Although National Child Passenger Safety Week takes place September 20–26, Delaware Office of Highway Safety reminds parents and caregivers to make sure children are properly restrained in the vehicle every time they travel. Properly installed and correctly used car seats, booster seats, and seat belts can help reduce the risk of serious injury or death in the event of a crash.
As of June 30, 2024, Delaware’s Child Restraint Law requires children under age two AND under 30 pounds must ride in a rear-facing car seat; children under age four and under 40 pounds must ride in a harnessed car seat; and children using a booster seat must remain in the booster until reaching the height or weight maximum listed by the booster seat manufacturer. There is no booster seat with a height maximum lower than 4 feet, 4 inches.
While Delaware law establishes minimum requirements, OHS encourages parents and caregivers to keep children in each stage of restraint for as long as possible, as long as they remain within the manufacturer’s height and weight limits.
“We’re often asked when to move a child from a harness to a booster seat, or from a booster seat to a seat belt,” said Aubrey Klick, Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructor. “The answer always comes back to fit. Keeping children in each stage for as long as possible, while following the manufacturer’s guidelines, helps ensure they have the best protection possible when traveling in a vehicle.”
For more information about child passenger safety and to learn more about when children are ready to transition from one stage to the next, watch OHS’s video on growing into and out of booster seats.
Families can also visit ArriveAliveDE.com/secure-the-kids for additional traffic safety information and resources.
