Car seat safety: Everything you need to know about car seats

Why you need a car seat

A car seat can save your child's life and prevent serious injury in a crash. Tragically, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of accidental death among children in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that three children are killed and over 500 are injured in traffic accidents daily. That's more than a thousand fatalities each year.

All states now have car seat laws, but car seats for children weren't even developed until 1962. Before that there were car seats, but they weren't designed for safety. They were a way to prop up a child in the seat – so parents could see them and so they could see out the window.

In 1971, the first standards for car seats were adopted by the NHTSA. And eight years later, in 1979, the first child restraint law was passed. All states passed car seat laws by 1985.

Car seats are incredibly effective when used properly. When compared with seat belt use alone, car seats reduce the risk of injury for children in a crash by 71 to 82 percent. For children ages 4 to 8 years old, booster seat use reduces the risk of serious injury by 45 percent, compared with seat belt use alone. And for older children and adults, buckling up with a seat belt reduces the risk of death and serious injury by half.

NHTSA estimates that 325 children under age 5 are saved by car seats each year. Between 1975 and 2017, more than 11,000 children's lives were saved by child restraints in passenger vehicles.

So this is one piece of baby gear you'll want to buy long before your water breaks. In fact, you'll want to have your baby's car seat purchased and installed well before your due date, ideally by your eighth month of pregnancy.

Types of car seats by age

The car seat your child needs depends on their age, size, and developmental needs.

Infants and toddlers need to ride in a rear-facing car seat. This can be a rear-facing only infant car seat, a convertible car seat, or an all-in-one car seat.

Note that some premature infants or infants with special medical needs may need to ride in a car bed rather than a car seat. Before leaving the hospital, your baby's doctor will help determine if this is necessary for your baby, and the hospital staff can help arrange its installation and provide you with directions for its use.

Preschoolers can ride in a convertible car seat or an all-in-one car seat. Use it rear facing as long as possible, until your child reaches the seat's maximum rear-facing height and weight limits. For most children, this is around age 4.

It's okay if there isn't room for your child's legs to stretch out in front of them in the seat. Leg injuries are rare for children in rear-facing seats, which better protect their head, neck, and spine from injury.

School-age children can use a booster seat once their weight or height exceeds the forward-facing limit for their car seat (usually around 60 pounds or more). They'll need to use a belt-positioning booster seat until the seat belts fits properly without a booster, typically when they've reached 4 feet 9 inches in height and are at least 8 years old.

Children who've outgrown booster seats can use the car's lap and shoulder seat belts. The lap belt should sit across the upper thighs, not the stomach, and the shoulder belt should cross the center of the shoulder and chest, not the neck/face or off the shoulder. Kids should ride in the back seat until they're at least 13 years old.

Note: Don't be in a hurry to move your child from one type of car seat or position to the next. You may be excited to see them facing you in the car. Your older child may be pleading to leave the "baby car seat" behind. But each transition comes with some decrease in protection. That's why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends delaying car seat transitions (rear to forward-facing and car seat to booster) for as long as possible.

These are the basic types of car seats to choose from:

Infant car seat

Infant car seats have a portable seat that snaps into a base that stays in the car. (You may want to purchase a base for each car that your baby frequently travels in.) Some can also be installed without a base, using the vehicle's seat belt.

Infant car seats are smaller than other car seats and have a carrying handle. These seats are sometimes part of a travel system, and can be snapped onto a stroller. Many parents find this set-up most convenient for an infant, because it's easiest for transferring babies in and out of a car.

Infant car seats should always face the rear of the car, and they usually have a weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds (check your instruction manual). When your baby reaches the weight or height limits for their infant seat (for most infants this will be by about 12 months), move them to a rear-facing convertible or all-in-one car seat.

Convertible car seat

A convertible car seat can switch from rear facing to forward facing once your child is big enough. Convertible car seats can be used longer than infant car seats, but they're heavy and bulky and can't be used with a stroller. They also may not fit a newborn as well as an infant car seat, though many come with inserts for smaller babies.

