Ten Tips to Keep Your Child Safe*

1. Infants should ride in rear-facing child safety seats in the back seat until at least age 1 and at least 20 pounds.

2. If under age 1, but more than 20 pounds, infants should ride in a child safety seat approved for heavier babies and remain rear-facing until at least age 1. Best practice states that children should ride rear-facing until they reach the upper weight or height limits of the safety seat.

3. Never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of a passenger air bag.

4. Once children outgrow their rear-facing child safety seats (typically over age 1 and heavier than 20 pounds) they should ride in a forward-facing child safety seat until they reach the upper weight (usually 40 pounds) or height limits of the seat.

5. Once children outgrow forward-facing child safety seats, they should ride in the back seat in booster seats until they are at least 8 years old, unless they are 4 feet 9 inches tall, at which point they should fit properly in a seat belt.

6. After outgrowing a booster seat, children under age 13 should always use a seat belt and ride in the back seat. Remember, kids of all ages are safest when properly restrained in the back seat.

7. Old/used child safety seats should not be used unless you are certain they have never been in a crash and you have all the parts (including instructions). Seats that are 6 years old or older should be discarded and never used. Click here to check if your child safety seat has been recalled.

8. Always read both the vehicle owner's manual and the instructions that come with the child safety seat.

9. It is important to remember that the "best" child safety seat is the one that correctly fits the child, the vehicle, and is used correctly every time.

10. Get your child's safety seat checked!

What should parents expect when they get their child's safety seat inspected?

Certified technicians will conduct the child safety seat inspection, and it should only take about 20-30 minutes, depending on the seat and the vehicle. The certified technician will:

• Check the child safety seat to see that it has been properly installed;
• Remove and inspect the child safety seat for damage;
• Diagnose problems;
• Ensure the child safety seat is not a recalled model;
• Get information about children riders from the vehicle owner (size and weight of child, etc.);
• Ensure the child safety seat is appropriate for the size and age of the child;
• Teach the vehicle owner the correct procedure to properly and safely install the child safety seat in his vehicle;
• Show the parent or caregiver how to secure the child in the child safety seat; and
• Discuss other vehicles and child safety seats they own, and provide instructions to repeat the correct procedure with other seats or when installing the seat in other cars.

What are the most common child safety seat installation mistakes?*

• Not using the right child safety seats for a child's size and age;
• Not placing the child safety seat in the correct direction;
• Incorrect installation of the child safety seat in relation to the vehicle's air bags;
• Incorrect installation and tightness of the child safety seat to the vehicle seat;
• Not securing/tightening the child safety seat's harness and crotch straps;
• Improper use of locking clips for certain vehicle safety belts;
• Not making sure the vehicle's seat belts fit properly across the child when using a booster seat; and  
• Using a defective or broken child safety seat.

*Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)