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Seat Belt and Child Restraint Safety

Purpose

To ensure the safety of all children during transportation by requiring the proper use of seat belts and federally approved child safety restraints in accordance with age, size, manufacturer instructions, and applicable regulations.

Scope

This SOP applies to all staff members responsible for transporting children in any vehicle used by the child care facility, including facility-owned, leased, or approved vehicles.

Responsibility

  • Transportation staff and supervising staff are responsible for:

    • Proper installation and use of child safety restraints

    • Verifying compliance before each trip

    • Ensuring ongoing adherence to safety requirements

Procedure

Step 1: Seating Requirements

  1. All children must be seated in the back seat of the vehicle when transported.

  2. Each child must be secured in:

    • An individual factory-installed seat belt, or

    • A federally approved child safety restraint appropriate for the child’s age and size.

Step 2: Installation and Use of Child Restraints

  1. All child safety restraints must be:

    • Installed, secured, and used exactly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

  2. A copy of the manufacturer’s instructions must be:

    • Maintained in the vehicle and/or on file at the facility.

  3. Staff must visually inspect restraints prior to use to confirm proper installation.

Step 3: Age-Based Restraint Requirements

Staff must ensure the following restraints are used based on the child’s age:

A. Birth to 1 Year

  • Children must be secured in a rear-facing car safety seat.

B. Ages 1 through 3 Years

  • Children must be secured in:

    • A separate child safety carrier, or

    • A vehicle built-in child seat.

C. Age 4 Years

  • Children must be secured in one of the following:

    • A separate child safety carrier

    • A vehicle built-in child seat

    • A booster seat used with an appropriate seat belt

D. Age 5 Years and Older

  • Children must be secured using a factory-installed seat belt.

Step 4: Restraint Replacement Requirements

Child safety restraints must be immediately removed from service and replaced if they:

  1. Have been recalled by the manufacturer

  2. Are past the manufacturer’s expiration or “date of use”

  3. Have been involved in a vehicle crash that:

    • Meets U.S. Department of Transportation crash severity criteria, or

    • Meets the manufacturer’s criteria for replacement following a crash

Documentation of replacement must be maintained.

Step 5: Transportation of Children Using Wheelchairs

When transporting a child who uses a wheelchair:

  1. Vehicles must accommodate wheelchair placement using:

    • Four tie-downs, affixed according to the manufacturer’s instructions

  2. Wheelchairs must be positioned in a forward-facing direction.

  3. The wheelchair occupant must be secured with a three-point tie restraint.

  4. If appropriate, the child may instead be transferred to:

    • A federally approved child safety restraint, or

    • A factory-installed seat belt, based on the child’s individual needs.

  5. All manufacturer specifications must be followed to ensure safety compliance.

Step 6: Pre-Trip Safety Check

Before each trip, staff must:

  1. Verify all children are secured in the correct restraint

  2. Confirm restraints are properly installed and adjusted

  3. Ensure no expired, damaged, or recalled restraints are in use

Compliance

Failure to follow this SOP may result in disciplinary action and may place children at risk. All transportation practices must remain compliant with applicable state and federal regulations.