Maryland Kids In Safety Seats

Frequently Asked Questions

Rear-facing:

How long should my baby sit rear-facing?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies should ride rear-facing to the maximum weight or height of the rear-facing convertible seat for the best protection. Look in your car seat’s owner’s manual or labels on the seat for this information. When your baby outgrows the infant-only seat, move him/her to a rear-facing convertible seat, which will allow you to keep baby backwards for a longer period of time. Minimum recommendations for forward-facing usage are one year old* and 20 pounds. In addition, medically fragile children should ride rear-facing as long as possible. Click here for a copy of AAP’s policy statement pertaining to the transportation of children.

*Babies born pre-maturely must continue to ride backwards for a minimum of one year from their full-term due date and a minimum of 20 pounds.

How does a rear-facing seat protect a child?

Infants have large heavy heads, weak neck and shoulder muscles and soft, immature bones. Car seats are designed to safeguard these fragile parts and provide maximum protection during a crash. When a child is positioned rear-facing, the back of the car seat shell absorbs the energy from the crash, allowing the child’s head and neck to be protected against the seat back. This helps prevent brain and spinal cord injury.

Click Here for more information on rear-facing protection.

What if my baby’s legs touch the back of the seat? Is this uncomfortable or unsafe?

Babies are flexible, so they can ride comfortably with their legs crossed or resting against the back of the vehicle. Babies tend to play with their legs--they can pull their feet over their head, push toes into ears and bounce feet off of vehicle seat backs. All of these activities are fine, and do not increase the risk of injury to your baby. In fact, there are no documented cases of severe leg injury among rear-facing children.

I’m worried about my newborn because his head seems to flop forward. How can I fix this?

Infants need head support from birth to 3-4 months (possibility longer for pre-mature infants) to prevent their airways from closing if their head tilts forward. Check your car seat to be sure the seat is correctly reclined. Most car seats come with an angle indicator designed to help parents find the proper recline. Always check the car seat instructions for how to get the correct reclining angle. When the car seat is correctly reclined, baby’s head should not fall forward once he’s buckled in properly.

In addition, most rear-facing infant-only car seats come with head inserts to help with this problem and these are safe to use. A few convertible seats also come with inserts.

If, while using the insert, you still find that your baby tends to lean to one side, take rolled towels or rolled receiving blankets and place them on either side. Click here for a photo example. This will give proper head support and center baby in the car seat.

As baby gets older and heavier, usually around 3-4 months, you may remove the head insert.

Adjust the seat to a more upright position as baby gets older and heavier. Baby is ready to sit more upright is when he starts to strain up against the harness straps to sit up, usually around 7-9 months.

Can I buy a cushion to put behind baby’s head?

Use only products or cushions that came with your car seat or that are made by the car seat manufacturer. Don’t buy or use any add-on products designed to hold baby’s head in place or entertain baby. These products can include toys, mirrors, seat belt shoulder adjusters, or padding and cushioning to add onto the seat. These products are not safety tested with the seat to meet federal motor vehicle standards, and may prevent your vehicle seat belt or car seat from functioning properly. Toys or mirrors could become projectiles in a crash and injure your baby or other occupants. Extra blankets, padding and cushioning that go behind the baby may be dangerous because it leaves too much space between your baby and the harness.

Is there any advice you can give me for installing and using my rear-facing seat?

Follow your car seat and vehicle manufacturer instruction manual. In addition, Partners for Child Passenger Safety has a Web site featuring video clips, highlighting rear-facing seats, forward-facing seats, booster seats and LATCH. Click here to visit their Web site.

Forward-facing:

I am expecting a second baby soon. Where is the safest place in the car to put my 3 year-old daughter’s forward facing seat?

The safest place for your three-year old depends on the type of seat you have, the number and location of the seating positions in your car, as well as the type of seatbelts in your vehicle. Please contact KISS at 800-370-SEAT to help you better answer questions about your unique child seating needs.

How long should I keep my child in a car seat harness? He is 4 years old and 35 pounds.

First check your car seat instruction manual to find out the maximum weight and height limits on the car seat harness. If your child can still use the harness, it is best to keep him there because the harness provides the most protection.