Most convertible car seats will allow children to ride rear facing for two years or more. Rear facing, convertible car seats safely hold children until they're 40 to 50 pounds and 49 inches tall. When forward facing, many can accommodate children up to about 65 pounds and 49 inches in height. The weight limit may vary depending on whether you're using a lower anchor belt or a seat belt to install the car seat. (Check your car seat instructions.)

All-in-one car seat

All-in-one car seats can change from rear facing to forward facing to a booster as your child grows. A 3-in-1 car seat converts to a high-backed booster seat, and a 4-in-1 car seat converts into a high-backed booster or a backless booster.

All-in-one car seats are usually more expensive and heavy, but you'll only need to buy one car seat for your child, as it will transition with them from one stage to the next. Like a convertible car seat, it may not be the best fit for your newborn. Some come with inserts to help with sizing.

Booster seat

A booster seat raises your child so that the lap and shoulder belts fit correctly over the hips and across the chest (the stronger points of their body.) There are boosters with a high back, which provide neck and head support. These are good choices for vehicles that don't have head rests or high seat backs. There are also backless booster seats, which don't provide head and neck support but are good for cars with head rests.

Your child can transition from a booster seat to just a seat belt when the seat belt fits correctly. (Keep in mind that a child may need a booster in one vehicle but not in another.)

Are car seats required by law?

Yes. All 50 states have laws requiring child safety seats for infants and children.

The federal government enforces guidelines for the manufacture of car seats, but car seat laws (whether a child needs to ride in one) are set by individual states. The requirements vary regarding age, weight, and height.

To find out the law in your state, visit the SafeRide4Kids websiteOpens a new window. Keep in mind that state laws are minimum standards. You can keep your child as safe as possible by following the safest practices.

For example, your state may only require that your child ride rear-facing until age 1, but it's much safer to keep them rear-facing until at least age 2. And while taxis are exempt from seat belt laws in many states, you'll want to have your child use one when riding in a taxi (or a rideshare) for maximum safety.

How to choose the best car seat

There's a wide price range for car seats. And price doesn't necessarily equal safety. All car seats currently on the market should meet the U.S. government's stringent crash- and fire-safety standards, so any car seat you buy new should be safe.

You may decide to pay more for a car seat, though, because it's easier to use (to install, carry, or buckle your child in, for example) or has features that you appreciate, such as nicer fabric or a sleeker design.

Note: Be careful about purchasing a counterfeit car seat. These seats may have been made outside the United States, without meeting regulatory standards. They're often sold online at prices much lower than brand-name prices.

Check to see that the car seat you're purchasing has a label with the brand-name manufacturer's name, address, and phone number. The car seat should also come with a manual and registration card. And there should be a label saying that it meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). If it doesn't, it may be fraudulent.

The AAP provides a list of approved car seats that you can check your seat against. You can also call the manufacturer (if their name is on the seat but you still have doubts) to verify that they made the seat. Never use a counterfeit seat for your child. The savings aren't worth the safety risk.

Here are some other things to consider when choosing a car seat:

• Fit. Certain car seats fit better in certain cars, so make sure the one you choose can be installed and used correctly in your car. If you have more than one car seat, make sure they all fit. Read our recommendations for the best compact car seats and the best 3-across car seats.
• Ease of use. How difficult is the seat to install and use correctly? How heavy is the infant seat to carry around?
• Flexibility. Would you like the seat to be part of a coordinating stroller/travel system?

Register your car seat so that you'll receive any recall notices or safety updates. You can do this online with your car manufacturer or mail in the registration card that came with the car seat. NHTSA also provides a registration form that you can use to register your car seat.

Are used car seats safe?

It's not a good idea to buy a used car seat. There's no way to tell whether it's been in an accident (which would render it unsafe) or how it's been maintained.

