Nearly Half of Parents Are Neglecting This Important Child Safety Measure — With Dangerous Consequences

We’ve all been there. Letting your kid ride without a car seat (or maybe even in the front seat) on the way home from school or when Grandma picks them up. I get it — car seats are clunky, heavy, and a huge hassle, especially when you have to move them between cars. The safety measures are incredible when kids are buckled into a car seat safely, yet many parents are ignoring — or forgetting — about these critical guidelines.

According to a new AAA analysis of data compiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation, nearly half (47 percent) of children injured in car crashes were not properly restrained in a car seat and were either using just a vehicle seatbelt or no restraint at all. Additionally, researchers noticed a sharp decrease (by 47 percent) in car seat use between the ages of 7 and 8, where an injury was reported, which indicates that kids are transitioning out of car seats and booster seats too early.

Importance of Car Seat Safety

Lead car safety product manager at Chicco and Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) Josh Dilts tells SheKnows, “The booster phase is crucial to the safety of a child passenger in the event of a car crash and it’s important not to skip it. The core function of a booster seat is to elevate the child to ensure that the seat belt fits properly over the stronger parts of the child’s body, such as the collarbone and hips, rather than across the neck or stomach, where it can cause serious injury during an accident.”

Proper seat belt fit is a combination of child’s height, weight, and maturity, according to Dilts, although many state laws focus only on age. “Based on their size, children upwards of 10 years old may benefit from using a booster seat,” he says, adding that most booster seats will accommodate children up to a height of 57 inches and a weight of 100 pounds. Just because you were riding without one at age 3, doesn’t mean it’s safe to do so for your child!

The Right Car Seat

Another thing to keep in mind? Make sure you are using the right car seat for your child. Dilts recommends keeping your child in a five-point harness seat “for as long as possible” and only transitioning to a booster seat when kids have maxed out the requirements for forward-acing harness car seats.

“Caregivers should refer to the height and weight limits allowed by the specific car seat, which can be found on the product itself and outlined in the instruction manual,” he continues. “If the manual is ever misplaced, Chicco offers digital versions of its car seat manuals on ChiccoUSA.com.”

Go Beyond State Laws

“Caregivers should refer to state and national traffic recommendations to ensure they are not transitioning their children out of car seats or booster seats too soon,” Dilts tells us. “To help caregivers navigate the various state regulations, Chicco has compiled an easy-to-use map that details car seat, booster seat and child passenger seatbelt laws by state.”

He says that state regulations indicate “the minimum requirements for switching from a 5-point harness to a booster seat.” Yet, “It is often beneficial to extend use of a car seat beyond what state laws mandate and up to the size requirements of the specific car seat model.”

In other words, just because it’s technically legally OK, doesn’t mean that it’s what’s safest or best for your child.

For example, children must be at least 4 years old, 40 pounds, and 44 inches to safely use a booster seat. However, Dilts recommends “carefully considering the child’s growth, maturity, and ability to stay safely positioned during car rides” before making the switch. They may not be able to handle the responsibility of a booster seat until age 5.

How Do You Know If Your Child Is Ready for a Booster?

Beyond meeting the legal requirements, Dilts shares a few ways to check if your child is ready for the transition.

“A child ready for a booster seat can sit relatively still in the same seated position throughout the car,” Dilts says. “This ensures the seat belt remains in a position to provide optimal protection.”

“Once you think your child is ready for a booster and you’re trying it out for fit, that the shoulder belt guide is positioned at or just slightly above the child’s shoulders, and that the seat belt lays flat and snug across the thighs and chest,” he adds.

What If I’ve Already Taken My Kid Out of a Car Seat?

Don’t worry — it’s not too late to put your child back in a car seat or a booster seat.

“In my experience, one incentive that works remarkably well is to talk to your child about comfort,” Dilts suggests. “Many children will rest while riding in cars, and the adult seats are not very supportive of their small bodies, causing them to slouch and become not properly positioned when dozing off in the back seat. Explain to your child that with a high-back booster they’ll be much more comfortable because the curved sides and headrest will offer much more comfort and support throughout the ride.”

“It’s also helpful to get your kids involved in choosing a booster seat they like so they feel invested in its use,” he adds.

I did both of these with my 5-year-old after transitioning him to a booster seat. He didn’t like the lack of support, so he helped us pick out a booster seat with a high back and neck support that would help when he fell asleep in the car.

We all want our kids to be safe, and car seat safety is critical. Make what could be a stressful situation by fun by picking out a seat with your little one. Considering that Target’s Car Seat Trade-In Event begins Sept. 21, now is a great time to go shopping for a new car seat. And if you need any recs, real moms swear by these amazing car seats!

Before you go, check out this list of Hollywood’s most permissive parents.