New Child Safety Seat Guidelines Issued by NHTSA

New federal guidelines on child passenger safety advise parents to keep their kids in rear-facing car seats for as long as possible, to keep them as safe as possible in a vehicle accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently issued the following recommendations:

• Birth to 12 Months: Always keep your child in a rear-facing car seat.
• 1 Year to 3 Years: Keep your child in a rear-facing seat for as long as possible. New studies show that a rear-facing seat is the best option for keeping your child safe in a car accident.
• 4 Years to 7 Years: Your child should be kept in a forward-facing car seat equipped with a harness, until they've outgrown the seat.
• 8 Years to 12 Years: Use a booster seat until your child is big enough to use a seat belt properly.

To learn more about the NHTSA's new guidelines, check out the blog post on Nolo's Personal Injury Blog.