Myths & facts: What you need to know about car seat safety  

Car crashes are among the top causes of death for children. Ensuring they are properly restrained in the right car seat is critical to keeping them safe.

An average of two children under 13 die every day in motor vehicle accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Thirty-six percent of those children are unrestrained, while others may have been in a car seat or seat belt — but it was used incorrectly.

Even if you’re confident you’re adjusting and installing your child’s car seat correctly, it’s smart to have an expert evaluate it with you.

“Most parents and caregivers are using their child’s car seat wrong and have no idea,” says Erin Summa, MPH, health promotion program manager for MultiCare Mary Bridge Children’s Center for Childhood Safety. “Car seats undoubtedly save lives, but they are only effective if they are used correctly, so why not check to be sure?”

Once you have chosen a car seat, be sure to read the instruction manual, as well as the section of your vehicle owner’s manual that refers to car seat installation. Follow all instructions, then reach out to a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) to schedule a car seat check.

In honor of Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 17-23), Summa helped bust the following myths about car seat safety: 

Myth: Car seats that are more expensive are the safest.  

Fact: Not necessarily. All certified car seats are required to meet the same federal crash test standards. Some car seats may add features — at a higher price point — and that’s fine if you want and can afford it, but those features are not always about safety. Do not feel guilty about choosing a less expensive car seat that meets your needs. If it fits your child, fits your vehicle and can be used correctly every time, it’s a safe choice.

When choosing a car seat, consider your child’s age, weight, height and medical needs (if any). Look for ease-of-use features. Regardless of how much you spent on the car seat, if you’re unable to adjust/install it correctly, it’s not safe.

Ensuring a car seat is legitimate has become a challenge, as counterfeits are sold online to unsuspecting parents and caregivers. Look closely — real car seats are made with sturdy materials and have lots of labels. Stick to trusted retailers and avoid third-party sellers.

Myth: My child should move to a forward-facing car seat when they turn 2 years old.

Fact: We do not recommend that. Rear-facing car seats are safer in every type of crash, so you want to keep your child rear-facing as long as you can — up to the rear-facing weight or height limit of their convertible car seat, which can be as high as 40-50 pounds.

Washington state law only requires children under 2 to ride in a rear-facing car seat, but that’s the bare minimum, and does not reflect best practice. The rear-facing position offers the best protection against the worst injuries — to the head, neck and spine. Don’t worry about your child’s feet hanging over the edge of their car seat or touching the seat back in a rear-facing seat. Turning your child forward-facing too soon actually increases their risk of leg injuries in a crash.

Myth: Installing the car seat with lower anchors (of the LATCH system) is safer than installing with the seat belt.

Fact: Both are equally safe, if used correctly. Check your car seat instruction manual to see if it lists a preferred installation method, and the weight limit for using the lower anchors. Then check your vehicle owner’s manual to learn about the installation options provided by your vehicle. Not every car has the LATCH system; seat belts can lock in different ways; and some may not allow car seat installation in every seating position.

Whichever method you choose, use just one, and do not install with lower anchors and the seat belt at the same time.

Myth: As soon as my child reaches the lower weight limit of a booster seat, it’s safe for them to use one.

Fact: Washington state law requires children to ride in a harnessed car seat until at least age 4 (longer is safer) — it does not use weight as a factor when making the transition to a booster seat. There’s more to booster seat readiness than just size: You also need to factor in their age and maturity.

Once kids are out of a five-point harness, we need to rely on them to keep the adult seat belt in the proper position for the entire ride. When in doubt, keeping your child in a five-point harness is safer, especially if they’re prone to wiggling or moving around during car rides.

Myth: It’s safe to use a secondhand car seat.

Fact: It depends. There’s nothing inherently dangerous about a car seat that has been used before, but it’s important to know the history of the seat. So, borrowing from a sibling or friend is different from getting a seat from a garage sale, online consignment or buy-nothing site. Verify that it has not been damaged in a crash, which is sometimes visible but not always, and check if the car seat is expired or recalled. Finally, locate the instruction manual and read it carefully to make sure it has no missing/broken parts, or parts in the wrong place.

Myth: My older child is big for his age and doesn’t need a booster seat.

Fact: Adult seat belts are made to fit adult bodies, and car seats and boosters exist to bridge the gap until the seat belt can fit properly on its own. Per Washington law, children are required to ride in a car seat or booster seat until they’re at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall. At that time, you can evaluate fit without the booster seat — just make sure to do this test in every car they ride in.

How to test fit: Have your child sit on the vehicle seat and scoot all the way against the seat back. Check if their knees bend naturally at the edge of the seat and if their feet can touch the floor. If yes, connect the seat belt and look where the belt crosses the body — the lap belt should touch the tops of the thighs and the shoulder belt should cross mid-chest and mid-shoulder. If they do, try having your child ride in the car without the booster, keeping an eye to ensure they continue to sit safely for the entire drive. If this isn’t the case, use the booster for a while longer.

Myth: Car seats don’t really expire.

Fact: Yes, they do expire. Expiration dates for car seats can range from five to 10 years from date of manufacturing. This is determined by the unique qualities of the materials used. Time, temperature and sunlight can weaken the seat, and safety advancements can make newer seats a good decision. If you kept car seats from your older children in hopes of using them again, look for expiration dates on the car seat labels or in the owner’s manual.

Keeping your child safe in the car — whether it’s your vehicle or those of friends, family, babysitters or schools — is an important part of their health and well-being. Mary Bridge Children’s offers free car seat checks, both in person and virtually. Learn more about car seat checks and schedule your appointment today.