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Home > Health Library > Safety Tips > Car Seat Safety

Child Safety Seat Information

NEW CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY LAW IN EFFECT JULY 1, 2007!

All children up to eight years of age must be properly secured in an appropriate car seat or booster seat. This is a change from the previous law, which required children only up to the age of six be restrained in a car seat or booster seat. This change comes as a result of research which shows that the use of a booster seat reduces a child’s risk of injury by 59% compared to use of a seat belt alone.

Although the law states the requirement by age, remember that most children are not ready to sit in a vehicle seat using just the lap and shoulder belt until they are at least four feet, nine inches tall and 80 pounds. Children eight years and above who are small for their age should still use a booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits them properly. See below for more detailed information on how to tell if your child is big enough to use a lap and shoulder belt without a booster seat.

Following is some general tips to help you ensure your child is always safe on the road. However, because all car seats and vehicles are different, make sure to refer to your car owner’s manual and car seat manufacturer’s instructions for the most accurate and specific instructions for your specific situation.

View car seat inspection sites throughout Hampton Roads.

Video tips on installing your car seat from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Click here to view a complete list of recalled child restraints

Infants:

• Smaller infants up to 20-22 pounds should always ride rear facing in an infant car seat or a convertible car seat placed rear facing. Very small infants will fit better in infant-only car seats with low harness strap slots.
• Larger infants up to 30-35 pounds (see seat instructions) should ride rear facing in a convertible car seat until they reach at least one year, or reach the upper rear-facing weight limit of the seat.
• Studies have shown that rear-facing car seats provide better crash protection in front and side impact crashes. It is recommended to keep your children rear facing until the upper weight limit of the particular seat is reached.

Positioning and Installation of Rear-Facing Seats:

• Infants should NEVER be placed in the front seat of a vehicle that has a passenger side airbag.
• Harness straps should be secured at or slightly below the shoulders in one of the lower slots.
• Rear facing infant and convertible seats should be reclined at a 30-45 degree angle. Car seats that are too reclined provide less protection to the head and neck. Car seats that are too upright may cause the head to flop forward and result in breathing problems in young infants. A foam pool “noodle” or tightly rolled towel may be placed in the vehicle seat crack under the base of the car seat to achieve more recline if needed.
• Harness straps should fit snugly against your child’s body. You should not be able to pinch any extra slack in the straps.
• The chest clip should be positioned mid-chest, level with the armpits. This clip help keeps the straps positioned well on the shoulders and keeps the child in the car seat in the event of a crash.
• As the infant grows, keep in mind that he or she could outgrow the infant car seat in length (height) before weight. The infant’s head should be more than one inch below the top of the car seat shell.
• Most infant seats must be used with the carrier handle in the down position when installed in the car.

Toddlers (children over one year and 20-40 pounds):

• Children over one year may ride rear facing in a convertible car seat until the rear-facing weight limit of the car seat is reached, as long as their head is more than one inch below the top of the car seat shell. – This is the recommended method.
• Children over one year may ride forward facing in a car seat with a harness if they are over 20 pounds. Children should not be turned forward facing until they are at least one year old and weigh at least 20 pounds. Premature infants should not be turned forward facing until at least one year from their due date, not from their birthday. Small and fragile infants/toddlers should remain rear facing for longer.
• Forward-facing car seats may be convertible or forward-facing only (often called toddler or combination seats). Combination seats often convert to a belt-positioning booster seat after the harness weight limit is reached. In this case, the harness straps are completely removed and the child is secured using the vehicle lap/shoulder belt.

Positioning and Installation of Forward Facing Seats

• Many forward facing car seats require an upright position, however some models provide a semi-recline option – see instructions.
• Harness straps should be at or slightly above the shoulders.
• Harness straps should fit snugly against your child’s body. You should not be able to pinch any extra slack in the straps.
• The chest clip should be positioned mid-chest level with the armpits. This clip help keeps the straps positioned well on the shoulders and keeps the child in the car seat in the event of a crash.

Children who weigh 40 pounds or more:

• Several car seats are now available that provide a secure harness system for children up to 80 pounds. This may be a good option for children who may not be ready to sit independently in a standard booster seat using a vehicle lap and shoulder belt. View a list of harness systems for children over 40 pounds.
• Children over 40 pounds should otherwise use a belt positioning booster seat until they weigh 80 pounds and are 4 feet, 9 inches tall, and can properly use the lap-shoulder belt in a vehicle.
• Booster seats are used as a transition to vehicle safety belts for children who have outgrown their car seats, but who are not big enough to use the vehicle seat belts alone. They assist in the correct fit of the vehicle lap and shoulder belt.

