Is your child car seat safe?

Car Seat Safety Video
Car Seat Safety Interactive Guide

It's bad enough when 98 percent of all child car seats are used the wrong way. It's worse when 100 percent of all parents think they're using them the right way. Motor vehicle injuries continue to be the greatest risk to a child's health.

As a parent, you need to do more than just buckle up your child. It also matters how you buckle your children up and where they sit in the vehicle.

Did You Know...

• Texas law says all kids up to age 15 must be buckled up.
• Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for children in the Dallas area.
• The safest place in the car for a child is in the back seat.
• The best practice recommendation is a car seat with a five-point harness.

Infants – Rear Facing

Never place an infant in a rear-facing car seat in front of an airbag. Infants should always be placed in a rear-facing, reclining position in the back seat of a vehicle.

Infants should face the back of the car as long as possible, until they are at least one year old and weigh at least 20 pounds (preferably 30 pounds). If your baby weighs more than 20-22 pounds before age one, a convertible seat certified to face the rear up to 30 pounds should be used.

In a crash, an infant's soft spinal column can stretch and the cord can be damaged if he is riding facing forward. The baby could die or be paralyzed for life—even babies who have strong neck muscles and good head control.

Toddlers – Forward Facing

Children older than 1 year and between 20 and 30 pounds can use "convertible car seats" in the rear-facing position, but children between 30 and 40 pounds should be in a forward-facing car seat.

The harness straps should be snug and the top of the harness retainer clip should be positioned even with the child's armpit level to keep the harness straps in the correct position. It's best to place the toddler's car seat in the vehicle's back seat.

Children – Booster Seats

Children are ready for a high-back booster seat when they weigh 40 pounds, and should remain in the seat until they are about 80 pounds. Boosters raise the child up to a position at which the seatbelt fits properly—low over the hips and snug over the shoulder and chest.

Never use just a lap belt only across a child sitting in a booster seat, and never use pillows, books or towels to boost a child because they can slide around.

Car Seat Safety Video

More than 80% of car seats are installed incorrectly, which means four out of five children are improperly restrained and at risk for injury. Watch as Claudia Romo, an injury prevention specialist and certified passenger safety technician at Children's, demonstrates how to select the right seat for your child and how to properly install an infant car seat.

View high-resolution video

Car Seat Safety Interactive Guide

Did you know four out of five child car seats are used incorrectly? Learn how to strap your child in safely, whether it's an infant seat, forward facing child seat or booster seat.

Launch Interactive Guide (Opens in new window)

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Tags: car seat, safety, parenting, motor vehicle injury, video, interactive guide