Child Safety Seats – The Four Steps: Guide to Selection and Use
Step 1: Rear-facing Seats
| CHILD SIZE | SEAT TYPE | |
INFANT |
|
Rear-facing Infant Seat |
OLDER INFANT |
|
Rear-facing Convertible Seat |
- Infants should ride rear-facing until at least 1 year of age and AND at least 20 pounds. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be kept rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height allowed by the maker of the safety seat.
- Recline a rear-facing child safety seat at no more than a 45 degree angle.
- Keep harness straps snug and fasten harness retainer clip at armpit level.
- Route harness straps in lower slots at or below shoulder level on rear-facing seats.
Step 2: Forward-facing Seats
| CHILD SIZE | SEAT TYPE | ||
TODDLER |
|
Forward-facing Convertible Seat |
Combination Seat w/Harness |
- Route harness straps in appropriate slots at or above shoulder level (see child safety seat instructions).
- Place child safety seat in upright position.
- Keep harness straps snug and fasten harness retainer clip at armpit level.
- Keep child in a 5 point harness until the weight and height limit of seat.
- Always use the tether strap when available.
Step 3: Booster Seats
| CHILD SIZE | SEAT TYPE | ||
CHILD |
|
High Back Booster |
Backless Booster |
- Belt positioning boosters are for children 4 years old and less than 4'9" tall.
- All booster seats must be used with a lap/shoulder belt. Backless boosters must have head support in the vehicle.
- A booster seat allows the lap/shoulder belt to fit correctly; low over hips and upper thighs and snug over the shoulder.
- Higher harness weight seats are available for children not mature enough to ride in a booster seat.
Step 4: Lap/Shoulder Belts
| CHILD SIZE | SEAT TYPE | |
OLDER CHILD |
|
Lap/Shoulder Belt in Vehicle |
- Most children 4’9” and older (usually age 8-12
years old) will fit properly in a lap/shoulder
belt. - A child is ready for a lap/shoulder belt when he/she can sit with his/her back against the back of the seat and his/her knees can bend at the edge of the seat.
- Never put a shoulder belt under a child’s arm or behind his/her back.
- Lap/shoulder belts should fit low over hips and upper thighs and snug over the shoulders. The lap portion should NOT be over the child’s abdomen.
Child Safety Installation Tips
- Check the safety seat instructions and vehicle owner’s manual to correctly install the child safety seat.
- To get a snug fit, put full weight on the child safety seat, pushing it down into the vehicle seat cushion while pulling the seat belt or, if appropriate, LATCH attachments tight. The seat should not move front to back and side to side more than one inch when tugging on it at the belt path.
- Unless the LATCH system is used, the seat belts of the vehicle must be used and be made to lock in order to hold the safety seat firmly in place.
One Minute Safety Seat Checkup
- Is the safety seat in the back seat?
- Is the safety seat installed correctly and tightly in the vehicle with the seat belt or LATCH system?
- Is the seat belt routed correctly?
- Is the safety seat facing the correct way? Rear-facing to a minimum of 1 year and 20 pounds, longer is recommended. Forward facing when rear-facing limit is reached.
- Are the shoulder straps in the correct slot (rear-facing in lower slots, forward facing in upper slots)?
- Is the child in the safety seat securely?
- Shoulder straps snug?
- Harness clip positioned at armpit level?
- Straps straight and untwisted?
- Harness buckle fastened?
- Is tether secured on forward-facing seat?
- If the child is 4 years olds and over 40 pounds, is the child in the booster seat with lap/ shoulder belt buckled?
- Is an older child in lap/shoulder seat belt system?
Remember
- Never use second-hand child safety seats.
- See NHTSA guidelines on when you can re-use a child safety seat after a crash.
- It is considered best practice to replace a child safety seat if it is more than 6 years old.
- Never use after-market padding products or safety belt adjustors.
- Do not put child with heavy clothing or blankets under harness straps. Instead, place blanket or jacket over child after they have been secured in the harness system.
Never put an infant in the front seat of a vehicle when an air bag is present.
Children 12 and under should always ride properly restrained in the back seat of a vehicle.
For more information or to locate a Child Safety Seat Technician visit http://buckleup.tamu.edu
