Using a safety seat correctly makes a big difference! A child safety seat may not protect your child in a crash if it isn't used correctly and installed properly in your vehicle. Take a minute to check to be sure.

Where to begin

• All Children age 12 and under should ride properly restrained in the back seat.
• Never place a child safety seat in the front seat where a front mounted passenger air bag is present.
• Always read the child seat use and installation instruction manual.
• Read your vehicle owner's manual seat belt and child seat installation section.

Does your child ride in the correct safety seat?
Newborns and babies up to one year, and under 20 pounds should ride in the back seat in a rear facing safety seat. Harness straps should be at or below the infant's shoulders. Harness straps should fit snugly. The straps should lie in a relatively straight line without sagging. The harness chest clip should be placed at the infant's armpit level. This keeps the harness straps positioned properly.

Infants weighing 20 pounds or more before one year should ride in a safety seat rated for heavier infants (some convertible seats are rated up to 30 to 35 pounds rear facing).

Older babies, toddlers and preschoolers
Children over one year and at least 20 pounds may ride forward facing in the back seat. Children should ride in a safety seat with full harness until they weigh about 40 pounds. Harness straps should be at or above child's shoulders. Harness straps should be threaded through the top slots, in most cases. Harness should be snug. Straps should lie in a relatively straight line without sagging. Harness chest clip should be at the child's armpit level, which helps keep the harness straps positioned properly on the child's shoulders.

Older children
Children between 40 and 80 pounds should ride in the back seat in a belt-positioning booster seat, which uses the adult lap and shoulder belt. Booster seats should be used until the adult lap and shoulder belt fit children properly. Belt-positioning boosters can only be used with both the lap and shoulder belt across the child. The shoulder belt should be snug against the child's chest, resting across the collar bone. The lap belt should lay low across the child's upper thigh area.

Boosters should be used as "in between" safety devices for children more than 40 pounds who have outgrown a forward-facing child seat. Booster seats should be used until the child can sit with his/her back against the vehicle seat back cushion, knees bent over the seat cushion edge and feet on the floor, approximately 4'9".

Other situations
If only a lap belt is available in the rear seating positions, an option may be to contact the vehicle dealer to see if retrofit shoulder belts can be installed. Another option may be to install products which can be used with a lap belt only such as a specialty-made harness or vest. Contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Auto Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236 for additional information.

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About this information: This information was adapted from material by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.