Studies show that the use of child safety seats save lives. The general design of the seat in a car provides protection only for adult bodies. Seat belts and other safety devices cannot provide adequate protection to children, which is why child safety seats are a requirement.
According to the State of Delaware website, children must use a child safety seat until they are eight years old or until they weigh 65 pounds. After this, they must use a seat belt just like any adults in the car. However, until a child is 12 years old or is 65 inches tall, he or she cannot ride in the front seat of a vehicle.
Car seat information
When using a car seat, it is essential to ensure you install it correctly. In the state, incorrect installation occurs in four out of five situations. Another issue is changing the child’s seat too soon. The state has guidelines for the type of seat you should use based on your child’s age.
Recommendations
Older kids ages four to 7 who are not yet 65 pounds should be in a forward-facing car seat with a harness or in a booster seat. For younger kids up to age three, you should keep them in a rear-facing seat for as long as possible. Always follow the recommendations from the manufacturer. Generally, this means following height and weight rather than age as a guideline. Keep in mind that younger children are safer when riding in a rear facing seat than a forward-facing seat, so try to keep them rear facing as long as you can based on the manufacturer guidelines.
