Do you know Louisiana’s car seat safety requirements?

If you’re a parent or caregiver, you want to do what you can to keep your little boos safe. That includes in the car.

Car accidents are the top cause of death for children ages 1–13, and even non-fatal collisions can result in serious injuries to the head, spine, and other parts of the body. Choosing the right car seat for your child’s size and installing it correctly are essential measures to keep little ones safe on the road.

An updated child safety seat law went into effect in Louisiana in 2019. Learn about why we have the law and the car seat safety requirements all drivers must follow.

Purpose of Louisiana’s child safety seat law

Lawmakers designed Louisiana’s child safety seat law to maximize the benefit of safety features in car seats and safety seats. It follows best practices that the American Academy of Pediatrics set forth starting in 2011.

The law upgrades many outdated standards to reduce the number of injuries and deaths in a crash—creating a healthier future for the state we all love.

Car seat requirements at a glance

As a child outgrows a car seat or safety restraint, they lose some protection. So, it’s important to keep them in the safest option as long as possible.

For example, all car seats have a maximum height and weight limit. If your child’s rear-facing car seat can protect them until they weigh 40 lbs., keep them rear-facing until they reach the weight limit (unless they outgrow the height limit first).

Here are some general car safety tips:

• Always wear your seatbelt and make sure your children are properly buckled.
• Keep children in a rear-facing seat as long as possible.
• Keep children in a five-point harness as long as possible.
• Use booster seats for older children.
• Always use the correct car seat for your child and vehicle.
• Always refer to your car seat manufacturer’s instructions to maximize the benefit of safety features.

Car seat ages

In Louisiana, car seat laws require that you secure all children under 18 in a vehicle with a specific type of car seat or restraint based on the child's age or size:

• Birth to at least 2 years old: Ride in a rear-facing infant or convertible car seat.
• At least 2 years old and has outgrown the rear-facing car seat by weight or height: Ride in a forward-facing car seat with an internal harness.
• 4 years old and has outgrown the forward-facing seat with an internal harness by weight or height: Use a belt-positioning child booster seat with a lap-shoulder seat belt.
• 9 years old or has outgrown the booster seat and can pass the 5-Step Test (outlined below): Wear a lap-shoulder seat belt secured correctly on the vehicle seat.
• Younger than 13 years old: Ride in the back seat of the vehicle with lap and shoulder belts.

Seat belts and the 5-Step Test

Use the 5-Step Test when your child starts wearing a seat belt. This test gives you five ways to know when the seat belt fits correctly:

1. The child sits all the way back against the vehicle seat.
2. The child’s knees bend over the edge of the vehicle seat.
3. The lap belt fits snugly across the child’s thighs or lower hips—not on the abdomen.
4. The shoulder strap snugly crosses the center of the child’s chest and not the neck.
5. The child sits properly, without slouching or playing with the seat belt.

Keep your child safe and healthy

If you’re not sure about your child’s car seat, you don’t have to figure it out alone. The Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force has over 105 fitting stations throughout the state. They’ll check your car seat setup free of charge. Follow Buckle Up Louisiana on Facebook for updates.

You can also talk to your child’s pediatrician. They’re here to promote all aspects of your child’s health and wellness—including car seat safety. Learn more about pediatric care at LCMC Health, find a pediatrician, or schedule a check-up.

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