Child Safety Seats

Massachusetts Child Passenger Safety Law

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Guidelines to Car Seat Use

1. Use rear-facing child safety seats for children from birth to 20 to 22 pounds and one year of age.
There are "big baby" rear facing seats for children up to 35 pounds.

2. Use forward facing child safety seats for children who weigh 20 to 40 pounds.
Massachusetts Child Passenger Safety Law requires children under 5 years old and weighing less than 40 pounds to ride in child safety
seats.

3. Use booster seats to properly position safety belts on children weighing 40 to 80 pounds.
Children under 5 years old but weighing more than 40 pounds must ride in booster seats.

4.    When children are ready for safety belts, make sure they wear them on every trip.
       Children are ready for a safety belt when they are over 80 pounds and 4' 9" or taller. The Massachusetts Child Passenger Safety Law
       requires children between the ages of 5 and 12 to be properly restrained with safety belts (for maximum safety, a booster seat
       seat may be required as described above).

Proper Child Safety Seat Use Chart Buckle Everyone. Children Age 12 and Under in Back!
	INFANTS	TODDLER	YOUNG CHILDREN
WEIGHT	Birth to 1 year at least 20-22 lbs.	Over 1 year and Over 20 lbs.-40 lbs.	Over 40 lbs. Ages 4-8, unless 4'9''.
TYPE of SEAT	Infant only or rear-facing convertible	Convertible / Forward-facing	Belt positioning booster seat
SEAT POSITION	Rear-facing only	Forward-facing	Forward-facing
ALWAYS MAKE SURE:	Children to one year and at least 20 lbs. in rear-facing seats Harness straps at or below shoulder level	Harness straps should be at or above shoulders Most seats require top slot for forward-facing	Belt positioning booster seats must be used with both lap and shoulder belt. Make sure the lap belt fits low and tight across the lap/upper thigh area and the shoulder belt fits snug crossing the chest and shoulder to avoid abdominal injuries
WARNING	All children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat	All children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat	All children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat

Officer's Valerie Cote, Jeff Scott, Sgt. Kevin Pacunas and Sgt. Dave Conkey are the department's trained experts on the proper installation and use of child passenger safety seats. If you would like to make an appointment to have your child's safety seat installed or checked, please call the station first at (413) 323-6685 to schedule an appointment.