Last Updated on October 1, 2022 by Ellen Christian
Did you know that motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children age 1 to 13 in the USA? Check out these important car seat safety tips. The fatality rate could be reduced dramatically if the correct child safety seat were always used. In 2014, for children under 5, an estimated 252 lives could have been saved by child restraint use. I’m sharing this information today because I feel it’s something everyone should know about.
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Important Car Seat Safety Tips
Every 33 seconds one child under age 13 is involved in a car crash— but safety seats, if used correctly and installed correctly, dramatically reduce the risk of fatality or injury to children. Find a car seat that fits your child. As children grow, how they sit in your car will change. Make sure the car seat you purchase is designed to fit your child’s current size and age.
- Not all car seats fit in all vehicles so test the car seat you plan to buy to make sure it fits well in your vehicle.
- Before putting your child in a car seat, read the manufacturer’s instructions so you know how your car seat works.
- All-in-One car seats offer you the advantage of using the same seat for the following positions: rear-facing, forward-facing with harness, then booster. These seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.
- Remember, the best car seat is the one that fits your child properly, is easy to use, and fits in your vehicle correctly. The information here can help you choose the right seat for your child. Keep in mind that:
- Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
- Children ages 1-3 should be kept rear-facing as long as possible.
- Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.
- Be certain you’ve installed your car seat correctly by having it checked at an inspection station or by a certified child passenger safety technician. Bring the Car Seat Instructions AND the Vehicle Owner’s Manual with you to a seat check appointment!
Please take a moment to be sure that your child’s car seat is installed properly and that they are in the right seat for their size. Here is a free car seat safety event. Then, share this post to get the word out about how important this is.
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
I actually remember standing in the front seat next to my mom while she drove. It was when my kids were babies that car seats became popular. But when my grandkids were born you had to have one or you couldn’t even take the baby home. Laws AND carseats have changed for the better. It wasn’t too long ago that we had two carseats and a booster in our backseat for the grands.
It really has changed quite a bit!
Things have changed so much, haven’t they? We actually had the fire department come out to our home to test the seat a few days before our daughter was born. Many police and fire departments will do it as a courtesy.
That’s a wonderful service to offer!
Thanks for sharing about this! My boys are still in booster seats (w/ backs) and my mom says she thinks I don’t need to keep them in those any longer because they are old enough but I keep telling her it’s not just about age but size as well. I’m keeping them in there for as long as I can. Especially Lucas since he is so small and tiny!
That’s the best way!
You’re right, not all do fit the cars right. It’s important to look and know about that before you select your seat. Good word to spread with this post! I didnt’ know car accidents were so prevalent. Even more reason to advocate the proper use of a quality car seat.
I agree!
The lives of 252 children that could have been saved it a staggering statistic. I hope more parents listen to this advice and keep their children out of that number this year.
I really hope so too!
This is one of my biggest issues with parents. My 9 year old is still in a booster and will stay there until she exceeds the recommendations, but oh at school I see 5 yr olds even getting in the front seat of a car. 🙁
That’s so scary!
We have a lot of car accidents here in L.A. and so many involve children. I’m sure many parents are just unaware of the safety issues but that just brings it home that it’s every 33 seconds for crashes with children. I hope they keep running more and more ads—they are definitely needed.
Me too, Deb!
Car seat rules have changed so much since I had kids in seats like that. I can’t believe all of the new regulations and recommendations, I can imagine it’s difficult to keep up with as a new parent this day in age. Glad you shared some tips to help parents be up to par with car seat safety!
Glad to help! They have changed quite a bit!
It is so important to stay on top of new regulations and car seat saftey!! These are great tips for making sure little ones are safe.
Thanks, Bill!
That’s a scary thought for sure. This is why I will keep my son in some type of car seat until he reaches puberty!! Seriously, I can’t believe so many moms let their young kids either ride in the front seat or with no type of car seat in the back. SAD
I agree. That scares me!