Most parents are willing to do whatever it takes to ensure the safety of their children, and feel confident that they are doing so by using a child safety seat for car travel. But the fact is that an alarming number of parents do not install safety seats properly, allow their children to graduate to a booster seat too early or fail to use a safety seat altogether, posing an enormous risk to their children’s safety in the event of a wreck. With car accidents being the number one cause of accidental deaths in young people, utilizing the proper protection in the car for a child’s age and weight is a serious responsibility for parents and is also required by law.

When used correctly, car seats significantly reduce infant deaths in car accidents. Still, improper use of a car seat is a very common mistake parents make. First of all, any infant one year of age or younger or weighing 20 pounds or less should be securely harnessed into a rear facing car seat reclined at a 45 degree angle in the back seat. Harness straps should be snug and at or below shoulder level, with the harness retainer clip that connects the straps positioned at the level of the infant’s armpit. Additionally, all fasteners should be attached as recommended by the car seat manufacturer. The safety belt securing any car seat should be always be taut and locked.

Once a child has reached one year of age and weighs over 20 pounds, the car seat may be arranged facing forward in the back seat. The harness and seatbelt requirements as described for rear facing car seats also apply for forward facing car seats. The harness should be snug such that only one finger can fit between the harness and the child’s collar bone. Placing a child in the back seat and away from airbags is extremely important for any of these situations.

Once a child has reached four years old, weighs at least 40 pounds and has outgrown his or her car seat, it is time to start using a booster seat in the back seat of the vehicle. A child must fall into the appropriate height and weight range recommended for the booster seat in order to have adequate protection. A booster seat lifts a child to the proper height to allow for safe use of the seatbelt, which involves the lower strap being positioned over the child’s upper thighs and the shoulder strap fitting across his or her shoulder. The seatbelt must be properly routed through the booster seat in order to provide the protection for which the seat is designed. A child is ready to use a seatbelt with no booster seat only once he or she reaches a height of 58 inches (with a sitting height of 29 inches) and weighs at least 80 pounds. Additionally, the child must be able to bend his or her knees over the edge of the seat with his or her back firmly against the back of the seat. It is recommended for all children ages 12 and younger to ride in the backseat of a vehicle regardless of whether a booster seat is required.

Make sure to complete and return the enclosed registration card upon purchase of a car seat, so that you may be notified in case there is a safety recall on the model you purchase. Read and comply with all instructions and recommendations for your car seat. Failure to properly secure a child in a size and weight appropriate car seat can have devastating consequences in the event of an accident.