September 19-25, 2021 (Child Passenger Safety Week)
September 25, 2021 (National Seat Check Saturday)
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children. On average, two children under 13 were killed and an estimated 374 were injured every day in 2019 while riding in cars, SUVs, pickups, and vans.
- 608 child passenger vehicle occupants died in traffic crashes in 2019.
- 38% of children who died in 2019 while riding in passenger vehicles were unrestrained, compared to 33% in 2018
Search & Compare Car
The Car Seat Finder is an easy-to-use tool that helps you find the right car seat for your child. Just fill out your child’s age, height and weight above, and you’ll be provided car seat types that fit your child. Make sure you’re familiar with the four types of car seats and NHTSA’s recommendations for choosing the right type of seat for your child.
Get Help Installing & Using Car Seats
Certified technicians are available across the country to help you install and use your child’s car seat correctly – often at no cost to you. Many communities also offer virtual seat checks. Our Car Seat Inspection Finder helps you locate an inspection station or virtual inspector.
IN PASSENGER CARS, CAR SEATS REDUCE AN INFANT’S RISK OF FATAL INJURY BY THIS MUCH
Older Kids Need the Right Seat, Too
- For their safety, many kids 8 to 12 years old still need to use a booster seat. Make sure they ride in a booster seat until they outgrow the size limits of their booster, or until they are big enough for an adult seat belt to fit them properly. A properly fitting seat belt means:
The shoulder belt lies snugly across the shoulder and chest, not crossing the neck or face. The lap belt lies snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach.
Make sure your child is buckled up properly on every trip and remember to keep them in the back seat at least through age 12. Learn more about the proper fit.
