Mary Bridge Children's Hospital

Buckle Up

Some Tips for Keeping Kids Safe in Your Car

What child safety seat does my child need? Car Seat Safety
That depends on several factors – primarily the age, weight, and height of your child. If your child has special health care or behavioral needs, these must also be taken into consideration.

Washington State Law requires you to restrain your child properly in the car – the following guidelines are a good place to start:


WASHINGTON LAW – effective June 2007:

Read the Washington Child Restraint Law

  • Children must ride in an appropriate child restraint system (i.e. car seat or booster seat) until at least age 8 or 4’9” tall.
  • Children under age 13 must ride in the back seat, whenever practical to do so.
  • Vehicle occupants of any age must be restrained properly – using the car seat / booster seat / seat belt according to manufacturer’s instructions.


INFANTS should ride rear-facing in a 5-point harness.

  • An infant seat is convenient for newborns and young babies – most double as an infant carrier and accommodate children up to 20-30 lbs.
  • A convertible seat is larger and remains installed in the vehicle – it can be “converted” into a forward-facing seat when your child is older (see “toddlers”).


TODDLERS should ride rear-facing as long as possible.

  • Most convertible seats allow rear-facing up to 30-35 lbs.
  • Move your toddler to a forward-facing seat when they reach the rear-facing limits of their car seat (and are at least age 1 and 20 lbs)


PRESCHOOLERS should ride in a 5-point harness as long as possible.

  •  Most forward-facing car seats accommodate children up to 40 lbs – seats with higher weight (and height) limits are available.
  • Move your child to a booster seat when they outgrow their forward-facing car seat, and are able to leave the lap and shoulder seat belt in place.


SCHOOL-AGERS should ride in a booster seat (or high weight limit car seat) until at least age 8 or 4’9” tall.
Use the following “5-step test” to determine if your older child is ready for an adult seat belt:

  • Can your child sit comfortably against the vehicle’s seat back?
  • Can your child’s knees bend at the edge of the seat?
  • Does the lap belt fit low across the upper thighs?
  • Does the shoulder belt fit across the center of the shoulder and chest?
  • Can your child stay seated comfortably in this position for the entire ride?

If the answer is “no” to any of these questions, your child needs to remain in a booster seat.

Make sure your children always wear their seat belts correctly, and ride in the back seat until age 13.


I heard that 80-90 percent of car seats are used incorrectly – what am I doing wrong?

Unfortunately, choosing and using a car seat correctly isn’t as easy as it should be - and a properly installed car seat reduces fatal injury by up to 71 percent - so this is an important thing to get right!

The only way to know for sure that your child is in the right car seat, and that you are using it correctly, is to have it checked by an experienced Child Passenger Safety Technician. Call the Mary Bridge Car Seat Help Line at 253-403-1417 to be referred to an upcoming event in your area. In the meantime, follow your instruction manuals and consider the following:


Choosing the right seat

  • The “best car seat” is one that fits your child, fits your vehicle, fits your budget, and one that you can use correctly every time.
  • Consult the chart above, and make sure that your child is in the right type of seat for their developmental stage – do not move them through the stages too soon.
  • Decide on what features are important to you: Low weight and height limits for a small newborn? High weight and height limits for larger children? Harnesses that adjust easily? Push-button LATCH connectors? Plush padding? Cup holders? Fancy fabrics?
  • Try car seats in your vehicle before you buy – not every car seat seat is compatible with every car. If you cannot achieve the proper tightness and recline angle – don’t purchase that seat.
  • Be wary of used car seats – they can be recalled, damaged, expired, or have missing parts.


Buckling Up

  • Make sure you can adjust the harnesses on your child’s car seat easily.
  • For rear-facing car seats – route the harness through the nearest slot that is “at or below” your child’s shoulder.
  • For forward-facing car seats – route the harness through the nearest slot that is “at or above” your child’s shoulder.
  • Adjust the harness snugly against the child’s body – if you can pinch the harness between your fingers (at the child’s collarbone) – it is too loose.
  • Place the harness retainer clip at armpit level.
  • Do not add any “after-market products” that didn’t come with the car seat (additional padding, harness covers, belt-tighteners, etc)


Installing in your vehicle

Location? Consult your vehicle owner’s manual for any restrictions re: where you can install a car seat. Washington law requires that children ride in the back seat, whenever practical to do so. Never install a rear-facing seat by a front passenger airbag.

Angle? Consult your car seat instruction manual for guidance re: achieving the proper angle. Rear-facing car seats are installed in a reclined position – check your seat for a level indicator. Forward-facing car seats are usually installed in an upright position.

Tightness? Consult your car seat instruction manual for guidance re: how / where to guide your seat belt or LATCH straps through your car seat. Push down on the car seat while tightening the seat belt or LATCH straps.

Lock your seat belt, or use a locking clip or built-in lock-off.

Test tightness by grasping the car seat next to the belt path – if you can move it more than one inch from side-to-side, tighten belt again. If you are unable to achieve a tight fit – try a different seating position or a different car seat.


Is there anything else I need to know?

YES! This is only a quick guide, it does not include every possible piece of information you’ll need to restrain your child perfectly.

Do your best – choose your child’s car seat carefully, follow your car seat instruction manual and your vehicle owner’s manual, and if you have any further questions…

Call the Mary Bridge Car Seat Help Line at 253-403-1417.