Booster Seat Laws NH | Updated Rules this year!

According to New Hampshire state law, all children under the age of 8 must be properly secured in a child passenger restraint system (CPRS) when riding in a motor vehicle.

A properly secured child is one who is:

• In a rear-facing car seat for infants under 20 pounds
• A harness for toddlers weighing 20–40 pounds is included in the car seat.
• There is a booster seat for children over 40 pounds.
• A seat belt that fits properly when the child is over 4 years old.

Children under the age of 2 must be secured in a rear-facing car seat. Rear-facing seats are the safest option for young infants because they support the head, neck and spine in the event of a crash.

Toddlers between 20 and 40 pounds can ride safely in a forward-facing car seat with a harness. These seats are also equipped with a tether, which helps secure the seat to the vehicle and prevent it from moving too far forward during a crash.

Children over 40 pounds and under 4’9” should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat. Booster seats help to raise the child up so that the seat belt fits properly across the shoulder and chest.

NH Car Seat Laws

New Hampshire law requires that all children under the age of seven be secured in a federally approved child restraint system. Children under the age of 18 must be properly restrained in a motor vehicle.

Specifically, New Hampshire law states that children under age seven must be:

• Properly fastened and secured by a child restraint system in accordance with safety standards established by the United States Department of Transportation.
• Seated in the rear seat of the vehicle, unless the vehicle does not have a rear seat or the child is at least 8 years old and 57 inches tall.

Children under age two must be secured in a rear-facing child restraint system until they reach the weight or height limit of the seat. Children who have outgrown the rear-facing child restraint system must be secured in a forward-facing child restraint system with a harness until they reach the weight or height limit of the seat.

Children who have outgrown the forward-facing child restraint system must be secured in a booster seat until they reach the height of 4 feet, 9 inches or until they are able to properly buckle and fasten the adult seat belt.

There are four exceptions to the child restraint requirements in New Hampshire:

• Children in taxis or buses.
• Children in vehicles manufactured prior to 1968.
• Children with physical conditions that prevent them from using a seat belt or child safety seat.
• Children under special education conditions.

If you are unsure whether your child is properly secured in a child restraint system, you can consult the owner’s manual for the child restraint system or call the New Hampshire State Police Child Passenger Safety Hotline at 1-800-258-4327.

It is important to follow New Hampshire’s car seat laws to protect your child from serious injury or death in the event of a car crash.

What Are The Booster Seat Laws In New Hampshire?

Children under the age of 7 and weighing less than 65 pounds must be properly secured in a child safety seat.

According to New Hampshire law, all children under the age of 7 must ride in a booster seat while in a motor vehicle. Additionally, all children under the age of 18 must wear a seatbelt while in a motor vehicle.

There are a few exceptions to the booster seat law. If a child is under the age of 7 but is at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, they are allowed to ride without a booster seat. Additionally, if all of the vehicle’s back seats are occupied by children under the age of 7, then one child over the age of 7 is allowed to ride without a booster seat.

So if you are planning to travel with young children in New Hampshire, make sure to bring along the proper number of booster seats!

Booster Seat Age New Hampshire

New Hampshire law requires children under the age of seven to be secured in a federally approved child restraint system. This includes booster seats. Children are required to use a booster seat until they reach the height of 4 feet, 9 inches or until they are able to properly buckle and fasten the adult seat belt.

Booster seats work by raising the child up so that the adult seat belt fits properly across their chest and lap. This is important because the adult seat belt is designed to protect adults, not children. If a child is too small for the adult seat belt, it could fit too loosely or across their neck or stomach, which could increase the risk of serious injury or death in a car crash.

There are many different types of booster seats available, so it is important to choose one that is the right size for your child and that fits properly in your vehicle. You should also make sure that the booster seat is installed correctly.

Here are some tips for choosing and using a booster seat:

• Choose a booster seat that has a high back and sides to protect your child’s head and neck.
• Make sure that the booster seat has a five-point harness or a lap belt and shoulder belt that fit properly.
• Install the booster seat in the back seat of the vehicle, if possible.
• Make sure that the booster seat is level and that your child’s back is against the back of the booster seat.
• Make sure that the seat belt is snug across your child’s chest and lap.

By following these tips, you can help ensure that your child is safe and secure while riding in a car.

Booster Seat Requirements NH

In New Hampshire, booster seats are required for children under the age of seven who are:

• Less than 4 feet, 9 inches tall
• Unable to properly buckle and fasten the adult seat belt

Booster seats raise the child up so that the adult seat belt fits properly across their chest and lap. This is important because the adult seat belt is designed to protect adults, not children. If a child is too small for the adult seat belt, it could fit too loosely or across their neck or stomach, which could increase the risk of serious injury or death in a car crash.

