Buckle Up: A guide to car seat safety for parents and childcare providers

Car seat safety is one of the most crucial aspects of protecting young children during travel. Whether you're a parent or a childcare provider, understanding how to correctly choose, install, and use a car seat can be lifesaving. With so many options on the market, knowing what to look for when purchasing a car seat and ensuring its proper use is essential for safeguarding young passengers.

Facts

• Car accidents are the leading cause of injuries and death to children in the U.S.
• When correctly installed, car seats can reduce the possibility of death by up to 71%.
• More than half of car seats are installed incorrectly, which leads to injuries and death.

Types of car seats

There are many makes and models available for each type of car seat. Finding the right one for your family or childcare facility will involve research. Here are basic descriptions of each type:

Rear-facing

This type of car seat is used for newborns and small babies. It should be used when bringing your newborn home from the hospital.

Forward-facing

When your child outgrows their rear-facing car seat, this is the next type they’ll use. This seat includes vital features, such as a harness system and tether strap.

Booster seat

This type of seat is designed to raise and position your child so that the vehicle's lap and shoulder belt can be used to secure your child correctly.

Common mistakes

Skipping the research.

Buying a car seat based on the color scheme isn’t a good idea. Researching the brand, type of car seat, and what works with your car is essential. And if you’re buying a used car seat, even more review is necessary. Used car seats should come with instructions and not:

• Be more than six years old.
• Look damaged or have missing parts.
• Have been involved in an accident.

Changing seats too soon.

Compare your child’s height, weight, and age with manufacturer’s recommendations before switching to a different seat.

Installing and harnessing incorrectly.

Installation is key to safety and preventing injuries. To learn more, visit the Healthy Children website. 

Buckling kids in who are wearing bulky clothes.

Unfortunately, we didn’t know this was a safety concern when my girls grew up. We’d put them in their winter coats and snow pants and buckle them in. Today, we know it’s safer to put kids in car seats wearing regular clothes, and then cover them with a blanket or winter coat. This ensures children are properly secured, allowing the car seat to keep them safe.

Using a recalled car seat.

Always register your car seat so that if there’s a manufacturer recall, you’re promptly notified. You can also visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website to see if your car seat has any outstanding recalls.

Adding after-market products.

Avoid adding accessories, such as headrests or harness covers, that the manufacturer doesn’t approve. Doing so can interfere with how the seat responds to an accident.

Childcare facilities tips

Be mindful of hot temperatures.

Extreme heat can damage car seats, reducing effectiveness. Keeping them in a temperature-controlled environment when not in use is essential.

Conduct regular safety checks.

Regular inspections can help find damage, such as frayed straps, broken buckles, or cracks in the plastic.

Educate staff.

Keeping staff adequately trained on installation and recommended safety guidelines is essential.

Create a plan.

Have a plan that addresses different situations, such as broken or improperly installed seats and emergency transportation.

Additional resources 

Car Seats and Positional Asphyxiation

Winter safety: How to keep children safe in their car seats

Safely Transporting Children: Guidelines for Childcare Providers