Car Seat Safety
Car Seat Schedule
Rear-Facing Car Seat
Until your baby is 2 years old AND 40 pounds
Forward-Facing Car Seat with Five-Point Harness and Tether
Until your child outgrows the height and weight requirements for the seat (usually around 4-7 years old)
Booster Seat
Until your child is 4'9 inches tall
Children should NEVER ride in the front seat of a vehicle before they are 13 years old for their safety.
Until your baby is 2 years old AND 40 pounds
Forward-Facing Car Seat with Five-Point Harness and Tether
Until your child outgrows the height and weight requirements for the seat (usually around 4-7 years old)
Booster Seat
Until your child is 4'9 inches tall
Children should NEVER ride in the front seat of a vehicle before they are 13 years old for their safety.
Car Seat Dos & Don'ts
- DO get your car seat checked by a professional to make sure it’s correctly installed. Most parents install the seats incorrectly.
- DO check the minimum and maximum weights and heights on your car seat.
- DO NOT put your baby in a car seat that they have outgrown.
- DO NOT leave any slack on your baby’s seat straps.
- DO NOT keep your baby in bulky clothing in their car seat. Winter coats and snowsuits can compress and leave the straps too loose in a crash. Keep your baby in thinner layers and tuck a coat or blanket OVER the buckled harness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my baby’s feet touch the back of the vehicle seat?
Children’s legs are very bendy, and they’ll be comfortable in a rear-facing seat. Leg injuries are very rare for rear-facing babies.
What should I do if my baby slouches down or to the side in the car seat?
You can place a blanket roll on both sides of your infant or put a diaper or small blanket between your baby and the crotch strap. DO NOT place a blanket UNDERNEATH your child or use any sort of insert unless it was made by the manufacturer or came with the seat.
Do preemies need a special car seat?
Use a car seat that is approved for your baby’s weight, and make sure your child is tested in the hospital to ensure they can sit safely in a semi-reclined position. Preemies who cannot sit in a semi-reclined position will need to lie flat in a car bed that meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Children’s legs are very bendy, and they’ll be comfortable in a rear-facing seat. Leg injuries are very rare for rear-facing babies.
What should I do if my baby slouches down or to the side in the car seat?
You can place a blanket roll on both sides of your infant or put a diaper or small blanket between your baby and the crotch strap. DO NOT place a blanket UNDERNEATH your child or use any sort of insert unless it was made by the manufacturer or came with the seat.
Do preemies need a special car seat?
Use a car seat that is approved for your baby’s weight, and make sure your child is tested in the hospital to ensure they can sit safely in a semi-reclined position. Preemies who cannot sit in a semi-reclined position will need to lie flat in a car bed that meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
