Car Seat FAQs – What You Need to Know to Keep Your Kids Safe in the Car

At birth, a child's head is large for its body and the bones are not fully hardened. In a 30 mile-per-hour crash into an immovable object, a 10-pound baby presses against the shell and padding of the seat with 300 pounds of force. Riding rear-facing provides more protection because the seat:

If a child is placed forward-facing too soon, in a crash, the force of the baby's heavy head whipping forward can stretch the ligaments in the spinal column up to two inches, but the spinal cord can stretch only one-fourth of an inch. Severe head injury or paralysis may occur.

As long as children do not exceed the height or weight limits of their rear-facing child restraint the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children ride rear-facing to at least 2 years of age or until the child outgrows the rear-facing weight and height of their rear-facing only infant seat.

Rule number one: Not all seats fit properly into all cars.

Do not be in a hurry to move your child forward-facing. Riding rear-facing is than riding forward-facing if your child is still within the weight and height limits for the seat. Read the instruction book and the seat labels. 

NEVER turn a baby forward facing before the minimum weight, height and age listed in the instruction book. Move a baby who outgrows their infant seat into a rear-facing convertible seat. Many convertible models can be used rear-facing to 40-50 pounds. If you have questions about a certain model, contact the manufacturer.

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An infant seat is outgrown when:

Move the baby into a convertible seat that allows him/her to remain rear-facing. Follow manufacturer’s instructions to determine when you may turn your child forward-facing.

Remember that riding rear-facing offers the best protection for your baby's head, neck and spine. For optimal protection, the AAP recommends babies ride rear-facing in a convertible seat up to two years of age AND to the seat's highest rear-facing weight limit.

Convertible seats fit children 5 - 65 (or more) pounds depending on model. Read instructions and labels on the side of the seat. Choose a seat whose label specifies it has been tested for rear-facing use to a minimum of 40 or more pounds.

For optimal protection, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends babies ride rear-facing in a convertible seat up to 2 years of age and to the highest rear-facing weight limit of their seat.

Height of the top harness strap slots varies. Forward-facing, harness straps need to be in reinforced slots at or above the child's shoulders. Is there enough grow room?

In some seats, ONLY the top-most slots may be used when the seat is forward-facing. Read and follow the directions in manufacturer's instructions.

A forward-facing seat with a harness is outgrown when ONE of the following three things happens:

For best protection (when a child outgrows a convertible seat) use a forward-facing only seat with a harness (sometimes called a combination or harness-to-booster seat). These provide the protection of a harness to 70-90 pounds .

For tall/slim children, pay particular attention to the height of the highest set of harness slots. This "seated height" (fanny-to-top-of-shoulder) varies among car seat models. Choose one that will give the child enough room to grow.

On many models of "forward-facing only" seats, the harness can be removed/stowed and the seat becomes a belt-positioning booster seat for use in vehicles with lap and shoulder belts. Weigh and measure your child to assure child is within the minimum height and weight on labels.

Once a child exceeds the height or weight limits of their convertible or forward-facing harnessed seat, a belt-positioning booster seat should be used to properly position the adult lap and shoulder belt. A belt-positioning booster:

No! In a crash, children this age can be seriously injured by an adult lap and shoulder belt because it does not fit properly.

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No! A booster seat requires both the shoulder AND the lap belt. Even though the child will not have upper body protection, a properly worn lap belt is still better than being unrestrained. Teach your child to wear the lap part of the belt down low on the hips, not up on the tummy.

Other options:

These boosters are no longer being made and are too old for use.

Small shield boosters were originally designed for children 30-60 pounds, and were tested using a lap only belt and a dummy the size of a three-year old.

In 1996, the government's standards changed to require booster seats to be tested with a 47 pound crash test dummy the size of a six-year old child. Manufacturers revised instructions for shield boosters to allow use of the shield only until the child weighed 40 pounds. On some small shield booster seats, the shield could be removed and the base used as a backless belt positioning booster..

