Car Seat Safety Tips for Everyday Commuters

Proper car seat safety is one of the most important aspects of transporting your child. The age of your child, their weight and their height all play key factors in the type of car seat you purchase and when you should transition to a different one.

Read to learn about tips for helping protect your child while you drive as well as the child safety laws in your state.

Key Takeaways

The proper safety seat can mitigate serious injury or death of a child by up to 80%.
In many states, your child should transition from a car seat to a booster seat when they reach eight years old.
Your child should be between eight to 12 years old and be at least four feet, nine inches tall before switching to a seatbelt.
There are various rear-facing seats, front-facing seats and booster seats for children based on age, weight and height.

Why Car Seat Safety Is Important for You and Your Family

Following car seat safety tips for infants and young children can save lives. In fact, serious injury and death of children can be mitigated by up to 80% by using the right car seat or booster seat.^[1]

With vehicle accidents being among the leading causes of death for children under the age of nine, parents should do their due diligence when choosing the appropriate car seat for their child and learning where and how to install it in their cars.^[2]

9 Car Seat Safety Tips

Follow the car seat tips below when choosing which car seat you should buy and when you should transition your child from a car seat to a booster seat and then on to a seatbelt.

1. Do Your Research

Not all car seats are created equally. Get user reviews on different brands and models of car seats so you get the best protection for your child.

A cheap, used car seat may be nice on your pocketbook but it can come with a heavier price later if it fails to protect your child in a serious car accident.

2. Place the Car Seat in the Right Spot

Be sure to install your child's car seat in the back of the vehicle, rear-facing if possible, away from airbags. An airbag can deploy at 186 mph, causing severe injury or death to a child seated in the front.^[3] If you can help it, make sure the seat is in the center of the back seat in order to avoid any potential impact from hitting the back of one of the seats.

3. Install the Car Seat Correctly

A poorly installed car seat can be flipped around and tossed inside of a vehicle should a fender bender or other accident occur. Read the user manual for the car seat carefully and follow the instructions to the letter. Cross-reference this information to your vehicle owner's manual if it has information on installing car seats. If something doesn't fit or make sense, get help. Don't disregard or take anything for granted from either source.

You can use the following steps as a baseline when installing your car seat.

installing child safety car seat infographic

4. Recline the Car Seat at the Correct Angle

Having your child in the right position ensures the car seat doesn’t hit anything like the back of a seat while in transport. An incorrect angle can cause serious injury to your child. The user manual for the seat should inform you of the correct reclining angle the car seat should be set.

5. Be Mindful of Children's Clothing

Your child's clothing can have an effect on how securely the safety restraints on a car seat are fastened. Make sure to remove anything too cumbersome so the belts and restraints are seated properly to ensure your child's safety.

6. Upgrade to a Booster at the Right Time

Car seat requirements for a young child are a bit different than newborn car safety recommendations. In several states, it is recommended that your child transitions from a forward-facing car seat to a booster seat when they are eight years old or when they become four feet, nine inches tall.

7. Don’t Switch to Seatbelts Too Early

You don't want to switch to a seat belt too soon. Generally, your child should be between eight to 12 years old and be at least four feet, 9 inches tall.^[4] Remember, state laws will vary when a child is legally obligated to wear a seat belt. Below are some rules of thumb that indicate when your child is ready for a seat belt.

when child can stop using a booster seat guidelines illustration

Of course, you should always reference your state’s regulations on when is the appropriate time for your child to stop using a booster seat.

8. Make Sure Everyone in the Car Is Buckled Up

Car seats and booster seats will come with instructions on how to use the built-in restraint system of the seat or how to utilize the seat belts of your car with your child. Just make sure the directions are followed to the letter to avoid injury or death.

In addition, your odds of being killed in a car crash are cut down by almost half by buckling your seatbelt.^[5] On top of this, unrestrained passengers can pose a threat to those who are wearing their seatbelts. Specifically, drivers sitting in front of an unbelted passenger are 2.27 times more likely to be killed in a head-on collision.^[6] The fact is, buckling up saves lives.

9. Avoid Using Your Cellular Phone While Driving

Cell phone use and distracted driving in general can cause vehicle crashes, resulting in death. In 2021, there were 3,522 casualties as a result of distracted driving and around 362,415 people were injured.^[7] In 2019, distracted driving caused a total of $98 billion in economic costs to the U.S.^[7] While this can be a tough habit to break, remember that distracted driving puts your child in the backseat and all other passengers at risk.

