General carseat reminders:
Rear facing a seat is outgrown
At the weight limit
When there is less than 1” of shell above the head
Forward facing a seat is outgrown
At the weight limit
When the top of the ear goes over the top of the shell
When the shoulders go over the top slots
Keep the harness snug, so that you cannot pinch anything horizontally at the shoulder.
Installation reminders:
Always check for movement at the belt path only (where the seatbelt or LATCH strap goes through).
Check with a firm handshake from the non dominant hand.
Look for less than 1” of movement
Forward facing make sure the seat is tethered.
Rear facing there may be movement at the head of the seat. That is fine.
Rear facing, make sure the angle is acceptable. 45o for a newborn, as upright as 30o for an older child
Lock the seatbelt (pull the seatbelt out slowly at the shoulder, or there is a lock at the buckle, it varies by
vehicle), or use a locking clip or built in lockoff.
Using the seat:
Rear facing have the straps at or below the shoulders.
Forward facing the straps should be at or above the shoulders.
The chest clip goes at nipple/armpit level.
Make sure the harness is tight, nothing can be pinched at the shoulders (yes, important enough to
mention twice).
Never put an infant seat in the seating area of a shopping cart.
When it's time to change seats:
Since 2002 the AAP has recommended to face the rear to the maximum limits of the convertible seat.
Nowadays that's 35-45 pounds, and ideally 3-4 years old.
Harness forward facing until at least 5-6 years old, when kids have the size and maturity to sit properly
in a high back booster.
Use a high back booster until it's outgrown, usually 8-10 years old.
Use a backless booster until the seatbelt properly fits, usually 10-12 years old
Seatbelt is low on the hips/high on the thighs
Shoulder belt crosses the collarbone
Bum is all the way back
Knees bend at the edge of the seat
Feet reach the floor
Child can sit properly for the entire ride
Washington State Law:
The restraint law states a child must use an appropriate restraint until 8 years old or 4'9”.
The seatbelt law states that a child must use an appropriately fitting seatbelt until age 16 (when the adult
seatbelt law takes over), or use a proper restraint.
Children must sit in the backseat, when practical to do so, until their 13th birthday.
Four Ps:
Planes: Always buy a ticket for your child, and use a carseat until 40 pounds, as per the FAA recommendations
Pets: Secure any pets. Dogs and cats can use a hardware mounted gate, or use a crate, dog harness, or soft crate in the footwell.
Projectiles: Anything not buckled down will become a projectile in a crash. Use compartmentalization or tying down to prevent objects from flying. If you would throw it at your baby's head, it's safe to have loose.
Puffy coats: Do not put anything thick between baby and the harness and the seat. Nothing more than a fleece or sweater (the same goes for adults). A puffy coat, blanket, or added snuzzle can move the harness out of proper position, and add space that will compress in a crash, leading to increased chance of ejection and injury.
