Car Seat Safety

Vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of deaths for children ages 1 – 13. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), car crashes in 2022 were responsible for 1 in every 4 unintentional injury deaths of children 13 and younger. The Department of Transportation reported in 2022 an average of 3 deaths and estimation of 429 injuries in children every day due to traffic conditions.

You can help to protect your child by using the correct car or booster seat. According to the IIHS, simply making sure your child’s car seat is in the back seat instead of the front seat reduces fatal injury risk in children up to age 3 by 75% and in children 4 to 8 by almost 50%.

So what type of car seat should you use? Each US state has different laws on age, weight, and height requirements for different types of car and booster seats, but The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) offers these general guidelines to get you started.

Car Seat Types

·       Rear-Facing: This type of seat is best for babies and young children. It has a harness and moves with your child in a crash, reducing chance of injury to your child’s neck or spinal cord. You can select an infant seat that is rear-facing only, a convertible seat that will change from rear- to forward-facing with a harness and tether, or an all-in-one-seat that converts from rear-facing to forward-facing to booster.

·       Forward-Facing: This type of seat has a harness and tether and limits your child’s forward movement in a crash. Choose from a convertible seat that is both rear- and forward-facing, a combination seat that transitions from forward-facing into a booster, or an all-in-one seat as described above.

·       Booster Seat: Booster seats help your child sit higher so your car’s seat belt fits properly over her body. Choose a booster seat with high back which provides additional neck and head support (great for cars without head rests), a backless booster, or a combination seat or all-in-one seat as described above. All booster seats, regardless of style, must be used with lap-and-shoulder seat belts.

Seat Belts: Of course, as your child grows out of the booster seat stage, it’s important that she uses a seat belt properly every time she is in the car. Seat belts should always fit across your child’s upper thighs, shoulder, and chest to properly restrain your child in case of a crash. (Seat belts should not rest across your child’s stomach, neck, or face.)

The car seat you choose should be appropriate for your child’s current age, height, and weight. The NHTSA recommends keeping your child in a car seat for as long as possible (which is as long as the child fits the car seat’s height and weight requirements). Additionally, the NHTSA recommends keeping your child in the back seat at least until he or she is 13.

General Guidelines for Using Each Type of Seat

·       Rear-Facing: Use a rear-facing seat at least from birth to 1 year (longer if your child meets the height/weight requirements). Once your child outgrows the height/weight limit of the rear-facing seat, he is ready for a forward-facing seat.

·       Forward-Facing: Children generally are ready for a forward-facing seat between ages 1 to 3. Your child should stay in this type of seat until he outgrows it (by weight and height), usually sometime between ages 4 and 7.

·       Booster Seat: If your 4 to 7 year old has outgrown his forward-facing seat, it’s time to transition him to a booster seat. Keep your child in a booster seat until he is big enough to wear a seat belt properly (usually between ages 8 and 12).

Installation

A car seat provides protection for your child only if it is installed correctly. Read and follow the installation instructions for your car seat model. If you have questions, check with your local police as many local departments will assist with installation. There are also inspection stations with certified technicians who will help you at no cost. Click here to find a location near you.

Other Important Notes:

·       Car seats should be installed on forward-facing vehicle seats unless the car seat manufacturer states otherwise.

·       You should never place your infant in front of an airbag.

·       Not all car seats fit in all vehicles, so make sure the seat you purchase can be used correctly in your car.

·       Register your car seat with its manufacturer so you will receive notice in case of a recall or other safety issue. You can sign up with the NHTSA to receive email alerts about recalls.

·       If a well-meaning friend or family member passes down a used car or booster seat, be wary. Safety experts recommend against using a used car seat due to risks of recalls, expiration dates, unknown crash history, or other hidden damage.

Your State’s Rules

Each state has different rules regarding the age, weight, and height requirements for each car seat type. You should know the specific rules of the state you live in or may be traveling to. It’s also important to realize that state laws are often the minimum standards and don’t always equate to best practices. Consider child car seat laws to be the minimum standard to protect your child. You can find state-specific requirements here.

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