Car Seat Safety Standards

by MelanieC

Overview

There are several guidelines to follow to make car seats safe.

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Knowing and observing the safety standards for car seats can help keep your child safe when traveling in the car.
Age and Weight

Infants under 20 pounds and under 1 year old must be secured in rear-facing seats. Follow the safety standards for front-facing seats, booster seats and back-seat lap belts. Even if your child surpasses the weight standard, keep her in the lower safety bracket as long as possible until she reaches the recommended age. Conversely, if she is under the weight standard, keep her in the lower bracket as long as possible.

Belts, Buckles and Straps

Always ensure every strap, belt and buckle is secured properly no matter how short the drive.
Check Ratings and Recalls

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration has a five-star rating system--see how your car seat rates and continue to regularly check for any recalls at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
Lethal Flying Objects

Even a small toy can become a lethal weapon when sudden stops occur at high speeds.

This child's car seat has toys secured to the carrying handle.

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Expiration Dates and Used Seats

All car seats have expiration dates; if they don't, they're expired. Used seats must have a date of manufacture and model number to check for recall, and you cannot be certain the car seat has not been in an accident or has missing or faulty parts.