What Types of Car Seats Are There?

There are several car seat options for you to choose from depending on your child’s development.

Rear-Facing Car Seat

The rear-facing car seat is the optimal choice for ensuring the safety of young children during car rides. Equipped with a specialized harness, the seat cradles and moves with your child in the event of a crash, thereby reducing stress on their fragile neck and spinal cord.

For newborns and small babies, there are infant-only car seats that are compact and portable, designed exclusively for rear-facing use. Most children outgrow these infant seats before their first birthday, at which point it's advisable to switch to more versatile options.

Forward-Facing Car Seat

The forward-facing car seat is another essential safety feature for growing children, designed with a harness and tether to restrict forward movement in the event of a crash.

Booster Seat

Booster seats are designed to elevate and position children so that a vehicle's lap-and-shoulder seat belts fit properly over the body's stronger areas, like the hips and across the chest. There are several types to consider based on your specific needs. The high-back booster not only raises a child's seating position but also offers crucial head and neck support, making it ideal for vehicles lacking headrests or with low seat backs. In contrast, the backless booster solely focuses on boosting the child’s height for proper seat belt fit and is well-suited for cars with existing headrests.

Convertible and All-in-One

Some car seats are designed so that they can transition into a different type of seat as your child grows. One such option is the convertible car seat, which is designed to adapt as your child grows. Initially used in the rear-facing position, it can later be switched to a forward-facing seat, complete with a harness and tether.

An alternative to the convertible seat is the all-in-one seat, which offers even greater flexibility. The all-in-one seat can transition from a rear-facing position to a forward-facing one, also featuring a harness and tether. Additionally, it can transform into a booster seat as your child continues to grow.

Seat Belt

When your child is old and large enough, you will want to transition them away from the booster seat and to sit in the regular seat secured by a seatbelt like any other passenger. For optimal safety in the event of an at-fault accident or otherwise, the seat belt should be positioned snugly over your child's upper thighs, shoulder and chest. It shouldn't be situated on the abdominal region or cross over the neck or face.

How Do I Pick the Right Car Seat for My Child?

The easy-to-use Car Seat Finder through the NHTSA can help you quickly find the most appropriate car seat for your child. Keep in mind that you will need your child's date of birth, height and weight to get started using the tool. To ensure correct installation, take advantage of their nationwide network of certified technicians, often available at no cost. They also offer virtual seat checks through the Car Seat Inspection Finder.

Child Seat Safety Laws

We’ve compiled the various child seat laws by state.

