My only job as a mommy is to keep my kids safe, always. And while this task is a constant give and take, evaluating situations and making decisions, there is one time in our day that I never make exceptions: in the car, I make sure that I’m always following the rules for proper car seat use.
My kids buckle up in their car seats properly every.single.time. No exceptions, ever. If I don’t want to deal with buckling (or arguing about buckling), we walk or we don’t go. And my kids know there is no point in arguing, I will always win because I will never, ever give in.
But proper car seat use and safety goes so far beyond just doing the buckles. Three out of four car seats in the US are used incorrectly and that is one of the main reasons why so many children die in motor vehicle accidents each year. (Remember the little girl who hung upside down above a rushing river for 14 hours and survived? Thank her properly used car seat!)
The most important thing you can to do to ensure proper car seat use and your child’s safety is to read the manual that comes with your car seat as well as the child safety seat section in your vehicle manual and make sure you understand it all (read it again and again if you have to!) and if you still need help, find a car seat technician in your area to help you learn to install and use your seats.
One of the biggest mistakes parents make is moving their children up into the next level of seat too early. Children are safest (all of us, actually) in a rear-facing car seat and it is recommended that ALL children ride rear-facing until at least age two and stay rear-facing as long as they fit within the rear-facing height and weight limits of their car seat or as close to 4 years as possible.
4 seems really old to have a child rear-facing, as this is when many parents transition their kids to booster seats but 4 year olds rarely have the maturity to ride safely in a booster. It is recommended that children remain in a harnessed forward-facing car seat until they are AT LEAST 5 years old and have the maturity to sit properly 100% of the time without wiggling, bending, reaching and falling out of position, even when sleeping.
Children should then remain in a booster until they are 10-12 years old and can pass the 5-step test but children will not pass the 5-step test in all seats in all vehicles at the same time, they may still require a booster in some vehicles and seating positions.
Here’s a handy chart for seeing what kind of seat your child should be using:
Once you’ve determined what type of car seat your child needs, use these handy checklists to make sure you’re following all the rules for proper car seat use:
And if you think your child is ready to be without a car seat or booster, use this checklist to see if he/she passes the 5-step test:
You can find handy tips and tricks for ensuring your child is properly secured in their car seat here and a lot of the information you need to know can be found in the car seat manual that came with your seat (if you’ve lost yours, you can request a free copy from the car seat manufacturer).
While it’s recommended to keep your manual with your car seat, I often find I want to look at the manual when the seats are not with me or they are stored behind the seat where you can’t access them easily without uninstalling the car seat so instead I keep all my car seat manuals (and the extra small bits and pieces) together in one place so I always know where to find them.
I also keep all the extra bigger pieces (infant inserts, cup holders, rear-facing boots, etc.) that my children aren’t currently using together in a big plastic tub to keep them clean and prevent them from getting misplaced.
I’ve also developed a handy printable Car Seat Information Recording Sheet to keep all your important car seat information close at hand which you can download below:
For more information, read all of Beyond Mommying’s posts on car seat safety and proper car seat use.
Download the Car Seat Recording Sheet:
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This is great! I always wondered if we were doing the “right” thing!
this is a great list for new moms! i have 2 little ones in a carseat and i know the importance of making sure they are safe!
xo,
Sandy
Sandy a la Mode
Thanks for keeping your little ones safe, Sandy!
I was always so fanatical about having our daughter’s car seat installed properly, that I would always go to those places where they would check to see if they were properly installed. Could not agree more with you on how important this issue is, it does save their lives.
Absolutely, Carmen! Every time I hear about a car accident involving children my mind always goes to car seats first. I wish more parents understood the importance of proper car seat safety.
This is such a great list for all the new mommies!!!! When I was a new mommy I would of loved to read something like this instead of having to google over and over again to get answers lol..
Thanks, CourtneyLynne. Google is an amazing thing but it is nice to have important things right at your finger tips!
This comprehensive guide is really helpful. Car seats seem to be misused pretty often.
