Baby Car Seats Safety Tips # 3

40 to 80 or 100 pounds :

• Use a booster seat correctly in a back seat every time your child rides in a car.
• Older kids get weighed and measured less often than babies, so check your child’s growth a few times a year. Use a booster seat until your child weighs between 80 and 100 pounds, is about 4 feet, 9 inches tall and can pass the Safety Belt Fit Test. For most children, that will be between ages 8 and 12.
• Tell all drivers who transport your child that booster seat use is a must when your child is in their vehicle.
• A booster seat uses no harness. It uses the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belts only. Be sure the safety belt is properly buckled.
• Booster seats are not installed tightly. They sit on the vehicle seat; the child buckles the lap and shoulder belt and wears the safety belt like you do. Never use only the lap belt.

Baby Car Seats Safety Tips # 2

Older than age 1 and more than 20 pounds:

• Use a forward-facing car seat correctly in a back seat every time your toddler rides in a car.
• Use the right car seat with a harness for your toddler’s weight and height. Toddlers are weighed and measured at every doctor visit, so be sure to keep track.
• Use the car’s safety belt or LATCH system to lock the car seat into the car. Your car seat should not move more than one inch side to side or front to back. Grab the car seat at the safety beltpath or LATCH path to test it.
• Put harnesses through the slots so they are even with or above the child’s shoulders. Some seats require use of the top slots when the seat is forward-facing, so check instructions.
• Be sure the harness is tight, so you can’t pinch extra webbing at the shoulder.

Baby Car Seats Safety Tips # 1

From birth to at least age 1 and 20 pounds:

• Use a rear-facing car seat correctly in a back seat every time your baby rides in a car.
• Use the right car seat for your baby’s weight and height. Infants are weighed and measured at every doctor visit, so be sure to keep track.
• Use the car’s safety belt or LATCH system to lock the car seat into the car. Your car seat should not move more than one inch side to side or front to back. Grab the car seat at the safety beltpath or LATCH path to test it.
• Put harnesses through the slots so they are even with or below the infant’s shoulders. Be sure the harness is tight, so you can’t pinch extra webbing at the shoulder.
• Adjust the chest clip to armpit level.