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 ageand 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 40 pounds.
- 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 weighing over 40 pounds to 80/100s.
- All booster seats must be used with a lap/shoulder belt.
- A booster seat allows the lap/shoulder belt to fit correctly; low over hips and upper thighs and snug over the shoulder.
Step 4: Lap/Shoulder Belts
| CHILD SIZE | SEAT TYPE | |
OLDER CHILD |
|
Lap/Shoulder Belt in Vehicle |
- Most children over 4’9” (usually about 8
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 safety 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 safety 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 safety belt or LATCH system?
- Is the safety belt routed correctly?
- Is the safety seat facing the correct way? (rear-facing for an infant under 1 year and less than 20 pounds or forward facing for a child at least 1 year of age and at least 20 pounds)
- 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 not twisted?
- Harness buckle fastened?
- If the child is over 40 pounds, is the child in the booster seat with lap and shoulder belt clicked?
- Is an older child in lap/shoulder safety 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.
- In Texas, it is considered best practice to replace a child safety seat if it is more than 5 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
