The Car Seat Safety Law in Ohio
Recently the Ohio legislature passed a law requiring children under a
certain age and/or height to be in a car seat.
Prior to this law being passed, it was the law that a child be in a car
seat from birth through either age 4 years or 40 pounds.
Now, starting in October, 2009, a citation will be issued to any parent
whose child is not in a child seat through either age 8 years or 4’9″.
Starting in April, 2010, a citation will be issued for second offenses of this law.
The current recommendations from Advanced Pediatrics are as follows:
- All people riding in a car should have their pelvis and shoulder secured
- For anyone less than 4’9″ tall, that requires some device to achieve that security
- From birth to age one year and 20 pounds, one should be in an infant car seat, facing backwards
- From that point until 40 pounds, one should be in an infant car seat, facing forwards
- From 40 pounds until 4’9″ one should be in a booster seat.
Note these key items:
You should not face forward until you are both 1 year old and 20 pounds in weight.
The shift from infant seat to booster seat occurs at 40 pounds, the age does not matter.
The end of needing any device takes place at 4’9″ . For this change neither age nor weight matter.
These guidelines have nothing to do with a child being mature, or grown up,
they only reflect the physics of how bodies can be safely secured during
and accident. If you follow these guidelines, your child(ren) is far less likely
to be hurt if an accident occurs.
Dr. Lavin
*Disclaimer*
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