If the used car seat is from a trusted friend or relative, you may be able to confirm it hasn't been in an accident, but also check to be sure that the car seat:

• Is in good condition (free of damage, with no cracks in the plastic, no frayed straps or missing parts, etc.)
• Isn't expired or isn't going to expire before your child will no longer need it
• Hasn't been recalled (Type the brand name or model into the NHTSA recall page.)
• Has a 5-point harness, which means the harness belts attach to the seat at five places: one between the legs, two over the shoulders, and one on each side of the hips. (New car seats are all designed with a 5-point harness, which offers the greatest protection.)
• Has a manual. (This isn't a deal-breaker, but you might want to make sure you can get one from the manufacturer's website if it doesn't come with the seat.)

NHTSA provides a car seat finder to help you find the right car seat for your child.

How long is a car seat good for?

Car seats are typically good for six to seven years from the manufacture date (not the date you purchased the seat).

Manufacturers aren't required by law to put expiration dates on car seats, but most seats will have either an expiration date or the date of manufacture.

Look for a date embossed on the shell of the seat or for a sticker on the seat with one of these dates. The car seat is good until the expiration date, unless it's involved in a moderate to severe crash, in which case it needs to be replaced.

It's hard to discard what seems like a perfectly good car seat when it reaches its expiration date, but the plastics used to make car seats deteriorate over time, especially in extreme temperatures and with sun exposure. Even though you won't see the deterioration, the weakness in the plastic can cause it to break – and fail to protect your child – during a crash. In addition, dirt, cleansers, and food spilled on parts of the car seat may cause it to degrade over time.

Another reason car seats expire is because safety standards change. A car seat that's beyond its expiration date is more likely to not meet the newest and safest standards.

How can I make sure my newborn's in the car seat correctly?

Putting your newborn in their car seat for the first time and driving home from the hospital can be nerve-wracking. How can you tell whether they're in and buckled correctly?

One idea is to practice this in the hospital, before their first ride. Hospital staff can help make sure you know how to use the car seat safely so that you'll feel confident on the way home.

When you place your newborn in their car seat, check to see that:

• Your baby's back and bottom are flat against the seat. Don't put anything behind your baby's back or under your baby, because you want a tight fit between your baby, the seat, and the harness.
• The seat is reclined as far as the instructions allow, to keep your baby from leaning forward.
• Your baby's head is at least one inch below the top of the car seat (not at or above).
• The harness straps are at or below your baby's shoulders (not above).
• The harness straps are flat, not twisted.
• The harness straps are snug. Once tightened, you shouldn't be able to pinch any fabric or insert more than one finger's width under them.
• The top of the buckled chest clip is at armpit level after the straps are tightened.
• The crotch buckle is snug (as close to your baby's bottom as possible) to prevent your baby from slouching. If there's space between the buckle and your baby after your baby is buckled in, use a tightly rolled washcloth folded into a U-shape inside your baby's legs to help fill in the gap.
• Your baby's head isn't falling forward, chin to chest. This can hinder a newborn's breathing. (It's fine if your baby's head is turned to one side.) Don't put anything behind your baby's head or place anything around your baby's head (such as inserts) that didn't come with the car seat. If a removable insert came with the seat and it seems to be pushing your baby's head forward, check the instruction manual and remove it if possible.

If your baby seems to have too much room around them in the car seat, don't use inserts that didn't come with the car seat or place a rolled-up towel or blanket around their head. These can easily slide behind your baby's head and cause it to tip forward.

Instead, roll up two light blankets and place one on each side of your baby's body, extending along their sides. Placed this way, the blankets will provide support without sliding behind your baby's head.

Don't bundle your baby up – even in the winter – in their car seat. Coats and snowsuits will keep the harness from securing them safely. Instead, tuck a blanket around them (on top of the harness) after they're all buckled in.

How to install a car seat

Start by reading your car seat and vehicle manuals and watching any installation videos on your car seat manufacturer's website.

Installing a car seat correctly can be harder than it seems. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost half (46 percent) of car seats are installed incorrectly.

