Car seats, booster seats, and seatbelts
Free child car seat check events are happening locally throughout 2023 for parents, parents-to-be and caregivers. Whether this is your first time installing a car seat in preparation for the arrival of a new baby or you’ve done this many times, installing car seats correctly can be tricky. Only one in four car seats are installed correctly according to national data. That’s in part because every car seat and vehicle is different and as your child grows, how they travel in your car will change.
Access a list of locations in King County where you can have your child's car seat inspected.
NOTICE: Future Public Health needs may require postponement or cancellation of car seat checks. Please reach out to the event contact to confirm the status of posted car seat checks and mask-use policies before you attend an event. If you are interested in a "Virtual" car seat check, please contact Laura Miccile at laura.miccile@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-8664.
Car seat and booster seat recommendations
Get the best safety benefits of your child’s car seat by following these recommendations, provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Don't rush from one seat to the next. Keep your child in the current seat and positioning for as long as possible (according to the seat manufacturer's height and weight requirements), to maximize safety.
- All infants ride in rear-facing car seats starting with their first ride home from the hospital. All infants and toddlers should ride rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of the car seat. Rear-facing is the safest seat position for children and many car seats can rear-face a child up to 40 or 50 pounds.
- Children should use a forward-facing car seat with a harness when they have outgrown the rear-facing seat (check maximums of car seat's rear-facing height or weight). Children should use a forward-facing car seat with a harness for as long as possible. Keep child in car seat with harness until they reach the harness height limits, or the maximum weight or height allowed by the manufacturer of the car seat.
- Booster seats are for older children who have outgrown the forward-facing car seat (check car seat's height or weight or shoulder height limits). A belt-positioning booster seat is used until the vehicle's lap-and-should seat belt fits properly. Booster seats must be used with a lap AND shoulder belt. If your child climbs out of the booster seat or will not sit upright for an entire trip, it is not safe and too soon to switch. Find a car seat with harness that will fit his/her height and weight.
- Children are large enough to use the vehicle seat belt typically when they reach 4'9" tall and are between 8 and 12 years of age. Most children will not fit seat belts without a booster seat until 10 or 11 years of age. Children should always use lap and shoulder seat belts for optimal protection. Children younger than 13 should always ride in the back seat. Check out the Safe Kids Seat Belt Fit Test to know if your child is ready.
Click It or Ticket!
Washington state laws require that everyone in a motor vehicle wears a safety restraint that is properly fastened. Following this law can save you money and help save lives! The fine for not wearing a seatbelt or appropriate child restraint costs $124.
Washington's Seat Belt Law (RCW 46.61.688) requires:
- Every person 16 years or older operating or riding in a motor vehicle shall wear the safety belt assembly in a properly adjusted and securely fastened manner.
- No person may operate a motor vehicle unless all children passengers under the age 16 are either wearing a safety belt or are securely fastened in an approved child restraint device.
Washington's Child Passenger Restraint Law (RCW 46.61.687) requires:
- Children up to age 2 must be properly secured in a rear-facing car seat.
- Children ages 2-4 years must ride in a car seat with a harness (rear or forward facing).
- Children 4 and older must ride in a car or booster seat until they are 4' 9" tall.
- Children over height 4' 9" must be secured by a properly fitted seat belt (typically starting at 8-12 years old).
- Children up to age 13 must ride in the back seat when practical to do so
- Child restraint system must comply with U.S. DOT standards and be used according to vehicle and child restraint manufacturer.
For the best protection, a child should remain in each stage of restraint until they reach the maximum height and weight based on the manufacturer’s instructions.
Resources
- 2020 Car Seat Guide, American Academy of Pediatrics
- Target Zero Traffic Safety Issues
Link/share our site at www.kingcounty.gov/carseats