The next seat for your child will be a booster seat. Move your child to the next seat when he outgrows the current seat by weight or height. Children who have longer torsos may outgrow the harness slots before reaching the maximum height limit for the seat. For children whose shoulders are above the uppermost harness slots, a different seat with taller slots or a booster seat will be necessary.

My 42 pound child complains about the straps being too tight on his car seat. What should I do?

First check to make sure your child is not too heavy for the harness. This information can be found in the car seat instruction manual and on the seat’s labels. Also check to make sure that you have the straps threaded through the proper slots. For forward-facing seats the harness should be threaded at or above the child’s shoulders. If the straps are at shoulder level move the straps up to the next slot (if available). If none of these apply, then check the snugness of the straps. You should be able to slide one finger between the child’s collarbone and the straps, you should not be able to pinch or fold webbing at the collarbone and pull webbing away from the body but the straps should not be so tight as to cut into the skin.

Is there any advice you can give me for installing and using my forward-facing seat?

Booster Seat:

We just bought a booster seat and it seems so unsafe! It slides around the car and isn’t attached to anything. Is that right?

A booster seat is designed to raise a small child up to correctly fit into a seat belt that is sized for an adult. When a child is seated in a booster, the lap and shoulder belt will protect the child the same way it does an adult. In a crash, the booster seat needs to stay under the child’s bottom and move with the child to keep the belts correctly aligned.

When is my child ready to sit in the car without a booster seat?

The “Gold Star” standard for determining when a child is ready to be graduated out of the booster seat is called the 5-Step Test.

While viewing the child sitting buckled up on the vehicle seat, ask yourself these five questions:

Can the child sit all the way back against the vehicle seat?
Do the child’s knees bend naturally over the edge of the seat?
Does the shoulder belt cross the center of the upper chest?
Does the lap belt sit low and snug across the hipbone, touching the thighs?
Can the child sit like this for the entire trip?

If you answered “NO” to any of these questions, your child should remain in a booster.
If your child will be riding in more than one vehicle, it is important to ensure that they take the 5-Step Test for each car. All vehicles are not made the same; in one car a child may not need a booster and in another car, he may need a booster.

While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says that children can use adult seat belts once they reach 4’9,” not all children are built the same. Some children may benefit from continued use of the booster seat even after reaching this height guideline. This is why the 5-Step Test is the best guideline.

Click here to view a list of booster seat resources.

Click here to view the Partners for Child Passenger Safety report on the importance of booster seat safety.

Click here to view the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Improving the Safety of Older Children: A Progress Report on Reducing Death and Injuries Among 4-8 Year Old Child Passengers.”

Is there any advice you can give me for installing and using my booster seat?

General:

Which car seat is best?

KISS cannot endorse specific manufacturers or models but we can recommend features to look for, such as:

Multiple sets of harness slots

The more harness height adjustment slots available, the better you are able to adjust the harness to fit your child.

Multiple sets of crotch strap slots

The more crotch strap slots available, the better you are able to adjust the harness to fit your child.

Harness Style

There are two types of harness styles currently available on the market: a 5-Point harness (click here for a photo) and Tray shield (click here for a photo). While both styles provide protection, we typically recommend a 5-Point Harness system because it allows the harness to contact your child along the entire torso and across the hips. There are many factors to selecting the most appropriate harness for your child. Call KISS directly for more information about selecting a harness style.

Ease of harness adjusters

Front harness adjusters allow easy access, in most cases, to tighten and loosen the harness straps. Easy access means easier to use, which usually adds up to correct use of the harness.

For “Above Average” Children

Height:

Children with long torsos will need a car seat with taller shoulder slots to allow room for shoulder height.

Click here for a list of shoulder height measurements on seats with harness systems up to 65 pounds.

Weight:

Infants who gain weight quickly will need to be moved to a rear-facing convertible with a higher rear-facing harness weight limit.

Toddlers who outgrow the traditional 40 pound harness system will need a car seat with a 50-65 pound harness system to allow them to continue to ride in a full harness. Click here for a list of car seats with 40-80 pound harness systems.

