Car Seat Safety Tips

Car crashes are a leading cause of injury for young children, and properly used car seats provide the best protection available. This important responsibility begins with selecting a child car seat and using it properly from the moment you bring baby home to every car ride after that. All 50 states have laws that require the use of a car seat, and all car seats manufactured today are designed to meet stringent safety standards set by the federal government.

First Things First:

• Always follow both the car seat manufacturer’s instructions and your vehicle owner’s manual’s guidance. Car seats are designed and tested to protect children best when they are used correctly, according to the instructions.
• If you need help, contact the car seat manufacturer and a trained agent will provide the information you need. Contact information can be found on a car seat label or using this list. For hands-on assistance from a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, visit safekids.org/find-a-tech to find one in your area.

Car Seat Choices:

Safety begins with choosing the right car seat - one that fits your child's weight, height, and developmental needs; that can be correctly used in your vehicle; and that you will use correctly and consistently every ride.

REAR-FACING CAR SEAT

• It is safest for Infants and toddlers to ride rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer. Many families begin with infant-only car seats that come with a stay-in-car base and a removeable carrier that can be snapped into a stroller or carried inside. Since convertible or all-in-one car seats typically have higher rear-facing weight and height limits, they can be a next step that allows children to ride rear-facing longer.

FORWARD-FACING CAR SEAT WITH HARNESSES

• When children have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their car seat, they can move to a forward-facing car seat with a harness for as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer. Convertible car seats can be used rear-facing and forward-facing, all-in-one models add a belt-positioning booster mode, combination harness booster seats switch from forward-facing to booster, and some models may be exclusively forward-facing with harnesses.

CAR BOOSTER SEAT

• Children can move to a belt-positioning booster seat when they have outgrown the forward-facing weight or height limit for their car seat. It is safest to stay in a booster seat until the vehicle lap and shoulder seat belt fits properly - usually when children are between 8 and 12 years of age. A booster seat positions the lap portion of the vehicle seat belt low across the hips and touching the thighs, positions the shoulder portion across the middle of the chest and shoulder, and can help a child maintain that positioning by giving the knees a place to bend naturally.

VEHICLE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT

• When children are old enough and large enough to use only the vehicle seat belt, it is important to use both lap and shoulder belts. Correct seat belt fit means the child can sit all the way back against the vehicle seat, without slouching, and still bend their knees over the seat edge naturally. The lap portion of the belt should fit low across the hips and touch the thighs, the shoulder portion should cross the middle of the chest and shoulder, and the child should be able to maintain that position for the entire ride.

REMEMBER…

• Follow the car seat and vehicle instructions for proper use, as well as your state law.
• The back seat is the safest place for children under 13 to ride.

DO NOT USE A CAR SEAT OR BOOSTER CAR SEAT THAT:

• is second-hand, especially if it is beyond its expiration date.
• has damaged or missing parts.
• has ever been involved in a crash.
• is missing the manufacturer's label showing the name of the manufacturer, model number, and date of manufacture.

BUCKLE YOUR CHILD INTO THE CAR SEAT:

• Adjust the harness to fit the child properly. Follow the car seat instructions to properly adjust the harness height for your child, noting that the instructions differ for rear-facing or forward-facing use, and many models also have adjustable buckle strap positions.
• Snug Harnesses - Tighten the harness straps snugly, pulling extra webbing from the hip areas through to the shoulders or wherever the harness tightens. A snug strap should not allow any slack. You should not be able to vertically pinch excess webbing at the shoulder once the harness is tightened.
• Place the chest clip at armpit level. This feature helps to keep the harness straps properly positioned for crash protection.
• Cold weather travel - In cold weather, do not dress the child in bulky coats or snowsuits when riding in a car seat. Bulky clothing makes it difficult to properly tighten the harness on the child, and that may reduce crash protection. Safer options are to place a blanket over the properly harnessed child or to put the coat on the child backwards after the child is correctly buckled.

ATTACH YOUR CAR SEAT TO YOUR VEHICLE:

• Rear-facing and forward-facing car seats must be snugly attached to the vehicle seat and locked in place, according to the car seat and vehicle instructions.
• Car seats can either be installed using the lower anchor connectors that are attached to the car seat, until your child exceeds the lower anchor weight limit, or with the vehicle seat belt that has no child weight limit (this limit is included on labels and in the instruction booklet).
• A correctly installed car seat should not move more than one inch side-to-side or toward the front of the vehicle when pulled at the belt path using moderate force.
• Forward-facing car seats include a top tether strap that must be attached to the tether anchor identified by the vehicle manufacturer.
• Correct use of the top tether strap can significantly improve crash protection and reduce the likelihood of head injury.

MORE TIPS

Register your car seat! Car seats could be recalled for safety reasons, and you must register your car seat to be reached in the event of a recall. Call the manufacturer customer service line listed on your car seat labels or visit the manufacturer's website to register.

Car seats expire! Check your labels and instructions for the expiration date.

Ensure everyone in the car is buckled up! Unrestrained passengers can be thrown around in a sudden stop or crash, possibly being injured and/or injuring others in the car.

Air Travel - Taking your child's car seat along when traveling is recommended. Most car seats with harnesses are approved for use in an aircraft, with a label that states "This Restraint is Certified for Use in Motor Vehicles and Aircraft." Booster seats are labeled, "This Restraint is Not Certified for Use in Aircraft." Pack your booster car seat as luggage so you have it at your destination.

Prevent Heatstroke!

Each year, children die unnecessary and heartbreaking deaths when they are accidentally left in cars that heat up quickly. It is surprisingly easy to forget about baby in the backseat when thrown off your routine, daydreaming or simply dealing with stressors of everyday life. In order to combat these deaths, we and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommend the following tips for preventing these situations:

• Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle - even for a moment.
• Do not let your children play in an unattended vehicle. Teach them that a vehicle is not a play area.
• Make a habit of looking in the vehicle - front and back - before locking the door and walking away.
• If you are dropping your child off at childcare, and normally it's your spouse or partner who drops them off, have your spouse or partner call you to make sure the drop went according to plan.
• Ask your childcare provider to call you if your child does not show up for childcare.
• Always lock vehicle doors and trunks and keep keys out of children's reach. If a child is missing, check the vehicle first, including the trunk.
• If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle, call the police. If they are in distress due to heat, get them out as quickly as possible. Cool the child rapidly. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
• Do things to remind yourself that a child is in the vehicle, such as:
• Placing your purse, briefcase or something else you need in the back seat so that you will have to check the back seat when you leave the vehicle; or
• Keeping an object in the car seat, such as a stuffed toy. When the child is buckled in, place the object where the driver will notice it when he or she is leaving the vehicle.

For more car seat tips and resources, check out the Car Seat Resources page!