ALWAYS read both the vehicle owner's manual and the car seat instructions carefully when deciding which car seat to use and how to properly install it.

In an auto accident, a youngster between 2 and 5 years of age who is prematurely secured with a safety belt is four times more likely to suffer a serious head injury than a child who is restrained with a safety or booster seat.

California law requires all children ages 6 and younger who weigh less than 60 pounds to use a booster seat  (Vehicle Code Section 27360).

Protect your child by following these safety tips:

Infants (Birth - 12 months)

• Infants must be placed in REAR-facing baby car seats until they reach one year of age and are at least 20 pounds. The only safe place to install it is in the back seat.
• There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher weight and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep you child rear-facing for a longer period of time. 
• NEVER place an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle with a passenger-side air bag. The force of the deploying air bag will hit the seat (because of its close proximity to the dashboard) and can seriously injure or kill an infant.
• Never hold a baby on your lap in a car. The baby will not be protected in a crash.

Toddlers (1 – 3 years)

• Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It's the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top weight or weight limit allowed by your car seat's manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.

Children (4 – 7 years old)

• 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.
• California law requires all children ages 6 and younger who weigh less than 60 pounds to use a booster seat.

Children (8 – 12 years old)

• Keep your child in a BOOSTER SEAT until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it's safer there.
• Children who are shorter and thinner than their peers may actually need to ride in a safety seat for a bit longer to stay safe. To determine if your child needs to use a booster seat, take the “5-Step Test” and answer the following questions:

• Can the child sit all the way back against the car seat?
• Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
• Does the belt cross the shoulder between his neck and arm?
• Can the child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
• Can the child stay seated like this for the entire duration of the trip?

     If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to
     make both the shoulder belt and the lap belt fit right for the best crash protection. 
     Your child will be more comfortable, too!

• For additional information, visit www.dmv.ca.gov   /    http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps   /    
  http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/childpas.htm