EPS Foam

EPS foam is the same material added to bicycle helmets. Its purpose is to better distribute crash forces around the shell. Many car seat manufacturers are adding EPS foam to their seats to further improve the safety of the car seat.

Compatibility

Since compatibility between safety seats and vehicles varies, it is a good idea to try and install the safety seat in your car before making a purchase. Ask the store from which you plan to purchase your car seat if you can test the compatibility of the seat prior to purchasing it. Remember to follow both the child safety seat and vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.

Where can I get my car seat installed?

Maryland has a network of volunteers and agencies that provide car seat inspections for the public. These sites, called Permanent Fitting Stations, are run by appointment only and availability varies by organization. KISS asks that you call our Helpline directly at 800-370-SEAT for a site nearest you so that we may match you with the most appropriate site based on your need.

However, it is very important to realize that these are inspection sites, not installation sites. So, once your appointment is made, we suggest that you...

Pre-install the car seat(s), if at all possible. The point of this service is education, not installation. The technician is there to double check and correct your work, if necessary.
Please read prior to the appointment and bring your owner’s manuals for both the car seat and vehicle. This will ensure a quicker and more comprehensive education process.
Ask questions if you don’t understand something. This is your child and car seat- you need to know how to re-install it prior to leaving the appointment. Get into the vehicle, if possible and work with the technician.

The goal is to the learn how to do it yourself (you can do it!) so that if the car seat is taken out of the car for some reason, you don't have to wait for another appointment to re-install your seat.

How do I know if my seat has been recalled?

Call your car seat manufacturer and provide them with the model of the seat, the model number and the date of manufacture.

Contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at 1-888-327-4236 or online at: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/childseat.cfm

How long can I use my car seat?

Car seats can be used for approximately six years after the manufacture date. Select models may be used for a longer period of time so always check your owner’s manual, call the manufacturer directly or look for an imprint or label on the actual car seat to find out when your seat is too old to use. If it has expired, discard it.

Is it safe to use a previously owned car seat?

The car seat is safe to use if:

The original owner of the seat can verify that the seat has not been in a crash
No labels or other identifying information are missing from the seat
The seat has not expired
The harness are intact and not frayed
The frame is crack/dent free
The seat still has all its parts
The instructions are still with the seat
The seat has a current FMVSS213 compliance label
The seat has not been recalled

My car seat was in a car crash. Can I still use it?

Always check with your car seat’s instructions to find out what to do in the event of a car crash. Maryland law says that a car seat must be used according to manufacturer’s instructions. Read through the car seat owner’s manual to see if there is a statement about crashed seats or contact the manufacturer directly. If the manufacturer says to replace the seat after a crash, you must replace the seat.

In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that a car seat be replaced if it is involved in a moderate or severe crash. In the event of a minor crash (see criteria below), your seat may not have to be replaced. Your crash was minor if:

Upon visual inspection of the seat, no cracks or deformities were found.
The vehicle that the car seat was in during the crash was driven away from the scene
Vehicle door nearest the vehicle seat was undamaged.
There were no injuries to any occupants of the vehicle in the crash.
The vehicle air bags did not deploy.

However, NHTSA always recommends you follow the car seat manufacturer advice on crashed seats.

My child won’t stay in his seat and tries to escape. What can I do?

There is no “escape-proof” seat. However, there are a few things you should check that could be allowing your child to get out of his seat.

Make sure that the harness straps are properly threaded through the correct slots.
Adjust the harness straps so that they are snug and flat against your child’s body.

A properly harnessed child should not be able to lean forward enough to reach or release his buckle. You should not be able to pinch the straps together and pull the webbing away from the collarbone or slide more than one finger beneath the straps at the collarbone. Check to make sure that the harness retainer clip is at armpit level.

If your child unbuckles a five-point harness system, a tray-shield might hide the buckle from the child’s view and access.
If your child keeps unbuckling his seat, contact your seat manufacturer to see if they can provide with you with a stronger buckle. These buckles require more pressure to release than the normal buckle and will prevent your child from releasing it.

