Car seat safety: Avoid 9 common mistakes
4. Incorrectly installing the car seat or buckling up your child
5. Reclining your child at the incorrect angle
6. Moving to a forward-facing car seat too soon
7. Not removing your child's heavy outerwear
8. Moving to a booster seat too soon
9. Incorrectly using a booster seat
10. Transitioning to a safety belt too soon
9. Transitioning to a safety belt too soon
3. Incorrectly installing the car seat or buckling up your child
4. Reclining your child at the incorrect angle
6. Not removing your child's heavy outerwear
8. Incorrectly using a booster seat
9. Transitioning to a seat belt too soon
1. Getting a used car seat without doing your homework
Content
1. Getting a used car seat without checking that it's safe
2. Placing the car seat in the wrong spot
3. Installing the car seat or buckling up your child the wrong way
4. Reclining your child at the wrong angle
5. Moving to a forward-facing car seat too soon
6. Not removing your child's heavy outer clothes
7. Moving to a booster seat too soon
8. Using a booster seat the wrong way
9. Switching to a seat belt too soon
5. Moving to a forward-facing car seat too soon
Parents often want to see their child's face in the rearview mirror. Or sometimes a child wants to ride facing forward. But riding facing the rear for as long as possible is the safest option. In fact, most states have laws requiring rear facing until a baby is at least 2 years old. Safety experts recommend children remain rear facing even after age 2 until the child reaches the highest weight or height allowed by the car seat maker.
A child will typically transition to a convertible car seat after an infant seat. Convertible car seats typically have a higher rear-facing weight and height limit than an infant-only seat. When your child reaches the weight or height limit of the convertible seat, you can face the seat forward. When you make the switch:
- Install the car seat in the back seat according to the seat maker's instructions. Use either the seat belt or Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system. Ensure your child meets the standards for use of the LATCH system. The child's weight plus the weight of the car seat should not exceed 65 pounds.
- Choose the correct seat belt path if using a convertible car seat. Convertible car seats have a forward-facing seat belt path and a rear-facing seat belt path.
- Use the tether strap to keep the seat extra stable. It's a strap that hooks to the top of the seat and attaches to an anchor in the car.
- Adjust the harness straps so that they're at or just above your child's shoulder level. The straps should fit snugly.
