Child Safety Seats

Follow instructions that came with the child safety seat, and store the instructions in a safe place. They will be needed as the child grows.

Be sure to send in the registration card that comes with the car seat. It will be important in the event that your car seat is recalled.

An infant in a rear-facing car seat should NEVER be placed in the front seat of a vehicle that has a passenger-side airbag.

Whenever possible, children should ride in the rear seat.

If toddlers must ride in the front seat of a vehicle that has a passenger-side airbag, the vehicle seat must be placed as far back as possible.

If you use a seat made only for infants, ALWAYS face it backward. Infants should ride facing the back of the car until they are 20 pounds and as close as possible to age one.

A child over 20 pounds and one year of age faces forward.

The shoulder straps of the car seat go in the lowest slots for infants riding backward, and the highest slots for children facing forward. The retainer clip should be placed at armpit level to keep harness straps on the shoulders.

The auto's seat belt must go in the correct path to hold the seat in place. Check the owner's manual for your car to see if you need to use a locking clip or some additional pieces of equipment to keep the safety seat secure.

A convertible seat faces backward for an infant and forward for a toddler. It has two different belt paths, one for each direction.

Not all car seats fit all vehicles.

When the car seat is installed, be sure it does not move side-to-side or toward the front of the car.

Be sure to read the section on car seats in the owner's manual for your car.

If your child has grown too tall for the convertible seat and if the child is at least 40 pounds, a booster seat should be used. A booster seat helps protect your child until he or she is big enough to use a seat belt alone.

A booster seat with no shield is used with a lap and shoulder belt.

Use a booster with a shield if your car has only lap belts.

Call the Auto Safety Hotline (800-424-9393) for a list of recalled seats that need repair. Be sure to make any necessary repairs to your car seat.