That statistics of misuse and it’s consequences are actually very scary, Liz!
This is great to know. My children are quiet bigger now so there is no need for a car seat but this comes in handy for those who need it. Thanks
Even bigger kids need to be as safe as possible in the car, kids should ride in a booster until they are at least 10 years old and can pass the 5-step test!
This is very informative. I do not make accept ions either with buckling my kids. It’s also very important to follow the height and weight requirements on each type of car seat. Great post.
Heather, Yes! The height, weight and age limits set by the manufacturer on each car seat are so important. All the rules and limits are there to keep our little ones as safe as possible, not just to be inconvenient!
you are so right, the adequate car seat is the difference with real safety. I am sharing this with everyone. Thanks for covering all ages
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for sharing this important information!
I agree that it is important to ensure that car seats are installed properly. We recommend that our moms who are pregnant stop by their local fire station or EMS station to have help having them properly installed before delivering the baby and taking them home. Heights and weights on car seats matter.
Audrey, it’s great you’re helping your mommies keep their little ones safe but unfortunately not all fire stations have certified car seat technicians. You might check out https://ssl06.cyzap.net/dzapps/dbzap.bin/apps/assess/webmembers/tool?pToolCode=TAB9&pCategory1=TAB9_CERTSEARCH&Webid=SAFEKIDSCERTSQL to find a certified tech to refer your clients to in the future.
This is a great checklist for any parent!! It seems like they are always changing the rules and laws with new studies.
A lot of states are changing their laws now and the recommendations do change occasionally as well so it’s easiest to just keep little ones in each stage as long as possible for maximum safety and not to be in a rush to move them up to the next type of seat.
I do not have kids yet and do not drive but I understand the importance of correct car seat and making sure you are using the correct instructions for your child’s needs.
Thanks for stopping by Miranda!
we don’t have kids so we never had to learn how carseats work.. but wearing safety belts are so important. my good friend lost her husband because he wasn’t wearing one, and it was so heartbreaking.
You are so right, Esther! I became fanatical about car seat safety for my kids because I know both children and adults who sustained major injuries from not being properly restrained in the car.
Car seats are an amazing thing. As long as you have your kids in a car seat, you should always make sure that they are properly installed.
You’re right Brandi. A improperly used car seat, in some cases, is not much better than an unrestrained child! Car seats must be used correctly 100% of the time in order to properly protect our children.
This is an awesome post indeed and I will have to share this with my niece along with my sister who both have lil ones. Having the right car seat and it being placed in the vehicle the right way are so important. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for stopping by and thanks for passing on this important information, Rebecca!
This is a fantastic and very helpful post Melissa! I remember I had the challenge of figuring out this information when my daughter was growing up. I’ll pass on the info to my friends!
Thanks for sharing Cara, car seats can be so confusing for new parents!
Car seat safety for kids is such a huge issue. I always check my sons car seat to make sure it’s stable.
I do too, it’s important to make sure the seats haven’t shifted or become unbuckled accidentally.
Those are great checklist points. Sometimes parents are at loss at what car seats they need to use for their little ones
It can get very confusing and what was considered okay ten years ago is no longer considered safe. The more we learn, the better we do for our kids!
What a great informative post. Some people don’t put enough emphasis on the importance of car seat safety. I’ve seen children with straps that don’t quite fit properly or twisted. I’ve also seen kids that are too big or too small for certain car seats. All these things matter and could mean the difference between life and death in a time of crisis. Thanks for sharing #ConfessionsLinkUp
You’re so right, Amy! The tiniest details can make the biggest difference in the event of an accident. I know it can be easy to get lazy about things because no one ever plans to be in a collision but that’s why it’s called an ACCIDENT and that is when how you buckle up really matters. So if you never know, you have to be extra careful every time!
Great post! Perfect for the launch of Global Road Safety week. :)
Thank you for linking up to #carseatsunday!
Thanks, ERFmama!