Never allow a child to ride unbuckled in your car. Your child could be seriously injured or killed in the event of a crash.
Never place infants or young children in the front seat.
Use a child safety seat that is compatible with your motor vehicle and make sure it is correctly installed. (for help check resource listing or contact the Brockton Police Department at (508) 897 5200 )
Never use pillows or cushions to boost your child in a safety belt. They can cause the child to slide out of the safety belt in the event of a crash.
Always follow manufacturers' instructions when installing a child safety seat.
Infants up to at least 20 pounds and at least1 year old should ride in a rear- facing child seat. The child seat should be in the back seat and face the rear. Harness straps should be at or below the baby's shoulder.
Children in rear-facing child seats should never ever be placed in the front seat of vehicles equipped with a passenger-side airbag. A deploying air bag striking a rear-facing child can result in death or severe injury.
Children over age one and at least 20 pounds may ride forward facing. Harness straps should be positioned at or above the child's shoulders.
The seat belt needs to hold the child safety seat tightly. Route the seat belt through the child safety seat as directed by the seat manufacturer. The child seat should not move more than one inch forward or sideways.
There should be no slack in the harness; the straps should fit snugly. The chest clip should be at armpit level.
Children generally outgrow forward facing convertible child seats at about 40 pounds and 4 years of age.
Children between 40 and 80 pounds and less than 4'9'' tall should be in a booster seat.
A child who cannot sit with his or her back straight against the vehicle seat cushion, with knees bent over a vehicle's seat edge without slouching, should use a booster seat.
A booster seat positions the adult-designed seat belt correctly and safely - and offers children better comfort and visibility.
Never put the shoulder belt behind the child's arm or back because it eliminates the protection for the body and increases the risk of severe injury in a crash.
The best seat is one that fits your child's size and weight and can be installed correctly in your car.