Booster Seats:

• Booster seats are just as important as car seats with full harnesses. Children under 4’9” tall and under 80lbs are not usually big enough to ride in an adult seat belt. They are easy to use and can save your child’s life by simply raising them up and helping the lap and shoulder belts fit properly.
• Booster seats are only to be used with lap AND shoulder belts. If you have a vehicle seat which only has a lap belt, do not place a child in a booster seat there.
• The shoulder belt should cross the middle of the shoulder, and the lap belt should be low and touching the tops of the thighs. The belts should NEVER cut across the neck or across the soft belly.
• Make sure the vehicle seat belt glides through the shoulder belt guides easily.
• In an older model car without back seat vehicle headrests, a high back booster should be used instead of the no-back version. Headrests and high back boosters provide protection for the head and neck during a crash. There are some models of tall boosters which require a vehicle headrest behind them for stability, please read your instruction manual for specific information.
• High back boosters are also better if your child sleeps in the car. They will support the head and keep them in position while they sleep.
• High back boosters with side wings may provide better head protection in side impact crashes.

Your child is big enough to use the vehicle’s seat belts when:

1. The lap portion of the belt fits low across the hips, resting on the thighs.
2. The shoulder portion fits comfortably across the chest and shoulder, between the neck and the arm, but not on the neck.
3. The child is able to sit all the way back in the seat.
4. The child’s knees bend at the end of the seat cushion.
5. The child is able to stay like this for the whole trip.

Children with Special Needs:

Evaluations for children with special transportation needs are available by trained Physical and Occupational Therapists for children who need short or long term travel solutions. Loaner specialty restraints are available for appropriate patients.

Click here for more information on the Special Needs Child Passenger Safety Program.

Installation Tips:

• Not all car seats fit in all vehicles
• Be sure to read the car seat manufacturer’s instructions and keep them with the car seat.
• Be sure to read the section on car seat installation in the owner’s manual of your car.
• When the car seat is installed, make sure it does not move side to side or away from the seat back more than one inch. Test by holding both sides of the seat where the belt goes through the shell and trying to move it. To achieve a tight fit, kneel in the car seat or base and pull the belt tight.
• What is the LATCH system?
  1. LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children.
  2. It is a newer way to install car seats without using a seat belt, but instead using built-in straps on the car seat that attach to anchors in the vehicle.
  3. You can find these anchors in all cars model year 2003 and later, and some 2001-02 models.
  4. Top tether anchors for forward facing seats are included in most cars since model year 2000.
  5. Car seats that have LATCH equipment can still be installed the “old” way using vehicle seat belts in older cars.
  6. Most middle vehicle seats are not equipped with LATCH, however this position is still recommended for the smallest child. You can use this position by installing the seat using the seat belts instead. Refer to the vehicle’s owner’s manual to find out which seating positions have LATCH.
  7. Please refer to the vehicle manual and car seat instructions for details about how to use this system.

Remember:

• Never take a child out of a safety seat while the car is in motion.
• The back seat is the safest place for children under the age of 13. Never place an infant or child in under 13 in the front seat of a vehicle with airbags. If this seat is needed to transport children, your auto dealer can assist you with turning off your airbag.
• Always use a car seat that is approved by the Department of Transportation that is functioning correctly.
• Do not alter your car seat in any way. This includes adding any extra padding or positioning products that did not come with the seat, which adds bulk under the child or between the child and the harness straps.
• Remove bulky clothing and coats – these will keep the harness from being snug enough. Warm up the car and/or use blankets over the child after they have been buckled in.
• Harness straps should always be flat and not twisted. DO NOT put harness straps in the washing machine, as this can weaken them.
• Keep a supply of soft toys in the car for play. Do not attach hard plastic toys to the car seats, as they can injure your child in the event of a crash.
• Do not use a car seat that has been involved in a crash. It may be weakened in areas you cannot see.
• Do not use a second-hand car seat if you do not know the previous owners or its history.
• Do not use a car seat that has broken or missing parts.
• During hot weather, always check the car seat parts for hot spots that may burn your child, such as metal harness adjusters or buckles.
• Always complete and return the car seat registration card so you will be notified of any recalls.
• In the case of a crash, do not remove the child from the car seat until medical personnel check for injuries.

For further information, please call (757) 668-8655 or seek assistance at one of the fitting stations.

There are assistance programs for low income Virginia residents who cannot afford to purchase a child safety seat. Please contact your local health department or call CHKD at (757)668-8655 for more information.

Always buckle up! No exceptions!