child on your lap while riding in either
the front or back seat.
n Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
correct safety seat installation.
n The center rear seat is the safest place in the car.
n Use the car’s seat belt or the LATCH system (detailed
in vehicle owner’s manual) to anchor the child safety
seat to the car.
n Make sure the safety seat’s harness ts snugly.
n Tether straps greatly reduce head injury. If your
seat is equipped with a tether, refer to your vehicle
owner’s manual for the location of the anchor hook-
up for the tether strap.
n Set a good example by wearing your seat belt every
time you travel. All drivers and passengers must
wear a seat belt in New Jersey. It’s the law.
n A lap and shoulder belt system restrains the upper
body and head from forward movement better than
a lap belt only.
n Studies show that when children are buckled up
correctly, they are less likely to be injured during
a crash.
n Never use a child safety seat that has been in a crash.
Obtain a new child safety seat.
n Use only federally approved child safety seats that
follow the manufacturer’s recommendation regarding
the useful life of the restraint.
www.njsaferoads.com
Click on the child safety seat icon for information on
New Jersey Child Passenger Safety laws, frequently asked
questions and how to nd a Child Safety Seat Technician
in your area. The Seat Check Schedule page lists places
in New Jersey where you can get help learning how to
select the right seat for your child, as well as information
on the proper use and/or installation of child safety seats,
booster seats and seat belts.
www.nhtsa.gov/equipment
Click on the “Car Seats and Booster Seats” box to access
a wealth of information presented by the National
Highway Trac Safety Administration (NHTSA). Car
seats and boosters provide protection for infants and
children in a crash, yet car crashes are a leading cause
of death for children ages 1 to 13. That’s why it’s so
important to choose and use the right car seat correctly
every time your child is in the car. Follow the important
steps on this web page to choose the right seat, install it
correctly and keep your child safe.
Resources on the Web
Telephone Contact
USDOT Vehicle Safety Hotline
(
888
)
327-4236
For more information on child safety seats, booster seats,
seat belts or child safety seat inspection and education
sites near you, call the Division of Highway Trac Safety’s
number below.
Division of HigHway Traffic safeTy
800•422•3750 • www.njsaferoads.com
140 East Front Street • 7
th
Floor
P.O. Box 048 • Trenton, NJ • 08625-0048
Tel: 609.633.9300 • Fax: 609.633.9020
Choosing the Correct Seat for Your Child
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.
Birth – 12 months
Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep him
or her safe. 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.
1 – 3 years
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. 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.
4 – 7 years
Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a 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.
8 – 12 years
AGE
Recommendations for New Jersey Law Compliance:
nAlways refer to your specific car seat manufacturer’s instructions; read the vehicle owner’s manual on how to install the car
seat using the seat belt or LATCH system; and check height and weight limits.
Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of
death for children over the age of six months in the
United States. The proper use of child safety seats is one
of the simplest and most effective methods available for
protecting the lives of our young children in the event
of a motor vehicle crash. It is also effective in preventing
injury and reducing the need for hospitalization.
Please make sure that children are properly protected
while traveling in a motor vehicle. Only the correct use
of child safety seats will offer optimal protection.
The “right” seat for your child is largely a matter of
personal choice. Choose a seat that fits your child
and
your car, read the instructions carefully, and use the seat
correctly every trip. There are many different models of
child safety seats on the market today. Each one must
meet federal safety standards and all provide good
protection for your child when used correctly. Both
state and national studies show that many child safety
seats are used or installed improperly. It’s important for
all parents and persons who transport children to read
the child safety seat manufacturer’s instructions, as
well as the vehicle owner’s manual for proper use and
installation. This brochure is designed to help you learn
about child passenger safety and how to get additional
information if needed.
Remember, adults should wear seat belts, too. Set
an example for the children in your car. When you’re
an expectant mother, it’s important to always wear
your seat belt to protect you and your unborn child.
Wear the lap belt across your hips and below your belly
with the shoulder belt across your chest (between
your breasts). Plan on having your child safety seat
(infant seat) installed in your vehicle at least three weeks
before
your baby’s due date. Adhere to the following
recommendations to ensure your child is restrained
safely and properly.
The following recommendations will provide the safest way to transport your child according to the American
Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Additionally it will
ensure compliance to the New Jersey Child Passenger Restraint Law. (Title 39:3-76.2a)
nAny child under the age of 8 years old and a height of 57 inches shall be secured as follows in the rear seat of a
motor vehicle:
A. A child under the age of 2 years and 30 pounds shall be secured in a rear-facing seat equipped with a
5-point harness.
B. A child under the age of 4 years and 40 pounds shall be secured as described in (a) until they reach the upper
limits of the rear-facing seat, then in a forward-facing child restraint equipped with a 5-point harness.
C. A child under the age of 8 and a height of 57 inches shall be secured as described in (a) or (B) until they reach
the upper limits of the rear-facing or forward-facing seat, then in a belt positioning booster seat.
D. A child over 8 years of age or 57 inches in height must be properly secured by a seat belt.
nIf there are no rear seats, the child shall be secured as described above in the front seat except that no child shall
be secured in a rear-facing seat in the front seat of any vehicle that is equipped with an active passenger-side
airbag. The aforementioned is acceptable if the airbag is de-activated.
n Motorists in violation of the law (Title 39:3-76.2a) can be stopped by police and issued a summons.
