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With 5 kids of my own, car seat safety has been on my mind for the entire 12+ years I’ve been a mom!  If you’re like me, you began research before your baby was even born and then still stress out about the car safety decisions you make with your child.

There are plenty of great resources for tips and advice, and I recently found a lot of information about car seat safety on Cars.com.

Here’s the deal: car seat safety for kids can be one of the most stressful responsibilities we have as parents. 

Here are some tips to help you out.

Car Seat Safety for Kids

Be sure that your child is in the proper car seat.  Remember, there are infant-only rear-facing seats, convertible car seats that allow your child to rear face and then be turned to forward facing, forward facing harness seats, and high and low back booster seats.  Stay up to date on the current research as to which is safer for your particular child’s weight, height, and age.  Also be sure to keep to the manufacturer’s guidelines.  Don’t use a seat your child is too short or tall for, or weighs to much or too little.  Mistakes like that can endanger them.

Get to know your car seat’s features.  Get comfortable with making adjustments to the harness straps.  Learn the LATCH system.  Check out the tether on your seat, if it has it, and learn to use it.  What else can you adjust on the seat?  Are there particular pieces that you might need now, but not later, such as infant inserts or pieces to change your convertible seat from rear to forward facing?  Be sure to note anything that might hinder or assist in installing the seat.

Have your installation checked out by a child passenger safety technician.  In my community, there are events held fairly often where car seat techs, who have completed extensive training, will check and correct your car seat installation.  This is a wonderful way to get peace of mind on the safety of your car seat.  This is also a great way to find out if your car seats are installed safely when multiples are crammed into the same row. When my biggest 3 were little, they were crammed into the back of our sedan.  Before we headed to the dealership to look at vehicles, we were able to look online for information about which vehicles will accommodate 3 across installation.

Register your new car seat.  You know that little card that comes with your new car seat?  Registering it is not about getting on their email list to find out about sales.  No, filling this out ensures that if there’s ever a recall or safety issue, the manufacturer can contact you to let you know.  According to an article I read about this on Cars.com, less than half of car seats get registered.  That’s a scary thought!

Don’t forget to transition your kids as they grow.  It’s important that your child rides safely all the time, so be sure to take note of your seat’s limits and recommendations.  If you have an infant seat that your child is too tall for, but you keep using it anyway, that’s putting your child at risk!  There are so many terrific options for all of the types of seats that will fit into any budget.

Get rid of seats that are no longer safe.  Be sure to check out the expiration date on your seat and adhere to it!  If there is cracking on your seat, it’s time to dispose of it.  Don’t use seats that have been in ANY accidents unless the manufacturer has given you the green light (call and ask them for specifics for YOUR seat).  Don’t use seats that are missing important parts.

ALWAYS follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.  Their recommendations and rules will be your safest bet.  Be sure to read the manual fully and if you still have questions, just reach out to them.  Most companies have amazing customer service lines with trained individuals ready to answer even the silliest-seeming questions.

Make sure EVERYONE buckles up, EVERY time!  This includes ALL passengers in your vehicle, including adults.  Set a good example and save a life.

What are your biggest tips for car seat safety for kids?