2014 Car Seat Law Changes
Attention parents of toddlers and young kids: there are car seat law changes in 2014.
Starting in January 2014, the new rule states that the LATCH system should no longer be used when the child AND car seat COMBINED weight is over 65 pounds.
This is an amendment to the law instated in 2001 that says that all children up to 65 pounds must remain in car seats, but did not account for the weight of car seats. Car manufacturers cannot guarantee the strength of the anchors when adding the additional weight of the car seat, thus the modification to the law.
To make sure you're meeting the guidelines: weigh your child, then weight the seat separately, then add them together. If they’re over 65 pounds combined, start using the seat belt restraint instead of the LATCH system.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children remain in harnesses up to the age of 8, which prompted car seat manufacturers to design car seats meant for higher weights. Unfortunately, a study by Safe Kids Worldwide found that 30% of parents don’t utilize the LATCH system properly and 70% of parents don’t use the top tether, which prevents head injuries.
What can you do to ensure your children are being buckled in properly? Have your seat installation inspected at one of our local Child Safety Seat Inspection locations.
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