Child Safety in Cars: What Florida Parents Should Know

– Infants under 1 year should always be in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat of a vehicle.
– Toddlers 1-3 years should also be in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, transitioning to forward-facing seats only when they exceed the rear-facing seat’s height and weight limits.
– Preschoolers 4-7 years should use a booster seat in the back seat of the vehicle once they outgrow the forward-facing seat with a harness.
– ‘Tweens 8-12 years should continue using booster seats in the back seat of a vehicle until they are tall enough to use a standard seat belt. – In Florida, children under 13 are recommended to sit in the back seat to avoid potential injury from airbags in the event of a collision.
– Before moving a child out of a booster seat, it’s important to ensure that the adult seat belt fits properly, with the lap belt lying snugly across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt crossing the chest and shoulder.
– Some exceptions to Florida’s car seat laws include emergency situations, where a child may need to sit in the front seat for immediate medical attention, and commercial vehicles like taxis and rideshare vehicles, which are not mandated to provide child car seats.
– Non-compliance with Florida’s child safety seat laws for children under eight can result in fines and legal consequences. – There are four main types of car seats for children: rear-facing-only seats, convertible seats, forward-facing seats with harness, and booster seats.
– It is important to regularly inspect car seats for wear and tear, clean them according to manufacturer guidelines, check for recalls, and be mindful of expiration dates.
– In Florida, the Safe Riders Program offers free car seats to eligible low-income families, along with a child passenger safety class to learn about proper installation and usage. Eligibility is typically based on financial need and having a vehicle. – Community organizations such as local health departments, hospitals, and children’s charities often have programs or can direct families to resources for free or reduced-cost car seats.
– Some insurance companies offer free or discounted car seats to policyholders.
– Retailers or manufacturers may have trade-in events where you can get discounts on new car seats in exchange for old ones.

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