GreeningLaw, P.C.
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Overview
    • Why Choose Us
    • Meet Our Attorneys
      • Robert Greening
      • Jared Hagood
    • GreeningLaw in the News
  • Practice Areas
    • Birth Injuries
    • Car Accidents
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Truck Accidents
    • View All+
  • Reviews
    • Testimonials
    • Review Us
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Giving Back
    • FAQs
    • Newsletter
    • Video Center
  • Serving
    • Dallas
    • Addison
    • Carrollton
    • Farmers Branch
    • View All+
  • Careers
  • Contact
Call For a free consultation / Se Habla Español
Phone (972) 934-8900
Se Habla Español

We fight the legal battle
so you
have time for healing and renewal

Free consultation here

Are You Using the Proper Child’s Safety Restraint System?

Free consultation here
February 18, 2015 in Auto & Trucking Accidents, Blog, Injuries to Children
Safety Restraint System

Are You Using the Proper Child’s Safety Restraint System?
One of the things we do most often with our children is drive them around from place to place. If you’re like most parents, you’ve invested in a child restraint system to help protect your child in the event of a motor vehicle accident. While that is a good beginning, however, a key question to ask is, are you using the proper child’s safety restraint system – that is, one that’s appropriate to your child’s size and age?

Under Texas law, any child who is under the age of eight, unless he or she is taller than four feet, nine inches, must be secured in a child passenger safety seat system. This means a child who is eight or older, or is more than four feet, nine inches tall, can legally use an adult seat belt, but all children under the age of eight, if they’re not taller than four feet, nine inches, must be secured in a child restraint system when they’re riding in a car.

There’s no question that child safety restraints save lives. It’s very important, however, that the child safety system you use be appropriate to your child’s height, weight and age, even if that means going beyond the minimum mandated by the law. The Texas Department of Public Safety advises parents to follow these national best practice recommendations when choosing an appropriate child safety restraint system.

  • Infants to age 2+. Children this age require a rear-facing infant seat or a rear-facing convertible safety seat, and they should remain in these rear-facing seats until they reach the rear-facing weight and height limits, which will be set out in the manufacturer’s manual. The seat should also be installed according to the manufacturer’s manual.
  • Age 2 to 4+. Once they have outgrown their rear-facing seats, children should be placed in a forward-facing safety seat. Again, they should ride in such seats for as long as possible, until they have reached the upper weight and height limits of the seat. Note that a child shouldn’t be placed in a forward-facing seat until he or she has reached all of the age, weight and height requirements set by the car seat manufacturer. The car seat should also be properly installed in the back seat.
  • Age 4+, 40+ pounds. Once children reach the age of four and weigh at least forty pounds, they can use a booster seat in combination with an adult lap and shoulder belt. Children should stay in a booster seat until they reach four feet, nine-inches tall, at which time an adult seat belt will fit them properly.
  • Age 10 to 12 years. Children will have outgrown their booster seat when they reach four feet, nine inches in height, which generally happens when they get to around ten to 12 years in age. At this time, they can use the adult lap and shoulder belt, provided it fits them properly. In a properly fitting adult seat belt system, the lap belt will lie across the child’s upper thighs rather than the stomach while the shoulder belt lies across the chest rather than the neck.

Additionally, it’s recommended that children stay in the suggested safety restraint system up to the maximum height, weight and age limits. Further, parents are advised to have all children under the age of 13 ride, properly restrained, in the back seat.

Prev
Next
Recent Posts
  • Back to School Safety Tips 2023 | GreeningLaw
  • Summer Safety Tips Pt. 2
  • Summer Safety Tips Part 1
  • Holiday Depression & Suicide Awareness | GreeningLaw
  • 3 Tips for a Fun & Safe Halloween | GreeningLaw
Categories
  • Auto & Trucking Accidents
  • Auto Accidents
  • Blog
  • Drunk Driving
  • Healthcare Litigation
  • homepage
  • Immigrants
  • Injuries to Children
  • Injuries to Children
  • Medical Malpractice
  • News
  • Nursing Homes
  • On The Job Injuries
  • Personal Injury
  • Personal Injury
  • Product Recall
  • Property Accidents
  • Sexual Abuse Litigation
  • Slip and Fall
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Uncategorized
  • Veterans
Archives
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013

free case consultation

• all fields required
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

GreeningLaw, P.C.
Dallas
12900 Preston Rd
Suite 600
Dallas, TX 75230
get directions
Call Today
Phone (972) 934-8900
Stay connected

© 2025 by GreeningLaw, P.C. | All rights reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer