Official carseat installation guidelines

Proper seat belt fit typically does not occur until children are age 9— Seat belt fit can vary by vehicle so check fit in all vehicles to make sure the child no longer needs to use a booster seat. It could be that a child might need a booster seat in one vehicle but not another. Keep children properly buckled in the back seat through age 12 for the best possible protection. Buckle children in the middle seating position of the back seat when possible using a lap and shoulder belt , because it is the safest position in the vehicle.

Air bags can kill young children riding in the front seat. Never place a rear-facing car seat in front of an air bag. Buckle children in car seats, booster seats, or seat belts on every trip—no matter how short the trip. Set a good example and help protect everyone in the car by always using a seat belt.

View Larger Text Version. Additional Resources. The best car seats are typically rated on an annual basis according to new technology and current manufacturing trends. The safest car seats tend to come from the big brands like Chicco, Evenflo and Graco.

You should always confirm current top brands before making a purchase, and do not rely just on a high sticker price indicating safety or quality.

Understanding the safe car seat options and making the right purchase for your child and your car can be a challenge. For your reference, the following are the typical types of car seats you might find:. Correct car seat installation can be a challenge for every new user of a car seat or booster seat.

Idaho offers car seat safety checks at locations throughout the state, so take advantage and get the extra guidance from the professionals. Make sure that the car seat or booster seat for each child riding in the car is in the best possible place. Also, make sure other passengers in the car can ride safely. Choose the one that gives the car seat a snug fit.

The next tip shows you how to get that snug fit. Does the car seat have a snug fit? Additional Resources If you live outside of San Pablo, here are additional resources to find a nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technician near you: Find a tech in your area using the official search engine of the national CPS Certification Program. Search by location, language or special needs training. Safe Kids Coalition events - Safe Kids coalitions are local organizations that lead their communities in reducing child injury.

Safe Kids Buckle Up events are offered across the country. Community Police Academy. Business Watch.