Keeping our children safe is a big part of being a parent. When we put our child in the car we want to know that they are safe, and that the equipment we are using is adequate and properly installed.

All states require children under the age of 4 to be restrained in a child safety seat, and three quarters require that a child over 4 be restrained in a booster seat. The exact laws and requirements very by State, Child Restraint Laws by State; be sure to check out the laws in your state to ensure you are in compliance.

Pediatricians recommend that children under 4’9” be in some sort of safety seat, such as a booster seat, as the seatbelts in vehicles are not properly designed to restrain people under that height. It is also recommended that children under 12 years old not be allowed sit in the front seat, whether in a safety seat or not, this is do to the way airbags are designed to function. Some cars and trucks do allow you to disarm the passenger side airbag, if you do have a child under 12 years of age sitting in the front seat be sure to disarm the airbag.

Child safety seats only work if they are installed correctly. According to the National Safety Belt Coalition 80% to 90% of child safety seats are either installed or used incorrectly. Many hospitals and police departments run child safety seat installation inspections. You can stop by and have your child safety seat inspected to ensure it meets current safety requirements and is installed correctly. If you have never installed a child safety seat you can have a police officer or nurse show you how to properly install the carseat and also show you how your child should be placed in the seat.

The best thing you can do for your child is to ensure you are using the proper safety equipment, that is it being used correctly, and that your child is in a safety seat for as long as necessary. If you wonder what is best consult your pediatrician to get their recommendations and do your research before purchasing any child safety seat.