Is your child buckled up properly? Surprisingly, in 59 percent of cases, children’s car seats are used incorrectly.
September 23-29 is National Child Passenger Safety Week. This week raises awareness about the importance of choosing the right car seat for your child,
installing it correctly, and buckling up properly. It could save your child’s life.
If you have questions, ask a certified Child Safety Passenger Technician, which can be found at many local police or fire departments. The technician can
conduct a free check of your car seat and teach you how to install it correctly in your car. Visit www.carseatsak.org for more information about car seats and to find a list of Car Seat Check Up Locations across the state.
Know the Stages
- Birth up to age 2 – Rear-facing car seat. For the best possible protection, infants and children should be buckled in a rear-facing
car seat, in the back seat, until age 2 or when they reach the upper weight or height limits of their particular seat. Check the seat’s owner’s
manual and/or labels on the seat for weight and height limits. - Age 2 up to at least age 5 – Forward-facing car seat. When children outgrow their rear-facing seats they should be buckled in a forward-facing
car seat, in the back seat, until at least age 5 or when they reach the upper weight or height limit of their particular seat. Check the seat’s
owner’s manual and/or labels on the seat for weight and height limits. - Age 5 up until seat belts fit properly – Booster seat. Once children outgrow their forward-facing seat (by reaching the upper height
or weight limit of their seat), they should be buckled in a belt positioning booster seat until seat belts fit properly. Seat belts fit properly
when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt lays across the chest (not the neck). Remember to keep children
properly buckled in the back seat for the best possible protection. - Once seat belts fit properly without a booster seat – Children no longer need to use a booster seat once seat belts fit them properly.
Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt lays across the chest (not the neck).
For the best possible protection keep children properly buckled in the back seat. - Install and use car seats and booster seats according to the seat’s owner’s manual or get help installing them from a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.
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