The Child Passenger Safety Program is designed to educate parents and caregivers about the proper use of child safety seats and to identify and correct areas of misuse. It is important to choose the right car seat, install it properly according to manufacturer and vehicle instructions, and use it correctly every time.
Call the West Newbury Police Department at (978) 363-1212, or submit an inquiry using our web form, to schedule an appointment with one of our following Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians any day of the week:
- Dispatcher Barbara Bilo
- Deputy Fire Chief Dave Evans
Select a car seat based on your child’s age and size, and then choose a seat that fits your vehicle. Use these general guidelines to determine which type of seat is appropriate for your needs:
- Infant Seats: Best for newborns and children under 1 year old; portable carriers detach from the car seat base.
- Convertible Seats: Install in both a rear-facing and forward-facing position with a five-point harness and tether; can be used for most children as early as birth, and allow for them to remain in a rear-facing position longer. It is recommended that children remain rear facing as long as possible, until they reach the maximum weight or height limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer.
- Harnessed Booster Seats: Used only in a forward-facing position; transition from a 5-point harness with tether into a booster seat to be used with your vehicle seat belt. Children should remain in a 5-point harness for as long as possible, until they reach the maximum weight or height limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer.
- Booster Seats: High back and backless options achieve proper seat belt fit by ensuring the lap belt lays snugly across the upper thighs and shoulder belt lays snugly across the chest without crossing the neck or face. Children in booster seats should be at least 40 pounds and usually are not ready to transition out of one until 9 to 12 years old.
In Massachusetts, children must be in child restraints until they are 8 years old or 57 inches tall. Children under 13 years old should always ride in the back seat.
According to Safe Kids Worldwide:
- Road injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries to children in the United States.
- Correctly-used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent.
- More than half of car seats are not used or are installed correctly.