Here are a few more suggestions:

Set an example for your child. Children are born imitators. If they see Mommy or Daddy buckling up they want to be buckled up, too.
Be consistent! Always, always, always buckle your child in. Deciding not to buckle your child in for “short trips” confuses them and the next time they’re in the car they won’t want to be buckled. If your children ride with other family members or friends, be sure that they practice the same buckling habits for your child.
Plan breaks. No one likes to sit still for long periods of time, especially children. For long trips, schedule breaks during which children can stretch and run around.
Involve your child. Before trips in the car, take a doll or stuffed animal and let your child practice buckling it in. While doing this, remind your child that the car seat and the buckles help keep her and the doll safe.
Pack a fun bag. Children often get bored on long car trips. Pack a bag with snacks, books, favorite dolls and games to keep them entertained. This will help keep their mind off being buckled in the seat.

How do I know if the harness is correct?

Specific manufacturer’s instructions may vary a bit but here are some general guidelines:

For rear-facing seats, the harness should be threaded so that the harness is AT or BELOW shoulder level.
Forward-facing seats should be threaded so that the harness is AT or ABOVE shoulder level.
The harness clip should be positioned at armpit level and the straps should lay flat against the body.
The harness should be snug on the child. Test the snugness of the harness by pinching the webbing of the harness at the collarbone. If you can pinch any amount of webbing then the harness is too loose.

I have heard that I should not dress my child in snow suit or bulky coats. Why not?

Your child should not wear bulky coats or blankets while in her car seat because the extra padding and cushioning creates more space between your baby and the harness. During a crash, all of the air in puffy coats and snowsuits is compressed and the child will be left with a dangerously loose harness. This will allow the baby to move forward more than they would if they were wearing less bulky fabrics. Instead of dressing your baby in bulky clothing, drape a blanket or the baby’s coat over top of the child or the seat after correctly securing the child in the seat.

Installation/LATCH:

How can I tell if my seat is installed tightly?

Pull your car seat at the belt path (where the seat belt passes through the car seat or where the LATCH has been attached to the vehicle) to the left and right, front and back. If you can move the seat more than one inch in any direction your seat is not installed tightly enough.

What is LATCH? Is it safer than a seatbelt? Can I use LATCH with the seatbelt?

LATCH, an acronym for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren, is a different way of installing your car seat.

LATCH is a two-part system, including straps attached to the car seat and anchors located in the vehicle. Most vehicles manufactured in 2003 and later have two factory installed lower anchor bars. Car seats with harness systems have had lower attachments for LATCH since September 2002.
Instead of using a vehicle seatbelt, LATCH uses separate straps attached to the car seat (for rear-facing only the two lower attachment(s) are needed; for forward facing you use both the lower attachment(s) and the upper tether). The lower anchors are small metal bars located in the vehicle between the seat back and the actual seat cushion of the vehicle seat. The tether or the upper anchor is a bar/bracket/webbing positioned somewhere behind the seat (always check the vehicle owner’s manual for the designated anchor). Attached to the car seat (varies by seat) is the LATCH lower anchor strap(s) that push onto the anchor bars. The upper tether is located near the top of the seat and also connects by pushing or hooking onto the tether anchor.

All car seats are manufactured to the same specific safety standards. Whether you install you car seat using LATCH does not make it more or less safe than a seat that is installed using a seatbelt.

You should never use LATCH and the seat belt together. They are both designed to perform the same job. One is not safer than the other. Almost all car seat and vehicle manufacturer’s instruct users to NOT use both systems at the same time. Chose the installation method that is easiest for you, in your vehicle.

Remember, just because your car/car seat is equipped with LATCH does not mean you can not use the seat belt. Some vehicles and certain seats do not always allow a tight installation using LATCH. When this happens use the seat belt.

Can I use LATCH in the rear center position?

You can use LATCH in the rear center position only if the owner’s manual to your vehicle and car seat designates that position for LATCH (many do not).

Can I use a tether on my rear-facing seat?

You can use a tether on a rear-facing seat only if the owner’s manual to your car seat manual permits it.