Children weighing less than 40 pounds should use a forward-facing car seat with a harness until they physically outgrow it.

Keep using a booster seat until your child is about four feet nine inches tall. To see if the seat belt will fit your child, answer the following questions: *

If you answered "no" to any question, then the child should continue to ride in a belt-positioning booster seat.

Remember, check for good belt fit in all the cars your child rides in. Just because the seat belt system fits your child in one vehicle does not mean that the seat belt will fit correctly in all vehicles. You must perform this test in each vehicle your child rides in to assure proper belt fit.

No, two people should never use one vehicle seat belt! In a crash, two people sharing one seat belt will collide violently. Buckling two people into one seat belt could cause serious injury or death.

No, the shoulder belt restrains the upper body. Placing the shoulder part of the belt under the arm can break ribs causing them to injure internal organs. Putting the shoulder part of the belt behind the back not only takes away upper body protection; it keeps the seat belt system from working properly. In a crash, the lap part of the belt is tightened as the upper body moves forward pressing against (loads) the shoulder belt. Placing the shoulder portion of the seat belt behind one’s back results in a loose lap belt increasing the risk of serious injury.

Check the vehicle owner's manual to see if the shoulder belt in your vehicle has an adjustable anchorage. If not, for older child passengers, choose a booster seat that will properly adjust the belt fit.

Vehicle manufacturers explain how to properly tighten their seat belts around a child car seat. You will find this information in your vehicle instructions. No vehicle manufacturer advocates the use of belt tightening devices. Car seat manufacturers also provide instructions on how to properly secure their car seat. No child restraint manufacturer advocates the use of belt tightening devices. Here is what two manufacturers have to say:

“While Evenflo does not have a specific note in the product instruction manual about belt tightening devices, we do state in our warnings section in every book DO NOT attach additional padding, toys or other devices not made by Evenflo or described in these instructions to the child restraint. Items not tested with the child restraint could injure the child. Evenflo does not sanction the use of the Mighty Tite or any other similar device with our products.” - By Randy Kiser Director, Product Safety, Research & Development Evenflo Company, Inc.

Another car seat manufacturer, Britax, says this about tightening devices: "The use of non-Britax Child Safety, Inc. covers, inserts, toys, accessories, or tightening devices is not approved by Britax. Their use could cause this restraint to fail Federal Safety Standards or perform worse in a crash. Their use automatically voids the Britax warranty".

Washington has many people who are trained as Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians to check a child car seat’s fit and installation.

Your doctor's office, police department, hospital, or health department may be able to direct you to a local program that can assist you in acquiring a child car seat or booster seat for your child.

The Safety Restraint Coalition can provide most information in English and Spanish. Contact them at (425) 828-8975 or 1-800-282-5587. Outside Washington call the Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT

Some stores who sell car seats also sell replacement locking clips. You can also contact the car seat manufacturer, attend a car seat checkup clinic or contact your local Child Passenger Safety Team.

Now is a great time to learn how to keep you and your new baby safe in the car. Go to a car seat safety class if one is given by your hospital, health plan or clinic. This will help you learn about using car seats correctly from the start.

Pregnant mothers should always use a lap/shoulder belt.

Right now you are your baby's car seat. Avoid using a lap-only belt. Push the lap part of the belt down as far as possible below your belly. Check to make sure it stays low and snug. If you wear a heavy coat, open it and pull it away from your belly. This helps the lap part of the seat belt fit low and snugly. Never put the shoulder portion of the seat belt behind your back or under your arm. It should rest across your shoulder.

Look up your local Child Passenger Safety Team or Safe Kids Coalition. The Safety Restraint Coalition answers questions about choosing and using child car seats, Washington’s child restraint and seat belt laws, has information about booster seats, a list of car seat recalls, and information about protecting children of all ages in the car. In the Seattle area, call 425-828-8975 or from other areas of Washington call toll-free at 1-800-BUCK-L-UP (1-800-282-5587) the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Auto Safety Hotline at 1-800-DASH-2-DOT.