Tips for installing your seat correctly:

• Always install a car seat in the back seat (or the center row of a van or SUV with more than one back seat). When possible, install your child's car seat in the middle seating position; this is the safest spot. Most rear- and forward-facing car seats can be installed correctly in the middle position. If the middle seat only has a lap belt, children using booster seats or seat belts should sit in a position where they can use both a lap and shoulder belt.
• You have two choices for installing the seat: fastening with the vehicle's seat belt or with its LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system. They're equally safe methods, and you'll use only one of them. Most cars made on or after September 1, 2002 are equipped with the LATCH system, which has lower anchors in the back seat, between the back and bottom seat cushions.
• Make sure a rear-facing seat is installed at the correct recline angle. There's an indicator on most car seats to help you know when you've got it right.
• If you're installing a forward-facing seat, make sure it's flat against the seat's bottom and back. Use your hands to push down as hard as you can on the car seat – or better yet, place your knee on the car seat and push down with all your weight to squash the air out of the cushion underneath it.
• Use the top tether (which runs up over the back of your vehicle's seat and anchors behind it) for forward-facing car seats – for both seat belt and LATCH installation.
• If you're installing a car seat and not using LATCH, make sure the car's seat belt is threaded through the correct slots, and pull the belt as tight as possible so there's no slack. Once you've buckled the belt, give it a yank to make sure it's locked.
• Check to make sure the car seat is secure and resists side-to-side motion. A correctly installed car seat won't move more than an inch forward or to either side. If you can still move the car seat forward or sideways more than an inch or so, unbuckle it and try again until you get a tight fit.
• If your car seat moves because the seat belt doesn't stay in position, you may need a locking clip, a small metal device that looks like an oversized paper clip. Most car seat installations don't require one, and you don't need one with a LATCH system. They're generally only needed for lap/shoulder seatbelts that can't be locked to hold the car seat in place. (Some of these seat belts only become tightened during impact or sudden stops.) Check your vehicle owner's manual to see if your car requires one – this is most likely for cars made before 1997.

To be sure you've installed your child's car seat correctly, it's a good idea to have it checked by a certified child passenger safety technician (CPST). These specialists can inspect your car seat, help you install the car seat correctly (or check your installation), and show you how to safely buckle up your baby.

The NHTSA's website lists child safety seat inspection stations by zip code so you can find help near you. Safe Kids Worldwide also offers a directory of techniciansOpens a new window so you can find one locally.

You can also find installation help online:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics offers car seat checkup tips.
• NHTSA provides detailed directions for installing car seats, including infant car seats, all-in-one car seats, and convertible car seats.

Car seat safety tips

There's a lot to know about car seat safety. Some of it's general, and some of it's specific to your vehicle and seat. Read your owner's manual and follow all of the instructions.

Here are some more safety tips:

• Be sure you know how the harness system works. You can tighten and loosen the straps around your baby with the harness adjustment lever. Always fully fasten all parts of the harness.
• Adjust the harness to make it snug. If you can pinch any of the harness material between your fingers, it's too loose.
• Keep the top of the harness clip at the level of your child's armpits to hold shoulder straps in place.
• The straps should always lie flat. Straighten them out if they become twisted.
• After you buckle your child in, tug on the straps to make sure they're secure.
• Remove any bulky clothing before putting your child in the car seat. Dress your child in thin layers under the harness straps, not a coat, snowsuit, or blanket.
• Wear a seatbelt yourself, to set a good example and to be safe.
• Buckle up your child no matter how short a trip you're taking.
• Never place padding under your baby in the seat.
• Don't let your baby sleep in a car seat for extended periods. To reduce the risk of SIDS, move them to a safe sleeping place like a crib, play yard, or bassinet once you arrive home.
• Never seat a child in front of an air bag.
• Never place your child in a car seat on top of a counter, another high surface, or in a shopping cart because of the danger of a fall.
• Take precautions so you don't forget your child in the car. (Place something of theirs in the passenger seat next to you, for example.) This can happen easily, especially if you're sleep-deprived – and you may not see your baby in a rear-facing car seat.

Learn more:

• Using a car seat on a plane.