Car Seat Safety: What Every Parent Should Know
July 14, 2025Keeping your child safe in the car starts with using the right car seat and making sure it’s installed the right way. Car crashes are one of the main reasons children get hurt or die in the United States but using car seats the right way can help significantly! Car seats can lower the risk of death by 71% for babies and 54% for toddlers. Follow these easy car seat tips below to keep your child safe.
Car Seat Safety Tips
- Pick the Right Seat for Your Child
- Rear-facing seat: Keep your child in a rear-facing seat as long as you can, at least until they are 2 years old. Some seats let you go even longer, depending on your child’s weight and height. Rear-facing car seats protect the head, neck and spine best in a crash.
- Forward-facing seat with harness: When your child outgrows the height and weight requirements for a rear-facing seat and they are over the age of two, you can switch to a forward-facing seat with a 5-point harness. The toddler convertible seats will grow with them.
- Booster seat: When your child outgrows the forward-facing seat, use a booster seat. This helps the seat belt fit them the right way. Most kids need a booster until they are about 4 feet 9 inches tall - typically this is when they are 8 to 12 years old.
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Install it Correctly
Did you know almost half of all car seats are not installed correctly?
- Read the instructions that come with your car seat to ensure proper installation.
- Use either the seat belt or the LATCH system — not both, unless the seat says it’s okay.
- Make sure the seat doesn’t move more than an inch from side to side or front to back.
- Pro Tip: You can get your car seat checked for free at many police, fire stations or hospitals!
- Follow All New Safety Rules
- A new rule called FMVSS 213a (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) says that car seats for children up to 40 pounds must now pass a side crash test at 30 mph. This is in addition to the regular front crash test. Car seat makers have until December 5, 2026 to follow this new rule.
- Don’t Move to the Next Seat Too Soon
- Each time you move your child to the next type of seat, they lose a little bit of protection. Keep your child in each stage (rear-facing, forward-facing and booster) as long as possible.
- Remember: Back Seat is the Safest
- Children under 13 should always ride in the back seat. It’s the safest place for them in the car, especially if there’s an airbag in the front seat.
Car seat safety isn’t just about buying the right seat — it’s about using it the right way every time. Take the time to learn how to install and use it correctly. It could save your child’s life.
Learn more at about car seat safety by clicking here or visiting reliable sources such as nhtsa.gov and healthychildren.org.
