Common Misuse with Forward-Facing Car Seats
Are you using your child’s safety seat correctly? According to the National Digital Car Seat Check Form (NDCF) database, 83.5% of forward-facing carseats inspected by Child Passenger Safety Technicians in 2023 were improperly installed and used. We’re sharing the most common errors with forward-facing car seats, and how to avoid them.
Common Misuse
Whether your seat is installed using the LATCH or a seat belt, we see seats are often installed too loose.
Recommendation
The car seat should not move side-to-side or front-to-back more than one inch when tested at the belt path. The belt path is the place on a car seat where a seat belt or lower anchor attachment is placed to secure it in the vehicle. Learn from Safe Kids on how to take the “inch test” with a forward-facing car seat. Watch now.
Common Misuse
When installing a forward-facing car seat with a seat belt, we often see that the seat belt retractor is not locked (and no other form of lockability is used).
Recommendation
- Review your vehicle owner’s manual to learn what type of seat belt system is in the seat where you are installing a car seat.
- Learn what a seat belt retractor is and how to lock it. Watch now.
- Read your car seat’s manual to determine if it requires the seat belt retractor to be put in locking mode/a locked position.
Common Misuse
Tether is not used
Recommendation
Learn what a tether is, why it is important, and how to use it. Read more.
Common Misuse
The harness is too loose.
Recommendation
- Learn from Safe Kids on how to take the “pinch test” with a forward-facing car seat. Watch now.
- Learn about 5 general methods to obtain a proper harness fit (see below).
Harness Adjustment & Fit
Follow the general methods below to obtain a proper harness fit, and don’t forget to refer to your car seat instruction manual for more information.
- Place the child with their back and bottom against the back of the car seat.
- Adjust the harness height. For forward-facing seats, the harness should go through the slots at or above the child’s shoulders.
- Buckle the harness and the chest clip. Make sure the harness lies flat and isn’t twisted. Tighten until snug. (Tip: The harness is snug when you cannot pinch any extra material at the shoulder). Learn more.
- Place the retainer clip at armpit level.
- If there are multiple buckle strap positions, adjust per the car seat instruction manual. The buckle strap should be close to the child’s body but the child should not be sitting on the strap.
Source: National Child Passenger Safety Board.
Common Misuses with Other Child Safety Seats
