Child Safety Seats
6635 Maplewood Ave.
Sylvania OH 43560
419-885-8906
F 419-885-6352
E-Mail: community.affairs@sylvaniapolice.com
Free Inspections
To help parents protect the lives of Sylvania’s youngest residents, the Sylvania Police Division offers free child safety seat inspections upon resident request.
We have three certified child safety seat technicians available to inspect your child safety seat(s), instruct you on how to install them properly, and correct any improperly installed seats.
To make sure your child safety seat is installed properly, call us at 419-885-8906. Appointments are required for all safety seat installations and checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the Ohio law concerning child safety seats?
A. When riding in vehicles, children younger than 4 and weighing less than 40 pounds must be properly secured, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, in a child-restraint system that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Q. When my child is 4 or older and weighs more than 40 pounds, do I still have to use a car seat?
A. Ohio state law requires that all passengers ages 4–15 years be properly restrained either by means of a child-restraint seat or a vehicle safety belt. It is the vehicle operator’s duty to see that this is done.
It is recommended that passengers ages 4–8 should be in a booster seat to aid in the correct fit with the vehicle safety belt. Incorrect fit of a vehicle safety belt on a child could result in serious injury or death.
Q. What is the penalty if I do not have my child properly restrained?
A. The fine imposed by the Sylvania Municipal Court is $153 for a first offense. If this is a second offense, it becomes a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, which can result in a fine of up to $250 and up to 30 days in jail.
Q. Do I need to keep the instructions for my child safety seat?
A. Yes. Read them and keep them with the car seat. You will need them as the child gets older. It is also helpful to complete and send in the registration card that came with the child safety seat. This is very important in case the child seat is recalled. The company will notify you of any recall using the contact information you sent in.
Q. My car has a passenger-side airbag in the front seat. Does this make it safer for my child to ride in the front seat?
A. NO. An infant in a rear-facing seat should never be placed in the front seat of a vehicle that has a passenger-side airbag. In fact, it is recommended that children under the age of 12, whenever possible, ride in the rear seat.
If you must allow a child to ride in the front seat, it is important to place that vehicle seat as far back as possible.
Q. How do I know whether to install my car seat facing forward or facing backward?
A. The right way to install your child safety seat is a matter of both weight and age.
If you use a child safety seat made only for infants, it must always face backward. Infants should ride facing the back of the car until they weigh 20 pounds and are at least 1 year old, or until they reach the weight limit of the rear-facing seat.
If your child has reached the weight limit of a rear-facing-only child safety seat made for infants, your child needs a rear-facing convertible child safety seat by his/her first birthday.
Q. Is the harness supposed to be snug? How do I know if the straps are too loose?
A. Harness straps should be snug so that they stay on your child’s shoulders.
The shoulder straps of the car seat go in the lowest slots for infants riding backward, and in the highest slots for children facing forward. The retainer clip should be placed at armpit level to keep harness straps on the shoulders.
To test, pinch the strap at the child’s shoulder, your fingers should slide off the strap. If you can pinch the strap together, it is too loose.
Q. How do I know if the seatbelt is in the right place and secured?
A. The seatbelt must be threaded through the correct belt path to hold the seat in place. Check the owner's manual for your car to see if you need to use a locking clip or some additional piece of equipment to keep the safety seat secure. A convertible child safety seat faces backward for an infant and forward for a toddler. It has two different belt paths, one for each direction. Use the belt path closest to the seatbelt. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Q. My vehicle has LATCH. Do I still use the seatbelt?
A. Child seats are designed to be used with one or the other. If you are using the LATCH, you do not need the seatbelt. A tether strap should be used with LATCH or seatbelt installation, provided your vehicle has designated tether anchor points. Refer to your owner’s manual for anchor point locations.
Q. Do I need to try the child safety seat in my vehicle before buying it?
A. Not all child safety seats fit in all vehicles. Most stores will let you “test fit” the seat before buying it. When the child safety seat is installed, be sure it doesn’t move side-to-side or toward the front of the car more than one inch. Be sure to read the section on child safety seats in the owner's manual for your car.
Q. How will I know when my child has outgrown the convertible seat?
A. Your child may grow too tall for the convertible seat. If your child weighs more than 40 pounds, it may be time to change to a belt-positioning booster seat or a seat designed for larger children (some go up to 100 lbs). A belt-positioning booster seat helps protect your child until he or she is big enough to use a seatbelt alone.
Q. What if my child's car seat is recalled?
A. Be sure to make any necessary repairs your child safety seat. When you purchase a child safety seat, be sure to complete the registration card and mail it to the manufacturer so you will be notified of recall notices by mail or e-mail.
Q. What if I have read all the instructions for the child safety seat and my owner’s manual for the vehicle, and I still can’t get the seat installed?
A. If you are a resident of the City of Sylvania, contact the Sylvania Police Division Office of Community Affairs. One of our child seat technicians will be more than happy to meet with you and help you.
If you are not a resident, check with your local police or fire department – most have trained technicians – or contact your local Safe Kids office.
For more information or questions regarding child safety seats, call us at 419-885-8906 or contact us at community.affairs@sylvaniapolice.com.