There are two main types of booster seats:

1. Belt-positioning booster seats: These seats raise the child up and provide a belt guide to help position the adult seat belt correctly.
2. High-back booster seats: These seats provide more head and neck protection than belt-positioning booster seats.

It is important to choose the right type of booster seat for your child and to install it correctly. You should also make sure that your child is properly buckled into the booster seat.

Here are some tips for choosing and using a booster seat in New Hampshire:

• Choose a booster seat that is the right size for your child and that fits properly in your vehicle.
• Make sure that the booster seat is installed correctly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Position the child in the booster seat so that their back is against the back of the seat and their knees are bent at a 90-degree angle.
• Make sure that the seat belt is snug across your child’s chest and lap.

If you are unsure whether your child is properly secured in a booster seat, you can consult the owner’s manual for the booster seat or call the New Hampshire State Police Child Passenger Safety Hotline at 1-800-258-4327.

By following these tips, you can help ensure that your child is safe and secure while riding in a car in New Hampshire.

Why Are Booster Seats Important?

Booster seats help raise a child so that the seat belt fits properly.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children in the United States.

Booster seats help to protect children in the event of a crash by positioning them so that the seat belt fits properly. Additionally, booster seats raise a child up so that the airbag will not deploy directly into their face and neck.

A properly positioned seat belt should lie across the middle of the child’s chest and shoulder, not the neck or face. The lap portion of the seat belt should fit snugly across the child’s thighs, not the stomach.

In a crash, a child who is not properly restrained can be completely ejected from the vehicle or thrown around inside the vehicle, causing serious injuries or death.

Booster seats are available for children who have outgrown their car seats but are still too small to use a seat belt alone. Booster seats are typically used from ages 4 to 8, depending on the child’s size. All children under the age of 13 should ride in the back seat.

Booster Seat Weight And Height In NH

In New Hampshire, children are required to use a booster seat until they reach the height of 4 feet, 9 inches or until they are able to properly buckle and fasten the adult seat belt.

There are no specific weight requirements for booster seats in New Hampshire. However, most booster seats have weight limits. It is important to follow the weight limit recommendations for the booster seat that you choose.

If you are unsure whether your child is ready to graduate from a booster seat, you can consult the owner’s manual for the booster seat or call the New Hampshire State Police Child Passenger Safety Hotline at 1-800-258-4327.

Here are some tips for determining if your child is ready to graduate from a booster seat:

• Can your child sit up straight with their back against the back of the seat and their knees bent at a 90-degree angle?
• Can your child reach the lap belt and shoulder belt with their hands?
• Can your child buckle and fasten the seat belt without assistance?

If your child can answer yes to all of these questions, then they may be ready to graduate from a booster seat. However, it is always best to err on the side of caution and keep your child in a booster seat until they are at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

When Are Children Required To Use A Booster Seat In New Hampshire?

According to the New Hampshire Department of Safety, all children under the age of 8 must be properly restrained in a child safety seat or booster seat. Children ages 8 through 12 must be properly restrained in a seat belt.

A booster seat is a seat designed to improve the fit of a seat belt for a child. Booster seats are required by law in some states for children who have outgrown child safety seats but are still too small to use a seat belt alone.

In New Hampshire, children must use a booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4’9″ tall, whichever comes first.

If you have a child who is required to use a booster seat, there are a few things you should know. First, always make sure the booster seat is properly secured to the vehicle. Second, the lap belt should fit low and snug on the child’s hips, not across the stomach. Third, the shoulder belt should fit snugly across the child’s chest and shoulder, not across the neck or face.

If you have any questions about booster seats, or any other child passenger safety topics, you can contact the New Hampshire Department of Safety’s Child Passenger Safety Program at 1-800-CARE-4-KIDS.

How Long Do Children Need To Use A Booster Seat?

A booster seat is needed until the child is 4’9″ and is between 8 and 12 years old.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children should use a booster seat until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall and the seat belt fits properly across their hips and shoulders. In most cases, this will be between 8 and 12 years old.

However, it is important to keep in mind that every child is different and some may need to use a booster seat for longer than others. For example, a child who is very tall for their age may be able to safely use a seat belt without a booster seat sooner than a child who is shorter.

If you aren’t sure if your child is ready to move out of a booster seat, it’s best to stay with a booster seat until you are sure they are ready.

One real-life example of this would be a child who is 8 years old but only 4 feet tall. In this case, the child would likely need to use a booster seat until they are taller and the seat belt fits properly.

FAQs – Booster Seat Laws NH

Conclusion

The NH booster seat law states that all children under the age of 8 must be properly secured in a booster seat when riding in a motor vehicle. Children who are 8 years old or older, but under the age of 18, must be properly secured in a seat belt.

I hope that you understand the booster seat laws in New Hampshire. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below.