Federal Child Safety Seat Law

Types

• There are two types of federal regulations relating to child safety seating. Regulations for child restraint systems pertain to a device intended to restrain a child who is 30 kilograms (66 pounds) or less. These can be portable or built-in restraint systems. Child restraint anchorage regulations pertain to the system installed in a vehicle to attach a child restraint system to the vehicle. The anchorage systems transfer force from the child restraint system to the vehicle and include the LATCH, or lower anchors and tethers for children, system.

Purpose

• The purpose of federal regulations for child restraint systems is to reduce the number of children injured in automobiles and applies to passenger cars, trucks and buses. The purpose of regulations for child restraint anchorages is to make sure the anchors are properly positioned and have enough strength to protect a child. It also strives to ensure the anchor system will not fail and is attached correctly.

Features

• Laws for child restraint systems include requirements for built-in systems and those added later, both portable versions and non-portable ones. Each device must meet standards in structural integrity, injury and containment of the child within the device. Child restraint anchorage regulations include requirements for strength, marking, location and configuration of the anchor points. The number of required points depends on the number and layout of the seats in a vehicle.

Rating

• A rating system was set up by the Department of Transportation to provide a way for consumers to evaluate child restraint systems. The rating system was also created to improve the ease of use for restraint systems to increase the possibility that the system would be installed correctly. The rating system tests five different categories: assembly, evaluation of labels, evaluation of instructions, securing the child and installing in vehicle. The scores are then averaged to create an overall score.

Aircraft

• While child restraint systems that are approved for use in motor vehicles are often approved for use in aircraft, there are some systems that are approved for air travel but not for vehicular travel. A child restraint system that has a label that designates it as unsafe for use in motor vehicles should not be used as a child seat in a car. Restraint systems approved for air travel must have labels that specifically note safety for use in aircraft, approval by the foreign government or the United Nations, and FAA approval.

Restraint Types

• Federal law does not specifically address the type of restraint and recommended positioning of the restraint beyond a lower limit for booster seats. Booster seats must not be recommended for children less than 13.6 kilograms (30 pounds). Each restraint system must be clearly marked with weight and height restrictions, with the exception of seat belt positioning systems, which may be marked with maximum and minimum height restrictions with no reference to weight. Each state has its own laws concerning child restraint systems that specify weight, height and age requirements for different seating positions.