The Dos and Don'ts of Child Restraints

Properly securing and fitting children into child restraints is a complicated process.

Having your car seat checked by a trained technician is really the surest way to know you're doing it properly.

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Do place children under 12 years old in the back seat and never in seats with an air bag. Children sitting too close to a deploying air bag can be seriously, even fatally, injured.

Do place children in the middle of the back seat whenever possible. However, a booster seat with a high back needs to be used with a lap/shoulder seat belt and should be placed accordingly.

Do consider your child’s size when purchasing a child restraint. For example, a restraint with a shield may sit too high on your infant’s chest to be a good, safe fit.

Do ensure harness straps lie flat (not twisted). The chest clip should be at the child’s underarm level. The harness should be tight enough so that you can fit only one finger between the harness and the child’s collar bone – if it’s looser than that, tighten the straps.

Don’t use child restraints with door-mounted seat belts or motorized seat belts. The restraint won’t be secure.

Don’t wrap your baby in a blanket before putting on a harness. Nothing should interfere with the straps that hold the baby in the restraint. Instead, put the straps on first and then cover the baby with blankets.

Don’t install the infant restraint too upright. A newborn’s head will flop forward, which could close the baby’s airway, making it difficult to breathe. Place a rolled towel under the front of the seat. This will tip the seat back for a better angle. Infant restraints should be at the same recline in the vehicle as they are when placed on a flat surface.

Don’t use household booster seats in your vehicle. They aren’t designed for transportation purposes.