Infant Car Seat
Baby Gear N' Gifts – Gearing Up for Baby!

July 24, 2005

By: Lori Wilkerson
Website: http://www.baby-gear-n-gifts.com

Infant Car Seats – Know the Laws

Infant car seats are now the law in every state, and for good reason. These restraint systems save the lives of thousands of babies every year in auto accidents.

Comfort should always be considered, so don’t neglect things like the padded liner, how much room there is and whether the shoulder harnesses are angled to fit comfortably on your baby as he or she grows. But these issues should be secondary to having an infant car seat that is safe and secure.

Knowing the laws regarding what an infant car seat has to have to meet guidelines is important to making the right choice.

Regulations now require that:

  • All infants up to twenty pounds must travel in a rear-facing car seat fastened securely in the back seat of the automobile
  • After a baby reaches between twenty and thirty pounds, they may graduate to a front-facing car seat, but still must be in the car seat at all times while traveling
  • Infant car seats must not be resold or used again once they have been in an accident. For this reason, never by a car seat at a yard sale or from an ad in the paper – you simply just don’t know.
  • Baby car seats must be used after a child has graduated from the infant style. These may be forward-facing, but must also be securely attached in the back seat of the automobile.
  • Any cars manufactured in the U.S. after September 2002 have the LATCH system installed in the back seat, which makes it easier to securely lock a car seat into the auto properly.


Also see; baby booster seats.

About The Author:

Lori Wilkerson is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.baby-gear-n-gifts.com.  Lori Wilkerson is a full-time freelance writer who loves her job because it gives her the opportunity to learn more about the world every day.

Infant Car Seats – Know the Laws
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