When I was a first-time parent, I was tasked with the job of finding the best car seat for our soon-to-be-born son. At the time I was a young deputy district attorney. This means two things: I was concerned with following the laws, and I was broke. So, I wanted to find a seat that was compliant with Colorado laws, super safe, affordable, and one that we could use for several years as he grew. Now, my oldest is in college, and pretty soon I imagine I’ll be needing a car seat for my grandchildren (but not too soon). It’s not an easy task to find the best car seat that checks all the boxes. We ended up getting multiple seats. One that was a convertible into a stroller and could be used on the airplane as well-it was not good for either. And then the first seat we bought was such a pain to unbuckle and move between cars, we ended up buying one for each car.
My best advice: a car seat is not the place to save money for new parents. Buy the best and safest child safety seat you can find. If they are convertible to boosters or can otherwise grow with your child, that’s a bonus. If you’re like us, we kept having kids, so we needed more and different child restraint systems. For a few years, we had three boys in a row, all in some form of car seat. Child safety systems have come along way in the last 20 years, and the options are much better today. Here’s a good video on some options for convertible vs. rotating car seats as your kids continue to grow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTx11Wg5kQo&t=1s
Colorado Child Car Seat Laws
Car Seats Until Age 8
Colorado law requires all children under 16 years old to wear a seat belt or use an appropriate safety device, regardless of where they sit in the vehicle. Unlike the adult rider law, this applies to both front and back seats, for children under 8 years old car seats are mandatory.
Which Car Seat is the right one based on the Age/weight of the child?
You need to use the correct car seat for a child’s age, weight, and height to be safe. Here is a card with a helpful chart: https://www.codot.gov/safety/carseats/documents-resources/cps-law-enforcement-card.pdf
Colorado car seat laws have guidelines for each stage of a child’s development:
- Less than 1 year: Infants from birth to 1 year old (and under 20 pounds) should be in a rear-facing car seat. This seat should be in the back seat of the vehicle.
- 1-3 years: Children in this age range and 20-40 pounds should be in a forward-facing car seat. Properly buckling them in this type of restraint seat can prevent serious injury in a crash. If the child is under 20 lbs, the seat should still be rear-facing.
- Up to 8 years: Children 40 pounds or more should move to a booster seat if they meet the height requirements. They should stay in a booster seat until they are 8 years old and 4’9”.
- 8-15-year-olds should use a standard adult seat belt. While we all should wear seat belts, it’s the law for children under 16, even in the back seat.
Exemptions
There are a few exceptions to the child car seat law:
- Transporting a child in a life-threatening emergency without a child restraint system.
- A childcare center transporting a child in a commercial motor vehicle.
- Transporting a child in a vehicle operated by a contract carrier, luxury limo service, or common carrier.
Law enforcement in Colorado are allowed to effectuate a stop based solely on observations regarding improper car seat usage. This means police can stop you for simply not properly restraining a child in a car seat. This also means that once you are contacted, they may also develop additional cause for other tickets or charges. I’ve had cases where the stop was for a child not in a car seat, and when the police made contact with the driver, they saw that the driver was intoxicated. This resulted in drunk driving and child abuse charges. Obviously, this is an extreme example of parental irresponsibility, and that driver had bigger issues than choosing the proper car seat. I share the story to serve as a reminder that not providing the proper child restraint system is not just unsafe, but it can be the reason you are facing additional traffic and criminal charges.
Car Seat Tips for Parents and Guardians
- Choose the Right Seat: Make sure the car seat you buy is for your child’s age, height, and weight. Follow the measurement limits and keep your child in each type of seat as long as they meet the maximum limits.
- I Advise Against Buying Secondhand: Used car seats may have wear and tear that can compromise their safety. Older seats may also have recalls or defects.
- Get Professional Help: Use resources like children’s hospitals with free car seat inspection stations to check installation and usage.
- Follow the Law: Following Colorado’s car seat laws is the law and provides the best protection for your child in a vehicle.
In the Event of an Accident
If your child is involved in a car accident, seek the advice of the Colorado car accident attorneys at the McDowell Law Firm. We offer free consultations on all car accident matters. Hopefully, you find these guidelines to be helpful. By following these tips and understanding the importance of child restraint we can keep our youngest passengers safer and reduce the risk of injury in car accidents.