Father caring his kids to be safe during road trip

Every year, thousands of children in the United States are injured or killed in car crashes. The use of proper child restraints in the car is critical to keeping children safer if they are involved in a car crash. Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 20 – 26) and Seat Check Saturday (Sept. 26) are hosted every year to inform all drivers who are transporting children about the importance of properly restraining children in the car. Here are some resources on this important topic:

  • Choose the right car seat. With so many options on the market, it can be difficult for parents and caregivers to know which seat to buy for their infant or child.
    • The Car Seat Checker Tool from Nationwide Children’s Hospital can help parents determine the correct type of car seat for their child.
    • The Car Seat Finder from NHTSA is an easy-to-use tool that helps parents find the right car seat for their child based on height, weight, and age.
    • Car Seat Product Listing: 2020 from the American Academy of Pediatrics lists the manufacturers, height and weight limits, and prices of over 200 seats to help parents choose.
    • This resource from Insurance Institute for Highway Safety covers booster seat use and ratings for booster seats currently on the market.
  • Install the seat correctly.
    • These Car Seat and Child Passenger Safety Videos from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia can help parents install their infant’s or child’s car seat correctly.
    • We recommend parents have their infant’s or child’s car seat checked for correct installation at an inspection station or a car seat check-up event. Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website to find a car seat fitting station or a certified child passenger safety seat (CPS) technician nearby.
  • Don’t move your child “up” to the next seat too soon. Parents should use a child’s current car seat until they reach the maximum height or weight limit listed on the label.
    • Safe Kids Worldwide’s Car Seat Guide helps parents understand when it’s time to change seats.
  • Keep kids under 13 years old in the back seat. Even though a child may not need a booster seat anymore, they should still stay in the back. Their bodies have not matured enough to handle the forces that occur in the front seat during a crash (both from the crash and from the airbag). They may protest, but it’s for their safety.
  • Check to see if the seat has been recalled. Visit recalls.gov to see if your child’s car seat or booster seat has been recalled.