Car Seat Safety - Are You Smarter than 80% of Americans?

Only 20% of car seats in the U.S. are installed correctly. Are your children’s seats among them? Here are the top 15 things you can do to ensure your child is safest in your car:

1) KNOW YOUR MANUAL – While car seat installation isn’t difficult, you do need to consult the manual to learn how to install your particular car seat. Keep your manual in a safe place so you can easily refer to it in the future. Understand the weight AND height limits of the car seat (kids typically outgrow by height first).

2) POSITION OF THE HARNESS – The shoulder harness must be at or below your child’s shoulders for rear facing, at or above for forward facing. Kids grow fast, check the position on the first of each month and after growth spurts.

3) IT’S A CHEST CLIP, NOT A BELLY CLIP – The top of the chest clip should be aligned with the armpits.

4) SNUG AS A HUG – Make sure the straps are tightened properly. Rule of thumb: you shouldn’t be able to pinch a horizontal fold in the strap.

5) UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE LATCH – In most cases “borrowing” outboard LATCH to install the car seat in the center is not acceptable. Approved LATCH positions should be outlined in your vehicle manual. Also, car seats are not meant to be installed using both the LATCH and a seat belt at the same time. One or the other, not both.

6) LATCH HAS A LIMIT – In most cars, you can’t use the LATCH system after 40lbs. Check your vehicle manual or contact a Certified Passenger Safety Technician.

7) EACH STEP UP IN CAR SEATS IS A STEP DOWN IN SAFETY – The longer your child can stay in each step, the better. This includes rear facing, harnessing, and staying in a high back booster (or even a backless booster) until the fit of the seat belt without the booster is better than with.

8) EXTENDED REAR FACING – Toddlers riding forward facing are five times more likely to be seriously injured than if they are riding rear facing. For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that toddlers should remain rear-facing until they have reached the maximum height and weight of the seat, or at least the age of 2 years. Yes, your child’s feet will touch the seat back; however this is perfectly safe since the forces in an accident are typically directed to the front or side of the car. Legs are actually more likely to be broken forward facing than rear-facing…and besides a broken leg is better than a broken neck!

9) EXTENDED HARNESSING – Child passenger safety advocates recommend harnessing past the 4 year and 40lb legal minimum, up until 6 years old. At 6 years, a child’s bones are more solid and mature to take crash forces from a seat belt, a child is better able to sit properly in a booster, and a child is more able to understand the importance of keeping a seat belt in place.

10) OUT OF THE BOOSTER – Your child should remain in a booster at a minimum until she can pass the five point test. High back boosters are recommended over backless boosters because they provide side impact protection, artificial hips, and tend to better position children in the seat.

11) COLD WEATHER CLOTHING – The filler in that adorable, bulky snowsuit prevents you from getting a tight fit with the straps. In an accident the filler will compress leaving your child essentially with loose harnesses that may not be able to restrain her. Don’t believe it? Try this test: strap your child in with her jacket on, unclick the strap, take off the jacket, reclick the strap. Did you have to tighten it? If so, the jacket is too puffy. Use a thinner jacket, like fleece.

12) EXPIRATION DATES – No it’s not a container of milk, but car seats do expire. The hot/cold cycling fatigues the plastic and it no longer has the original strength. The expiration date and/or manufacture date are stamped right onto the seat. Check your manual for more information. Also, a car seat “expires” when it’s been in any accident.

13) YOU LOCKED THE CAR DOORS….NOW WHAT ABOUT THE CAR SEAT? – If your child’s car seat is installed using the vehicle seat belts, you must check to make sure the seat belts will lock in a crash. Check your car seat manual and vehicle manual to understand what kind of seat belts your vehicle has and if you need to use a locking clip. Locking clips can be tricky to use. Here is a helpful reference.

14) USED CAR SEATS – It’s safe to utilize a used car seat only if you know the full history of the seat and have completed the used car seat checklist

15) DON’T LET YOUR CHILD BE A CRASH TEST DUMMY – Car seats are not often tested with add-on products such as strap pads, seat belt tightening devices, head cushions, car seat covers, or pads to contain diaper leaks. These items can interfere with harnesses and you should not use any of these products without the approval of the car seat manufacturer.


Have any questions on what you’ve read? Need to see some crash-test videos to be convinced? Visit the car seat gurus at babycenter

Please pass this on to your friends with children…you could save a little life!!