Topic of the week: Car Seat Safety

January 27, 2025
Car Seat Safety: A Guide for Parents to Keep Your Child Safe on the Road
As a parent, one of your top priorities is keeping your child safe, and that extends to every part of life, especially when it comes to traveling in a car. Car seats are one of the most important safety features for children, and yet, many parents make mistakes when it comes to installing and using them properly. Ensuring your child is correctly secured in an appropriate car seat for their age, size, and developmental stage can make all the difference in an emergency. Here’s how you can make sure you’re doing it right.
1. Choose the Right Car Seat
  • Rear-Facing: For infants and toddlers, keep them rear-facing until they reach the seat’s height or weight limit (usually until age 2).
  • Forward-Facing: Once they outgrow rear-facing, transition to a forward-facing seat with a 5-point harness.
  • Booster Seat: When your child outgrows the forward-facing seat, use a booster until they’re tall enough to wear a seatbelt properly.
2. Proper Installation
  • Read the Manuals: Follow both your car’s and car seat’s instructions for the best installation method—either seatbelt or LATCH.
  • Check for Movement: Ensure the seat doesn’t move more than one inch when shaken.
  • Get Help: If unsure, many hospitals and fire stations offer car seat checks by certified technicians.
3. Harnessing Your Child Correctly
  • Snug Straps: The harness should be tight with no slack, and the chest clip should be at armpit level.
  • Adjust as They Grow: Regularly adjust the straps to fit your child as they grow.
4. When to Transition
  • Rear-Facing to Forward-Facing: Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible, at least until age 2.
  • Forward-Facing to Booster: Transition to a booster when your child outgrows their forward-facing seat.
  • Booster to Seatbelt: Once they fit the car’s seatbelt properly, it’s time to stop using the booster.
5. Other Tips
  • Check Seat History: Avoid used seats unless you know they haven’t been in a crash and aren’t expired.
  • Back Seat Only: Always place your child in the back seat for the safest ride.
  • Buckle Up Every Time: Never leave your child unbuckled, even for short trips.