Child Car Seat Safe? Southington Can Help

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Past generations may recall the days of children playing in the back seat without seat belts and thinking a trip on a bumpy road was an amusement park ride.

But it was actually a dangerous endeavor and the evolution of child car safety seats has made travel much safer these days, even if a family car ride isn't quite the adventure is used to be.

That level of safety, however, is contingent on safety seats being installed correctly and an event in Southington Saturday, Aug. 20, aims to ensure that.

The Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington and the Southington Police Department are presenting a child car seat safety check that day from 8 am to noon.

It will take place at the town's Calendar House senior center at 388 Pleasant St.

According to the collaborative, vehicles will be inspected on a first-come, first-served basis at the free event.

At the event, certified child passenger safety seat officers will:

• Check the car seat to see if it’s expired or recalled.

• Obtain the height and weight of the child.

• Adjust harness straps to fit the child before the installation occurs.

• Install the seat while making sure to teach and answer questions.

Any installation or usage issues identified during the car seat safety check will be corrected and the police will not be issuing tickets for car seat violations.

Connecticut’s car seat regulations list age and weight and the child must meet both requirements.

For example:

• Rear-facing seats are required until age 2 and 30 pounds.

• Car seats with a five-point harnesses or rear-facing until age 5 and 40 pounds.

• Booster or car seat until age 8 and 60 pounds.

More information about the law and how to check for car seat recalls is at www.southingtonearlychildhood.org/car-seats-laws.

For more information on the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington, click on this link.

For more information on the Southington Police Department's car seat officers, click on this link.