Each year thousands of young children are injured or killed in car crashes due to the lack of a child seat or a seat that has been improperly installed. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 96 percent of parents believe their child seats are installed correctly.  Yet research shows that seven out of 10 children are either not securely fastened in their car seat or are in a seat that is not properly secured to the vehicle in which it has been placed.

At Britax, the philosophy of child passenger safety is based on the belief that the best child seat is one that fits your child, fits your vehicle and is the easiest for you, the parent or caregiver, to install correctly, each and every time. Observing the following safety reminders will help to ensure that your child passenger receives the full protection of the safety features designed into each and every Britax child seat.

• The safest place for a child in any vehicle is in the back seat, safely secured in a child seat.
• Infants should ride in rear-facing car seats in the back seat of a vehicle until they are at least one year old AND weigh 20 pounds. This is the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
• When using a convertible car seat in the rear-facing mode, make sure the child's head is below the top of the child seat so that the head is not exposed to contact with the vehicle interior.
• Never place a child seat in front of a passenger air bag.  Children should only be placed in the back seat of a vehicle, where side air bags are used to protect the child in the event of a crash. 
• Once children outgrow their convertible car seat (usually around age 4 and 40 to 65 pounds), they should ride in a forward-facing child seat with a higher weight limit equipped with a five-point harness, a combination seat with five-point harness and seat belt positioning, or a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly.
• The most common car seat installation and use mistakes include:
  • Using a child seat that is not appropriate for the child’s age and size
  • Improperly securing the child seat to the vehicle seat
  • Securing the child improperly in the car seat by inadequate tightening of harness and crotch straps
  • Positioning the child seat in an incorrect direction
  • Placing the child seat where the child may be exposed to the impact of a vehicle air bag
  • Incorrectly using locking clips for certain vehicle safety belts
  • Using a damaged or old car seat

• To ensure that a child seat is installed properly:
  • Make sure that the child seat moves no more than one inch to the front or side to side in the vehicle.
  • Adjust the harness so that the straps are threaded through the slots at or below the child’s shoulders on a rear-facing child seat and at or above the child’s shoulders in a forward-facing convertible car seat. 
  • Check to make sure the harness is comfortable for your passenger but tight enough so that the webbing cannot be pinched between your fingers. A snug strap should not allow any slack and should lie in a relatively straight line without sagging. 
  • Adjust the chest clip so that it is positioned at armpit level.
• Always use the appropriate child seat for the age, weight, and height of the child and adjust the harnesses correctly for the child every time the seat is used.
• If a child seat has been involved in a severe crash or is more than six years old, the seat should be replaced with a newer model.
• Do not use any aftermarket products (e.g., mirrors, sun visors, toys attached to the seat, etc.), as they could affect the performance of the child seat in the event of a crash and could become dangerous projectiles in a collision.
• When you are shopping for a child seat, always install the seat in your car at the store to ensure a proper fit. Local law enforcement organizations sometimes have hands-on demonstrations to teach proper car seat installation. Call your local law enforcement department to see if they can assist you with a proper installation. Additional child seat installation information can be obtained through child safety organizations, such as Safe Kids Worldwide.
• If you have difficulty installing your child seat securely, contact the manufacturer or U.S. Department of Transportation for locations where you can find assistance with installation.
• If you are planning to fly, be sure to check your child seat before you leave for the airport. A child seat meets FAA requirements only if it is labeled, “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.”