Consumer Alert: NHTSA Reminds Parents, Caregivers to Find the Right Seat for Their ChildChild Passenger Safety Week is Sept. 21-27

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urges parents and caregivers to make sure their children are in the right car seat for their age and size. Child Passenger Safety Week runs Sept. 21-27 and reminds everyone that the right seat saves lives.

Recent data suggests that car seat use for newborns to 12 months of age has declined, making this Child Passenger Safety Week more important than ever. The agency's most recent survey estimated that car seat use for children up to 12 months old dropped to 95.9% in 2023, down from the 2021 estimate of 99.8%.

"Children are our most precious passengers, and car seats are the best tool we have to protect them in a crash. We encourage all parents and caregivers to make sure their child is in the right seat for their age and size. Many communities also offer free seat checks to ensure they're installed correctly, and double checking a seat could save a child's life," NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison said.

In 2023, an estimated 125,803 children ages 14 and younger riding in passenger vehicles were injured in crashes and another 700 were killed, making traffic crashes a consistent leading cause of death for children.

Correctly installed car seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury in a passenger car crash by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers. Unfortunately, almost half of all car seats are installed incorrectly, even though most parents and caregivers believe they know how to install them.

Saturday, Sept. 27, is National Seat Check Saturday, and many local communities will host free car seat check events with certified child passenger safety technicians. Many police, sheriffs, fire departments and children's hospitals also have regularly scheduled car seat check days or hands-on education from technicians available by appointment.

NHTSA offers the following tips to help parents and caregivers find the right seat, install it correctly, and keep their child safe:

• Learn about the four types of car seats, find out which car seat is appropriate for a child based on their age and size, and compare car seats and find ease-of-use ratings on NHTSA's website.
• Make sure to get familiar with vehicle and car seat parts before installation, follow the vehicle and car seat installation instructions carefully, and visit the nearest car seat inspection station to ensure the car seat is installed correctly and will not unexpectedly move in the event of a crash.
• Register car seats and booster seats to be notified of any safety recalls.
• Plan to use the appropriate car seat or booster seat when traveling and riding in taxis or ride-share vehicles.
• Resist the urge to transition a child into the next car seat or booster seat before they have outgrown their current seat. Check The Right Seat for NHTSA's recommendations.
• Remember that older kids need the right seat, too. Many kids ages 8 to 12 years old still need to use booster seats, and the safest place for all children under 13 is the back seat.
• Make sure children are buckled up correctly every trip and remember to be a good role model by also buckling up every trip.
• Never leave a child alone in a vehicle, even for a minute. Take immediate action and call 911 if a child is seen alone in a vehicle.
• Report a safety problem to NHTSA if a car seat is suspected of having a defect or not meeting federal regulations.

For more, please visit NHTSA's child safety page.