l Rear Facing: Birth - 3 years old and 40 pounds. Keep a child rear-facing for as long as possible to provide maximum protection for the head, neck and spine. Rear Facing Infant only - lower weight limit but can double as a carrier.Convertible or all-in-one car seats - higher weight limits and longer use. l Forward-Facing: 4-7 years. Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a har-ness and tether until they reach the top height or weight liming allowed by the manufacturer. Once your child outgrows this seat it’s time to transition to a booster seat. A child should remain in the back seat until age 13.Convertible - as a child grows, this seat can change from rear-facing to forward-facing with a harness and tether.Combination Seat - as a child grows, this seat transitions from forward-facing with a harness and tether into a booster.All-in-one car seat - as a child grows, this seat can change from rear-facing to a forward facing seat with a harness and tether to a booster seat.l Booster Seat - 8-12 years. Children should stay in a booster seat until they fit in a seat belt. A properly fitting seat belt means the lap belt lies snugly across the upper thighs, not stomach. The shoulder belt lies snugly across the shoulder an chest, not the neck or face.High Back - provides neck and head support if a car does not have a head rest.Backless - good for cars with head rests.Combination Seat - as a child grows, this seat forward facing seat with a harness and tether to a booster seat.

Typ es of Seats

l In Texas, you must secure any child under 8 years old in a federally approved child car seat while operating the vehicle, unless the child is more than 4’9” tall.

l Texas law does not require a child to ride in the back seat. However, the airbag in the front seat can severely injure a child under 13. It is recommended a child under 13 ALWAYS rides in the back seat or in the front seat of a truck with the passenger airbag turned-off.

l It illegal in Texas to leave a child under 7 years old unattended in a vehicle for longer then 5 min-utes. It is recommended that you NEVER leave a child alone in a vehicle for any period of time due to the risk of serious injury, death and abduction.

l The driver and all passengers of an operating vehicle in Texas must use a seat belt, if available. Failure to do so can result in fines of up to $200 for the driver and passengers not wearing the seat belt.

l The use of all electronic devices while operat-ing a motor vehicle or bicycle is banned in the City of Austin as of January 1, 2015. The rules still allow for the use of hands-free devices with cell phones. Calling 9-1-1 is allowed while driving.

Road injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries to children in the United States. All car seats sold must meet federal guidelines for safety. However, seventy-three percent of car seats are not used or installed correctly and it’s up to you to learn how!

Take advantage of the free car seat checks done monthly throughout Austin. They will even provide a seat for you if you are not able to buy one. Certified car seat technicians will assist you in properly installing your car seat and give you all the information you need to make sure your child is always in the appropriate seat.

l Safe Kids - 512-324-8687

l Safe Riders - 1800-252-8255

l Austin-Travis County EMS - 512-972-SAFE

You must choose right seat and right direction for your car, child’s age, height and weight. See the “Types of Seats” section to see what type of seat your child needs. If you have a small car, research smaller profile seats that will fit easily in your vehi-cle. Seats that are too large for a small vehicle can butt up against the front seat, interfering with the safety functions of the seat.

New seats are always best. You can be assured that a new seat meets all federal safety regulations, has no current recalls and contains the product guide book that will lead you through correct instal-lation. If you feel unsure about correct installation, see the section on “Car Seat Checks” to find a free car seat safety check in Austin.

If you buy a used seat, purchase it from someone who will knows the seat’s age and if it has been in a crash or not. Once a seat has been in a crash, it needs to be replaced. In addition, used seats are often missing the stickers so you have no way to know the weight requirements of that particular seat or if it is expired. Car seats will expire 6-8 years after manufacture.

Once your seat is installed correctly, pay atten-tion to loose items in your car. Hard kids toys, purses, cell phones and any other loose item can be extremely dangerous and injure your child or you in a crash. Secure loose objects and toys to protect everyone in the car.

Whatever seat you choose, it is also very important to make sure your child is not getting out of the car seat harness or putting the seat belt behind them. Not properly wearing a car seat harness or seat belt during a crash can cause severe injuries or even death.

Texas Safety Laws Buying a Seat: Car Seat Checks: