3 Tips to Keep Kids Safe in the Car

With Family Safety Week the first week of April, now is a good time to implement tips to keep your children safe in the car. The reality is that car accidents are a leading cause of death for children in the United States.

Car seats aren’t the only protection your family needs. Reach out to Farm Bureau to make sure you have the right auto insurance coverage in place.

1. Use the Right Car Seat and Booster Seat

For top car seat safety, you need to choose one that’s designed for your child’s age and size. The guidelines from the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) are:

• Rear-facing car seat: Use a rear-facing car seat exclusively until your baby turns 1, and after that until they reach the height and weight limit, or for as long as possible. Rear-facing seats may be used up to age 3. These seats are the best way to keep your child safe. Always secure them properly, in the back seat.
• Forward-facing car seat: When your child outgrows a rear-facing car seat, they can move to one that faces forward until they reach the height or weight limit. These seats may be appropriate up to around age 7.
• Booster seat: When your child outgrows the forward-facing seat, they can use a booster seat along with the car’s lap and shoulder belt. They should stay in a booster seat until the car seat belt fits properly, with the lap belt across the thighs and the shoulder belt across the chest and shoulders, not the neck. They may need a booster seat until around age 12.

Not all car seats fit properly in all cars, so you need to be sure to use car seats that fit. You also need to install them properly. On its website, the NHTSA has guidance for choosing the right car seat, instructions for installation and locations like health centers and police stations that offer car seat installation inspections.

You should register your car seat with the manufacturer to be notified if there are any recalls or safety notices.

While it’s important to follow your state’s laws for children and car seats, keep in mind that those laws should be considered minimum standards, not recommendations. For example, in some states it may be legal for a 6-year-old child to use the car’s seatbelts, even though a car seat or booster seat might be safer. 

1. Make Sure Your Car Seat Is Safe

Your car seat may not provide the protection your child needs if the seat is old or it’s been involved in a crash. 

Most car seats need to be replaced after six to 10 years. That’s because materials break down over time. Your car seat should have a label that lists the model number and the manufacturing date. Some also include the expiration date. If not, you may need to check the owner’s manual or contact the manufacturer to find out. 

If your car has been in a moderate or severe crash, you should replace the car seat. You may not need to replace the car seat if your car was in a mild crash, which NHTSA defines as one where:

• The vehicle could be driven after the accident.
• The vehicle door closest to the car seat was not damaged.
• No passengers were injured in the crash.
• The air bags did not deploy.
• There is no visible damage to the car seat.

1. Place Your Child in the Safest Place in the Car

The back seat is the safest place for all children under age 13. If possible, the middle of the back seat is the safest place to install a car seat. In some car’s middle seats, you can’t install a car seat tightly, or you may need space in the back seat for other passengers. In those cases, you can put the car seat on either side of the back seat.

Farm Bureau Can Help Protect Your Family

As your family grows, your insurance needs may change. Reach out to Farm Bureau to make sure your auto, home and life insurance policies give you the right coverage.