As of January 1st, 2017, the laws have changed again for car seat safety.
California law states that children under the age of 2 must ride in a rear facing car seat UNLESS the child is taller then 40 inches or weighs more then 40 pounds. In addition, children under the age of 8 must be secured in a booster seat in the back seat. If your 8 year old is over 4’9″ they still must be in the back seat.
How does the law effect you?
Keeping up with the laws, keeps your children safe. So how do you know if your car seat is secured correctly?
Most people know to visit your nearest fire station for help from your local firefighters. In the event that they are out on a call, then where do you go?
- You can check your local CHP office for help. Their website can tell you which office is your closest when you type in your zip code.
- The Family Room will send you a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician at the hospital, your home, or wherever you are!
- Safe Kids San Diego provides everything from safety workshops, to car seat checkups and sports clinics to prevent childhood injuries.
- Occasionally, Babies in Bloom will hold a car seat safety event. Check their calendar for those details.
- You can also visit the National CPS (Child Passenger Safety) website for technicians in your area.
Are there any companies that we missed? Let us know in the comments!
Originally published on October 5, 2016
Most if not all fire fighters and fire stations do NOT have certified technicians and cannot install car seats. As a firefighter for nearly two decades we would have tons of families come by the firehouse just to be turned around. This is an old myth that is no longer accurate unfortunately. Just thought I’d let you know so that you could correct your statement. And thank you for writing an article about safety! Its an important topic that goes overlooked. 90% of car seats are installed improperly. Lets keep those babies safe out there!