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Used Car Seats
Reader's Questions and Answers: |
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NOTE: Answers provided are of a general nature only and in no way reflect a medical opinion or diagnosis. If you are in doubt about any aspect of your pregnancy, please consult your physician immediately.
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Feedback:
October, 2005
What are the New York State laws on use of infant/child car seats, i.e. at what age/size should the position of the seat be changed from backward facing to front facing? At what age or size may the child (in the car seat) be placed in the front seat? At what age or size may the child be permitted to use the shoulder/waist seat belt supplied with the car rather than a car safety seat? Many thanks for the reply I am certain I will receive.
From Lynda:
Hi, I can't tell you what the laws are for the State of New York regarding car seats as I live in Ontario, Canada and I am not familiar with US laws. I suspect they would also vary State to State. What I can suggest is using logic and some information that has come out of Canada. Erring on the side of caution can only protect children. In Canada, a child must be in a backward facing seat until they are 20 lbs. Take at look at the car seat information on www.lbwinfo.ca for up to 20 lbs. It is more detailed and may be of help to you.
A child in a car seat should NEVER be in the front seat until they are about 9 years old and can fit into a car installed seat belt as comfortably as an adult would. The exact timing would depend upon the individual growth rate of each child, which can vary. We are moving our children out of car seats far earlier than was originally thought wise. To state the life of a child in a car seat: s/he would begin in a rear facing car seat until about 20 lbs., then they go to a front facing seat IN THE BACK SEAT, then a booster seat ALSO IN THE BACK SEAT. A booster allows them to comfortably sit within the car seat belts, and the duration of the latter stage will depend on each individual case.
No child should ever be placed in front of an air bag. When they go off, for a child, it can be devastating.
In a nut shell, that is it. Transport Canada's Web Site, the address is on my Site, will give you more details. It makes sense and whether or not these laws apply in New York State would be moot. The point is to keep our children safe.
Very best wishes.
www.multiplebirthsfamilies.com
Feedback:
July, 2005
Thank you! This is the only article that I could find which explained the proper positioning of the straps above the shoulder. Very well organized and easy to follow; thanks again!
From Lynda:
Thank you for this feedback. I've tried to make each article easy to understand. Cheers!
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