POLICY: All transportation by parents/legal guardians, those designated by parents/legal guardians, and by childcare personnel will always include use of age-appropriate child safety seats or seat belts. Compliance with the above policies will be determined by spot checks and interviews performed by the Director. Information on child passenger restraint systems will be clearly posted at our facility.
PURPOSE: To assure the children are safe when being transported.
To comply with state laws.
PROCEDURE:
- Licensing requires that you post the California Child Passenger Safety Law (PUB 269 – available in Section N) at your center.
- Each child will be correctly fastened in his/her own appropriate child safety seat, seat belt or harness according to the child's weight, height, and age.
- If you are unsure of the types of car seats that can be used, or how to properly install them, contact a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) for more information. A list of certified technicians can be found at: Safe Kids Worldwide - Find a Technician
- All children under the age of 8 years old and under 4 feet 9 inches will be correctly fastened into a child passenger restraint system (car seat or booster seat) that meets federal regulations and in accordance with the manufacturer instructions. (State Law: Vehicle Code 27360)
- All infants under the age of 2 years old must be in a rear-facing car seat with a 5-point harness restraint. (State Law: Vehicle Code 27360)
- The AAP and other experts strongly recommend that all children stay in a rear facing car seat as long as possible until they have reached the maximum height or weight limits of that specific car seat. This is usually between 3-4 years old.
- Some infant car seats have a maximum of 20 lbs/20 inches, but many seats have a maximum of 40lbs/40 inches, and some seats go up to 100 lbs and can be converted to forward facing seats and boosters.
- Rear facing provides the maximum protection in the event of a collision. Do not hurry to face the child forward. Keep them rear facing as long as possible.
- After children outgrow a rear facing seat, they should be in a forward facing 5-point harness as long as possible until they have reached the maximum height or weight limits of that specific car seat or booster.
- Many car seat are convertible seats from rear facing to forward facing.
- After they outgrow the forward facing 5-point harness’s maximum weight or height limit (usually around 5-6 years old), they should continue to use a booster seat with the adult seat belt until a minimum of 8 years old AND a minimum height of 4 feet 9 inches.
- Many seats are combination car seat/boosters that convert from forward facing 5-point harness into a booster seat to use with an adult seat belt.
- 9. Most children are not ready to use an adult seat without a booster until 10-12 years old. To safely use an adult seat belt, the following should be true:
- The shoulder belt lies across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not the neck or throat.
- The lap belt is low and snug across the upper thighs, not the belly.
- The child is tall enough to sit against the vehicle seat back with their knees bent over the edge of the seat without slouching and can comfortably stay in this position throughout the trip.