Banner Childrens Hospital, Arizona

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 in the vehicle properly. So take a minute and take the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's One Minute Check!

Child Car Seat Safety

Before we start:

• All children ages 12 and under should ride restrained in the back seat
• Never place a child safety seat in the front seat where there is a passenger air bag

Now you will need to:

• Read the instructions that came with the car seat
• Read the vehicle owner's manual - the seatbelt and car seat installation section

Infants: Birth to age one and at least 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
• The harness straps should be snug. This is you baby's seatbelt, snug will keep the infant safe!
• The harness chest clip must be at the infant's armpit level. This clip will position the harness straps to stay over the baby's shoulders, before a crash.
• If your baby weighs more than 20 pounds before the first birthday, a convertible safety seat that goes to 30-35 pounds rear facing will be needed.
• Riding backward is the safest thing for your child.

Toddlers: Children over one year of age and at least 20 pounds may ride forward facing in the back seat. Children should ride in a safety seat with a full harness until they weigh about 40 pounds. This is the safest way for a child.

• Harness straps should be at or above the child's shoulders.
• Harness straps should be threaded through the top slots of most safety seats. Check the instructions.
• Harness straps are snug. Remember- Baby's seatbelt!
• Harness chest clip should be at the child's armpit level. It positions the harness straps on the child's shoulders, so in a crash the child stays in the safety seat.

Big Kids: Children between 40-80 pounds should ride in the back seat in a belt-positioning booster seat. A booster seat uses the adult lap and shoulder belt. Booster seats should be used until the adult lap and shoulder belt fit the child properly.

• Belt-positioning boosters can only be used with both lap and shoulder belts across the child. The shoulder belt should be snug against the child's chest, crossing at the collarbone. The lap belt should lay low across the child's upper thighs.
• Boosters are used in that "between" stage of being too big for a "baby-seat" and not quite big enough for the adult seat belt.
• Booster seats should be used until the child can sit with their back against the vehicle seat back cushion, knees bent over the seat cushion edge and their feet are on the floor. Approximately: 4'9"

Website: http://www.bannerhealth.com