Public Health and Environment

Using Your Car Seat Correctly

Register your car seat.
- When you purchase a car seat, it comes with a registration card. By sending this in you will receive all safety notices. If you did not register your car seat, or you have changed addresses, you can download the the registration form from the link above.
Always put the handle of an infant seat down when it is in use in the vehicle.
- In a crash, a child could hit his/her head on a handle in the up position. Toys should not be hung from the handle when the seat is in use in the vehicle
Tighten the harness straps on each ride.
- A snug harness keeps the child in the safety seat during a crash. You should not be able to pinch any excess strap at your child's collar bone area.
Thread the harness retainer clip correctly and position it at the armpit level.
- When threaded correctly, this clip keeps the strap from sliding off. Correct positioning, at armpit level, prevents a child from being thrown from the seat.
When using a convertible seat in the forward position, check your owner's manual. Many seats require the harness to be in the top slot.
- The top slots are reinforced to prevent the seat from breaking in a crash.
Do not place excess padding behind or under your baby.
- Padding or cushion will compress in a crash making the harness loose. Loose harness straps may allow a child to be thrown from the vehicle. In addition, certain types of padding may not be flame retardant.
Be sure the safety belt is holding the safety seat securely in the vehicle.
- If the belt loosens or the car seat slides more than an inch it is not installed securely. A seat must be installed securely to prevent the child from striking another passenger or the interior of the vehicle.
Do not allow children who are using a lap/shoulder belt to put the shoulder belt behind their neck or under their arm.
- A belt placed under the arm or back leaves the upper body unprotected and increases the risk of severe injury in a crash.