State	Car Seat Safety Law
AL	Requires rear-facing seats for infants under one year or 20 pounds Forward-facing seats until age five or 40 pounds Booster seats until age six Non-compliance may result in a $25 fine per offense and penalty points^[8]
AK	Requires children under seven to be buckled in a car seat or booster seat^[9] Children under age eight, weigh 65 pounds or shorter than four feet, nine inches must use a booster seat^[10]
AZ	Requires children under five to wear a child restraint system^[11] Children under eight years old or shorter than four feet, nine inches must use a booster seat^[12]
AR	Requires children under six years and 60 pounds to be secured in child restraint system in Rogers, Arkansas Children six years or older or weighing at least 60 pounds can use a regular seat belt^[13]
CA	Requires children under two to use use a rear-facing car seat unless they weigh 40+ pounds or are 40+ inches tall Children under eight years must ride in a car seat or booster in the back seat Those eight years or older or at least four feet, nine inches can use a booster or, at minimum, a seat belt^[14]
CO	Requires children less than one-year-old and weigh less than 20 pounds must be properly secured in a rear-facing child restraint system Children between one and four years old and weigh between 20 and 40 pounds must be properly secured in a rear- or forward-facing child restraint system Children up to the age of eight must be properly secured in a child restraint system, such as a booster seat Children between the ages of eight and 15 should be properly restrained using a safety belt or a child restraint system^[15]
CT	Requires children up to age two to be secured in a rear-facing child restraint system, or until the child reaches the systems height and weight limits Children ages two to five can be seated in a forward-facing child restraint system Children five and up should be secured in a booster seat until seat belt can properly fit^[16]
DE*	Requires children who are both under two years old and weigh less than 30 pounds must be secured in a rear-facing car seat Children younger than four years old and under 40 pounds must be secured in a car seat with a harness Children should continue using their booster seats until they meet or exceed the manufacturer's specified height or weight limits^[17]
FL	Requires newborns up to three years old to be secured in either a standalone child safety seat or a car seat integrated by the vehicle's manufacturer Children aged four to five must be seated in either a standalone safety carrier, an integrated child seat or a booster seat^[18]
GA	Requires children under eight and shorter than 57 inches to ride in a child restraint system befitting their age and height^[19]
HI	Requires infants under two years to be securely fastened in a rear-facing child restraint system Children two to under four years may use either a rear-facing or forward-facing child restraint system Children four to nine years old must be in a child passenger safety seat or booster seat, unless the child is taller than four feet, nine inches^[20]
ID	Requires children up to two years old to use a rear-facing child restraint system
IL	Requires children up to two years old to use a child restraint system unless they are over 40 pounds or over 40 inches tall^[21] Children ages two to four should remain in a rear-facing seat until they outgrow the seat Children ages four to eight should be in a front-facing seat until they outgrow the seat Children ages eight to 12 should be in a booster seat until they can properly fit a seat belt^[22]
IN	Requires children under one and less than 20 pounds to use a rear-facing child restraint system Children at least one year old and 20 pounds can be in a front-facing child restraint system Children at least 30 pounds can use a booster seat^[23]
IA	Requires children under one and less than 20 pounds to use a rear-facing child restraint system Children under six but over 20 pounds must use a child restraint system Children at least six must use a child restraint system^[24]
KS	Requires children under four to use a rear-facing child restraint system Children between four and seven are required to use a booster seat unless they are over 80 pounds or over four feet, nine inches^[25]
KY	Requires children eight years old who are between 40 and 57 inches tall must use a booster seat Children taller than 57 inches are exempt from using a booster seat, regardless of age Children older than eight years are not legally required to use a booster seat^[26]
LA	Requires children under two to use a rear-facing child restraint system Children at least two years old who have outgrown the rear-facing limits must use a forward-facing car seat Children at least four years old who have outgrown the forward-facing limits should use a booster seat with a lap-shoulder seat belt^[27]
ME	Requires children under two and under 40 pounds to use a rear-facing child restraint system or convertible child restraint system Children 2 years old or older and weighing less than 55 pounds must use a child restraint system with an internal harness Fines can range from $50 to $250^[28]
MD	Requires children under eight to ride in a harnessed car seat or belt-positioning booster seat unless four feet, nine inches or taller^[29]
MA	Requires children under eight or those under 57 inches tall to use a child restraint system^[30]
MI	Requires children under four to ride in a child restraint system in the back seat until they are eight years old or four feet, nine inches^[31]
MN	Requires children to ride in a child restraint system in the back seat until they are eight years old or four feet, nine inches^[32]
MS	Requires children under four to use a child restraint system^[33] Children four to six years old must use a booster a seat until if shorter than four feet, nine inches or less than 65 pounds
MO	Requires newborns up to seven-year-olds or who weigh less than 40 pounds to use a child restraint system Children over eight or over 80 pounds or over four feet, nine inches can wear a seat belt or booster seat^[34]
MT	Requires children under six years old to and weighing less than 60 pounds to use a child restraint system^[35]
NE	Requires children up to two years old to use a rear-facing child restraint system Children up to eight years old must sit in a federally-approved car seat or booster seat in the back seat Children over eight must use a booster seat if a seat belt cannot securely fit them Violators can be fined $25 and one point on their license^[36]
