Test Your Knowledge of Car Seat Safety

Do you think you know about car seat safety? You can test your knowledge of car seat safety here! Our certified child passenger safety technician (CPST) will give you the best answer for each of these questions below about car seat safety. We hope that this "test" will help you improve in any areas you need it. If you need to schedule a car seat check, you can do so by contacting SafeKids or reaching out to us via our contact form!

Grab a pen and paper and let's get to it!

Let's Test Your Knowledge of Car Seat Safety

1. Yes or no, children should ride in the back seat until they are 13 years old?

2, Yes or no, installing a car seat correctly with either L.A.T.C.H. or the seatbelt is equally safe?

3. A child's car seat is okay to move up to 1 inch left-to-right and still be properly installed, yes or no?

4. You should always use L.A.T.C.H. and the vehicle's seatbelt to install the car seat if your vehicle is equipped with L.A.T.C.H., right?

5. On a rear-facing car seat, should the handle you carry the car seat with always be locked in the up position while the baby is riding in the vehicle?

6. As long as the child is properly restrained is it safe for the child to ride in the front of a vehicle in a rear facing car seat with airbags installed?

7. Should the harness on the car seat be checked for tightness each time the child is put into the car seat?

8. Is it safe for a child to ride rear facing after they are one year old?

9. If a child reaches 1 year old and can walk unassisted, they should be turned forward-facing.

10. The harness/shoulder straps should go through the back of the car seat at or just above the shoulders of the child riding in a car seat.

So, how confident are you feeling about your knowledge of car seat safety right now?

Don't worry about how many you get correct. Remember, you are here because you care. You're here to learn. You know what they say, when we know better, we do better.

Now it's time to check those car seat safety answers!

Keep Scrolling Down!

1. The answer is yes! All child passengers 0-13 years old are safest when riding in the back seat of a vehicle and properly restrained

2. Yes! When the car seat is installed correctly it is equally safe to use the vehicle's seatbelt or L.A.T.C.H. according to the car seat's manual and vehicle manual.

3. Yes! The child's car seat can be installed correctly and still move up to an inch, but no more than that, from side to side at the belt path.

4. No! You should use one or the other to install the car seat, never both.

5. The answer to this question is no! "Always" is the keyword here. The position of a rear-facing car seat's carry handle while being used in a vehicle depends on what the car seat manufacturer says.

6. No! It's NEVER safe for a child in a rear-facing car seat to ride in the front seat of a vehicle with airbags installed.

7. Absolutely, positively, yes!

8. Yes, it is! Not only is it safe for a one-year-old to continue to ride rear-facing, but it's also best for children to remain in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible until reaching the maximum height and weight limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer.

9. Not at all, no! The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued their recommendation and states that the safest way for a child three years of age and younger to travel is in a rear-facing car seat. For those concerned about a child's legs being cramped, uncomfortable, or injured in a crash, the AAP determined that children are NOT at an increased risk for leg injuries rear-facing rather than forward-facing.

10. Yes and no! The position of the harness/shoulder straps is determined by which way the child passenger is facing, rear-facing is at or slightly below the shoulders and forward-facing is at or just above the shoulders. You should always refer to your car seat manual to tell you where those straps should be.

Meeting parents where they are in their journey is super important to our team at The Jacksonville Baby Company.

So, naturally car seat safety and safe sleep are two of our top priorities. If you are expecting a little one soon, have one or two already, or even have older kiddos under 13 years of age consider contacting us to set up a time for one-on-one education, support, and assistance with selecting and installation of your child's car seat.

Authored by Elizabeth Luke CPST, CCBE, & P&ICS

Elizabeth is the founder and CEO of The Jacksonville Baby Company. Elizabeth and her husband and best friend, Richard are parents to four children. With certifications in Postpartum and Infant Care Support, Childbirth and Newborn Care Education, Lactation Support, and Infant Sleep, Elizabeth is a wealth of knowledge and has a heart for helping parents live their best lives while also ensuring their children are safe, happy, and leading their healthiest lives possible! Contact us today for day, night, and live-in support!