Choosing the Right Seat for Your Small Passenger

Do you remember what it was like to sit in a car seat? Probably not since you were only a baby. Maybe you remember being in a booster seat. It’s not enough to know how to properly install a car seat if you’re transporting young passengers. You should also know if you have them in #TheRightSeat.

Car seats, booster seats, and seat belts are often used incorrectly and every 33 seconds in 2014, one child under 13 was involved in a crash. Motor vehicle crashes are a leading killer of children, and the latest research from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 59 percent of car seats are misused.

So we’re coming at you with Child Passenger Safety Tips for the next time you take you have young kids in the car.

People should remain in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. Here is a chart that helps you determine the right seat for your young passenger, BUT age isn’t the only factor.

	REAR FACING CAR SEAT: Kids under the age of one should always ride in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats, so be sure you’ve been taught how to install it properly.
	FORWARD-FACING CAR SEAT: Young kids should be kept in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible because it’s the best way to keep them safe. It’s time to switch to a forward-facing car seat when the kid outgrows the rear-facing seat. You know a kid has outgrown the car seat by checking the manufacturer’s top height or weight limit. This information is normally placed on the side or back of the seat on a sticker.
	BOOSTER SEAT: Kids should be kept in a forward-facing seat with a harness until they reach the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer. Kids under the age of twelve, in a booster seat or not, must still ride in the back seat. Booster seats can fit kids ages four through twelve and if they cannot be properly fitted for a seat belt then remind them, the booster seat must be used for their safety.
	SEAT BELT: Proper fit for a seat belt means having the lap belt snug across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt snug across the shoulder and chest, not across the neck or face. On average, 8-12 year olds are ready to sit in the back seat with a seat belt, but it’s not the case for everyone. Take responsibility for your passengers and make sure they are in the right seat and buckled up properly.

Encourage parents and family members to attend a seat check Saturday happening all over the country during the week of Child Passenger Safety Week, September 18-24, 2016. Visit, SafeKids Worldwide to find an event in your area.

Download these resources and educate your friends on the safe way to transport young kids in their cars.

Facts and Talking Points | Choose the Right Seat Infographic | Other Posters for Download