ST. LOUIS — National Child Passenger Safety Week is Sept. 15-21, and nothing is more important than your child's safety.
According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car crashes are the leading cause of death for kids ages 1 to 13, and 39% of children killed in crashes in 2022 were unrestrained.
Car seats provide critical protection for kids in crashes, but they're only effective when used and installed correctly. That's why we're sharing tips on how to keep your child safe in the vehicle.
Finding the right car seat
There are four types of car seats, according to the NHTSA:
- Rear-facing car seats are best for young children. They have a harness and, in a crash, cradle and move with your child to reduce stress on their neck and spinal cord.
- Forward-facing car seats have a hardness and tether that limits your child's forward movement during a crash.
- Booster seats raise and position a child so the car's seat belt fits properly over their hips and chest.
- Seat belts should lay across the upper thighs and must be snug across your child's shoulder and chest to restrain them in a crash.
Which way should your child face?
Which way your child should face depends on their age, and there is some crossover. Children from 0 to 3 years old should be in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat. Then, depending on their height and weight, they can switch to a forward-facing car seat until age 7. Kids four to 12 should be in a booster seat. All kids should be kept in the backseat until age 13.
Keeping your child in a car seat for as long as possible, as long as they fit within the manufacturer's height and weight requirements, will maximize their safety.
The NHTSA's Car Seat Finder is a tool that can help you find the right car seat for your child based on their age, height and weight.
Get your car seat inspected
There are several car seat inspection stations across Missouri and Illinois.
This interactive map from the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety shows where certified technicians can inspect your car seat for free and show you have to correctly install and use it in the Bi-state.