Nevada Car Seat Laws

The number crunchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the birth rate in Nevada is 53.2 births per 1,000 women. That translated to over 31,000 new Nevadans coming into the world in 2023. Although those babies were part of a diverse range of families, they all shared one thing in common: When they left the hospital, those babies were secured in a child seat. That doesn’t just keep the baby safe; it’s also the law.

The official Nevada car seat laws dictate the following:

“Child less than 6 years of age and less than 57 inches tall to be secured in child restraint system while being transported in a motor vehicle; a child less than 2 years of age to be secured in rear-facing child restraint system in the back seat with certain exceptions; requirements for the system; penalties; programs of training; waiver or reduction of penalty under certain circumstances; application of section; acceptance of gifts, grants and donations for purchase of child restraint systems.”

If a driver is found to have a child in a car seat that isn’t properly secured, they can be fined up to $500 or receive 50 hours of community service. Parents need to be aware of some other details of the car seat laws to ensure their children will be safe on every car trip.

Best Practices for Car Seat Use

Car seats are designed to accommodate babies’ average weights and heights. However, as parents quickly discover, every baby grows at a different rate. Despite this uniqueness, there are some commonalities among the best practices for car seat use that parents can benefit from following.

Parents should use a rear-facing car seat from birth to 2 years old, at least through the first year, and until the baby peaks at the height and weight limits presented by the seat’s manufacturer.

From 2 to 3 years, parents should keep their children in the rear-facing position of their car seat for as long as possible. When they outgrow this position, you can switch to a forward-facing toddler seat with a harness.

Between the ages of 4 and 7 years, your child can switch to a booster seat. They can stay in that seat until they are large enough for seat belts. Between 8 and 12 years, kids can use a seat belt, but it should be used in the same position as adults, with the lap belt lying across the things, not the stomach, and the shoulder belt should not cross the child’s face or neck.

Overall, it is recommended that parents should keep children in the back seat up to the age of 12.

Improper Installation

In addition to the childbirth rates, the CDC also has information regarding the improper installation of car seats. In a study, researchers found that 46% of car and booster seats were not correctly installed, which can reduce their overall effectiveness. Here are the most common errors:

• Incorrect recline angle for rear-facing car seats
• Loose installation for all car seats
• Loose harness for all car seats
• Harness behind the child’s arms, legs, or back in forward-facing car seats
• Improper lap belt position for booster seats
• Improper shoulder belt position for booster seats

Tips for Picking Car Seats

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finds that 325 children under the age of five were saved by car seats in just one year. The NHTSA also offers recommendations for parents to pick the right car seat. Picking that seat depends on recommendations from both the car manufacturers and the car seat manufacturers. Not every car seat matches up for every car. You’ll find that there are different harness anchor positions, which might make it easier to remove and adjust the seats.

It is also important to note that if you are involved in a car accident, you are encouraged to replace the car seat because the force of the impact might have compromised its structures and harnesses.

It is also important to discuss your options regarding pursuing a claim with an experienced attorney. You don’t want to start the insurance claim process without knowing what you’re entitled to.