How Smart Are You About Car Seat Safety?

It may seem like common sense: Babies should ride in car seats. But did you know one in three American children ride in vehicles without a car seat or fastened seat belt?

And only two out of every nine children are in the right car seat. Using the correct car seat can mean the difference between life and death, reducing the risk of fatal injury for children and toddlers by as much as 71%. Researchers at Harvard Health Publishing shared a car seat quiz to test parents’ knowledge when it comes to their child’s safety.

Here’s what we learned:

Safely Installing a Car Seat

Fact: Nearly half of car seats are improperly installed.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission, 46% of all car and booster seats are not installed properly.

Switching from Rear-Facing Car Seats

Fact: Nearly half of car seats are improperly installed.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission, 46% of all car and booster seats are not installed properly.

The Recommended Booster Seat Age

Fact: The youngest age for a child to ride in a booster seat is 5 years old.

Parents should keep their children in a car seat, not a booster seat, until they reach 5 years of age. But if your child is still within the height and weight requirements of his or her car seat, you can continue to use a car seat until he or she exceeds those requirements.

Car Seat Laws and Regulations

Fact: The laws of your state determine how long your child should ride in a booster seat.

Although children should ride in a booster seat until the car’s seat belt fits properly, each state has its own laws about at which age or height (generally 57 inches) a child can stop riding in a booster seat. Even if the law doesn’t require it, your child should remain in a booster seat until the lap portion of the seat belt goes across the upper thigh, not the belly, and the shoulder portion goes across the chest, not the neck.

When Can Child Sit in The Front Seat?

Fact: Children under the age of 13 should always sit in the back seat.

It may make your middle school-aged child mad, but we’re all safer in the back seat of a car. This is due in part to the car’s airbags and what size someone should be to be safe from them.

At Delta Children, We Are Committed to Safety

Whether your little ones are in a car seat or in their beds, Delta Children is devoted to one mission: finding a safe place for every baby to sleep. That is why we strive to work with parents to ensure that when the unfortunate happens, we do our best to keep our children safe.

Learn more about car seat safety and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations here.