The Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety recommends the following four steps for the best possible protection for children riding in motor vehicles:
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Rear-facing seats -- Infants up to one year old AND 20 pounds must be in a rear-facing safety seat secured in the back seat.Infants may be placed in convertible seats or infant-only seats. Important note -- rear-facing child restraints should never be placed in front of an active airbag.
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Forward-facing seats -- When children outgrow their rear-facing seats (at a minimum age of one and at least 20 pounds), they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats in the back seat until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the particular seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds).
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Booster seats -- Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats, they should ride in a forward facing booster seat in the back seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (usually at age 8 or when they are 4' 9" tall).This positioning avoids abdominal injuries in the case of a crash.
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Seat belts -- Once children outgrow their booster seats (usually at age 8 or when they are 4'9" tall), they can use the adult seat belt in the back seat if it fits properly (lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest).
The Georgia Department of Health website has a list of child safety seat fitting stations.If you have any questions about car seat safety or installation, you can call your local Health Department office to ask if car seat installation classes are available.
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