Going Home From the Hospital

If you've already taken your birth class or hospital tour then you probably know that you must have a car seat present when leaving the hospital (Well, in some states)! Each state has their own law but when I went online and researched it a bit it seems that most US states agree: children under the age of 6 must be in a carrier, car seat or booster seat and then after must be in a restraint (seat belt)while riding in a car.
You have to check out Idaho's law though

PASSENGER SAFETY FOR CHILDREN. (1) No noncommercial motor vehicle
operator shall transport a child who is six (6) years of age or younger in a
motor vehicle manufactured with seat belts after January 1, 1966, unless the
child is properly secured in a child safety restraint that meets the
requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 213.
(2) The provisions of this section shall not apply:
(a) If all of the motor vehicle's seat belts are in use, but in such an
event any unrestrained child to which this section applies shall be placed
in the rear seat of the motor vehicle, if it is so equipped; or
(b) When the child is removed from the car safety restraint and held by
the attendant for the purpose of nursing the child or attending the
child's other immediate physiological needs, What the heck?

Very crazy to me now as a mother but hey it's the way things were when I was a child. I remember playing in the back of my parents station wagon and them yelling at me to stay in one place! They couldn't concentrate or see out the rear view mirrors! haha. Now, I gasp at the thought of children riding in cars without seat belts.
Check out http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov to get information and researched car seats. Check out http://www.buckleupamerica.org//CPS/CSSRating/Index.cfm to get information on your states seat belt laws.
Oh, and don't forget to read the sections on proper installation! They have different locations throughout the nation to help you properly install your childs seat.

Happy Transitioning to your New Life,
Evie