Learning about child safety seats
Child Safety Seats
Infant Seats, Convertible Seats, High Back Booster Seats, and Booster Seats are available at Human Response Network. Seats are sold on a sliding fee scale.
Feel free to call HRN for more details 530-623-2024.
The child safety seat law requires that children ride properly secured in a child safety seat or booster seat until they are at least 8 years old OR are 4 ft. 9 in. tall.
Select a car seat based on your child's age and size, and choose a seat that fits in your vehicle and use it every time.
Always refer to your specific car seat manufacturer's instructions; read the vehicle owner's manual on how to install the car seat using the seat belt or LATCH system; and check height and weight limits.
To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer's height and weight requirements.
Keep your child in the back seat through age 12.
A rear-facing car seat is the best seat for your young child to use. It has a harness and in a crash, cradles and moves with your child to reduce the stress to the child's fragile neck and spinal cord.
A forward-facing car seat has a harness and tether that limits your child's forward movement during a crash.
A booster seat positions the seat belt so that it fits properly over the stronger parts of your child's body.
A seat belt should lie across the upper thighs and be snug across the shoulder and chest to restrain the child safely in a crash. It should not rest on the stomach area or across the neck.
Birth - 12 months
Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing.
1-3 years
Keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible. It's the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.
4-7 years
Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it's time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.
8-12 years
Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it's safer there.
Everyone in the car must be properly buckled up. For each child under 16 who is not properly secured, parents (if in the car) or drivers can be fined more than $475 and get a point on their driving records.
