Child Car Seats & Boosters
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children. The right car seat, used correctly, greatly reduces the risk of death and serious injury. But many car seats are installed or used incorrectly, so checking the fit matters as much as buying the seat.
- Parents & caregivers
- Home & family
Photo: rear-facing car seat installed in the back seat with the harness snug
The four stages
| Stage | Who | Move on when |
|---|---|---|
| Rear-facing seat | Babies and toddlers | Keep rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the seat’s maximum rear-facing height or weight |
| Forward-facing seat with harness | Toddlers and preschoolers who outgrow rear-facing | When they reach the harness’s maximum height or weight |
| Booster seat | School-age children | When the adult seat belt fits correctly (often around 4 feet 9 inches tall, between ages 8 and 12) |
| Seat belt | Older children | Back seat until age 13 |
Each move to the next stage gives a little less protection, so don’t rush it. State laws set minimums; the seat’s limits and best practice often go beyond them.
Installation
- Read both the car seat manual and the vehicle owner’s manual
- Use the lower anchors (LATCH) or the seat belt to install, not both unless the manual allows it
- The seat moves less than 1 inch side to side or front to back at the belt path
- Rear-facing seats at the correct recline angle (check the indicator)
- Use the top tether on forward-facing seats
Harness fit
- Harness straps snug: you shouldn’t be able to pinch extra webbing at the shoulder.
- Chest clip at armpit level.
- Rear-facing: straps at or below the shoulders. Forward-facing: at or above.
- No bulky winter coats under the harness; they compress in a crash. Use a blanket over the harness instead.
Safety rules
- Never place a rear-facing seat in front of an active airbag.
- Keep children under 13 in the back seat.
- Register your seat with the manufacturer to get recall notices.
- Check the expiration date on the seat (often 6 to 10 years).
- Replace a seat after a moderate or severe crash.
- Be cautious with used seats: you need to know the history and that it’s not expired or recalled.
Free help
Certified child passenger safety technicians check car seats for free at many fire stations, hospitals and inspection events. Find one through NHTSA or Safe Kids Worldwide.
Never leave a child alone in a car. See Hot Cars.
Standards & references
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