NV	Requires children under two years old to use a rear-facing child restraint system Children under under six years old and who are less than 57 inches tall must also use a child restraint system^[37]
NH	Requires children under seven years old to use a child restraint system^[38]
NJ	Requires children under two years and 30 lbs to use a rear-facing seat with a five-point harness Children under for years and 40 lbs should use a rear-facing seat until they outgrow it, then switch to a forward-facing seat with a five-point harness Children under eight years or 57 inches tall must use rear- or forward-facing seats until they outgrow them, then move to a booster seat^[39]
NM	Requires children under seven years old or under 60 pounds to use a child restraint system Children between seven a 12 years old must use a booster seat Children must remain rear-facing if they are one year of age and 20 pounds^[40]
NY	Requires children under four years old to use a car seat Requires children under two years old to use a rear-facing child restraint system^[41]
NC	Requires children under eight years and under 80 lbs must use a child restraint system If a vehicle has an active front passenger-side airbag and a rear seat, children under five years and under 40 lbs must sit in the rear^[42]
ND	Requires children under eight to use a child restraint system Those under 8 but at least four feet, nine inches tall may use a seat belt^[43]
OH**	Requires children under four years old or who weigh less than forty pounds to use a child restraint system^[44]
OK	Children under two must legally use a rear-facing car seat Children must use a car seat until age four Children must use a car seat or booster until at least age eight, or if taller than four feet, nine inches, may use a seat belt^[45]
OR	Child under age two must use a rear-facing car seat Children above age two must sit in a forward-facing car seat until they weigh at least 40 pounds Children ages four to eight are recommended to continue using their car seat until they can transition to a booster seat^[46]
PA	Requires children under two must legally use a rear-facing car seat Children must use a car seat until age four Children ages four to seven should ride in a forward-facing car seat or, if they outgrow it, a booster seat After age eight, you should keep your child in a booster seat until they can fit in a seat belt^[47]
RI	Requires children under eight years old, shorter than 57 inches and under 80 pounds to use a child restraint system Children under two years old or under 30 pounds must use a rear-facing child restraint system Children two years old and up who've outgrown their rear-facing seat should use a forward-facing seat with a harness^[48]
SC	Requires children under two to use a rear-facing car seat Children at least two years old or younger who've outgrown their rear-facing seat must switch to a forward-facing seat Children aged 4 and up who've outgrown their forward-facing seat must use a booster in the vehicle's rear^[49]
SD	Requires children under five years old to use a child restraint system^[50]
TN	Requires children under one year or under 20 pounds to use a rear-facing child restraint system Children ages one to three and over 20 pounds must use a forward-facing child restraint system Children ages four to eight and shorter than four feet, nine inches must use a booster seat Children ages nine to 12 or those at least four feet, nine inches tall must use a seat belt^[51]
TX	Requires children under eight years to use a child restraint system unless they're at least four feet, nine inches tall Violators could be fined up to $250^[52]
UT	No requirements. Only recommendations.^[53]
VT	Requires children under one year or under 20 pounds to use a rear-facing child restraint system Children one to seven years old and over 20 pounds must use a child restraint system like a convertible, combination or booster seat Children aged eight to 15 must use either a seat belt or a child restraint system^[54]
VA	Requires children under two years to use a rear-facing child restraint system Children under eight years must use a child safety seat or booster seat^[55]
WA	Requires children under two to use a rear-facing child restraint system Children two to four years must use a car seat with a harness, either rear or forward-facing Children four and up must use a car or booster seat until they're four feet, nine inches tall Children under 13 should ride in the back seat when possible^[56]
WV	Requires children under eight to use a child restraint system Children who are four feet, nine inches before turning 8 can use a seat belt^[57]
WI	Requires children under one year or under 20 pounds to use a rear-facing child restraint system Children one to three years or 20 to 39 pounds may use a forward- or rear-facing child restraint system Children ages four to eight, weigh 40 to 80 pounds and under four feet, nine inches can use a forward- or rear-facing seat or booster in the back Under age four can get a $175.30 fine Car seat violations involving children ages four to eight can get a $150.10 for first offense, $200.50 for second and $263.50 for third and beyond^[58]
WY	Requires children at least one year and 20 pounds to rear-facing child restraint system Children one to four years and 20 to 40 pounds may only use forward-facing child restraint system Children 40 pounds and up should use a booster seat until they outgrow it^[59]

^{*Laws to take effect June 30, 2024.}

^{** Laws to take effect October 3, 2023.}

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FAQs

How long should my child face the rear of the car?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests using a rear-facing child restraint system when your child is born until they are two to four years old.^[60] State requirements may differ from this suggestion.

Does insurance cover car seat replacement?

Your policy’s collision coverage will usually pay for a replacement car seat if it is damaged or destroyed after an accident.

Does my family need a car seat on vacation?

You should have the appropriate car seat for your child regardless of whether you’re on vacation.

Which car seat is safest in a vehicle?

The type of car seat you use for your child is going to depend on their age, weight and height. Use the Car Seat Finder through the NHTSA in order to find the right car seat for your child.

Sources

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Car Seat Safety: 9 Safety Tips To Follow

Derek San Filippo

Dan Marticio

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