Car Seat Safety
An estimated 85 percent of children who are placed in car seats and booster seats are improperly restrained. In addition, motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. (CDC 2006). Please review the following links for information and FAQs on car seat use.
- Brochure on Common Misuse (pdf)
- Keeping Kids Safe in the Car
- How to Correctly use LATCH
- Misuse of LATCH in the Center Seating Position
- Concerns about Overhead Shields/T-shields
- Using or Replacing a Car Seat After an Accident
- Buyer Beware: Used Car Seats
- Reconsider Using Aftermarket Products (covers, inserts, toys, padding, accessories, tightening devices, etc.)
- Thick Coats and Snowsuits Reduce Car Seat Safety (this includes BundleMe-style products)
- 10-year Old (Expired) Car Seat (video)
- Seconds from Disaster: Lap Babies on Airplanes (video)
General Information
- Car Seat Inspection Stations
- Car Seat Inspections in Worcester
- Massachusetts Car Seat Law
- American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendations
- Safe Kids USA
- Carseat.org
- The Car Seat Lady
- CPSafety: Your online child passenger safety resource
Rear Facing is Safest
A common misperception is that a child's car seat should be turned forward facing once the child turns one AND is over 20 pounds. This is a bare minimum. Review the following links to read about the safer option — rear facing to the limit of the seat.
- Dec 2007 Study on Rearfacing Car Seats
- Rear Facing: Unmatched Safety
- Why Rear Facing is Safest
- The Importance of Rear Facing (video)
- Benefits of Keeping a Baby/Toddler Rear Facing (video)
- Crash Test: Forward Facing (video)
- Side by Side: Forward Facing and Rear Facing (video)
- How Long Should Babies Ride Facing the Back of the Car? (PDF)
- Rear Facing Beyond a Year: A Photo Album
- Rear Facing in Rear End Collisions
- MSNBC: Child Car Seat Advice Questioned
5-Point Harness and Booster Seats
- Importance of a 5-point Harness -- Belle's Gift (video)
- Importance of a 5-point Harness (Kyle) (video)
- 5-point Harness is Safest, even beyond 40 pounds
- Side by Side: 5-point Harness and Booster (video)
- Does My Child Still Need a Booster: The 5-Step Test
- Booster Seat PSA (video)
- Who is a Booster Seat For? (video)
- Booster Seat Saves Life (video)