Child Car Safety Seats

Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13. Child car seats protect children against death and injury.

Mississippi law requires that all children younger than 4 years must use a safety seat or similar restraint.

Children aged 4 and older must use a safety seat or booster seat depending on their height and weight.

Choosing a Child Safety Seat

The safest seat for your child depends on their age and size. Change seat types (for instance, from rear-facing to forward-facing) at the right time to make sure they have the best protection.

• Chart: Car seat types by the age and weight of your child

• How to select the right type of seat for your child CDC Recommendations from the CDC
• The Ultimate Car Seat Guide SafeKids Buying, installing, fitting and when to change a car seat for your child
• Child safety seat ease of use ratings 5-star ratings system from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration

Installing a Seat

Child passenger seats must be installed and adjusted correctly to protect your child. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation. If you need help installing a seat, or need to make sure your seat is adjusted correctly, you can have it installed or checked at a safety seat inspection station.

• Find a seat inspection station near you

Ready for Seat Belts?

The biggest car seat mistake is moving your child out of a booster seat too soon. Seat belts are designed to fit adults, not children. Moving to adult seat belts before your child fits them can result in abdominal or neck injury in a crash or sudden stop.

Once your child reaches 7 years of age, or reaches the required 57 inches of height 65 pounds of weight, they're ready to move from a booster seat to adult seat belts alone if they pass all five of these checks:

• Does your child sit all the way back against the seat?
• Do your child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the seat without slouching?
• Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
• Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
• Can your child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

If you answered "no" to any of the above questions, your child should still ride in a booster seat. If they pass the test, they're ready for a seat belt.

Remember:

• The lap belt should fit the child low across the hips and thighs, not across the abdomen.
• The shoulder belt fits across the collarbone and chest. It should not cut into a child’s abdomen or neck.
• Children under age 13 should be properly restrained in the back seat.
• Teenagers should wear lap and shoulder belts in every seating position in a motor vehicle.
• A seat belt will properly fit a child when they reach 4 feet 9 inches tall, typically between the ages of 8 and 12.
• Out-of-position lap belts can cause serious injuries to the liver, spleen or intestines. Since a child’s upper body can jack-knife over a lap belt that's positioned too high, the spine may pivot and fracture, resulting in paralysis.

ALWAYS require safety belt use for all passengers and model good behavior. Make car safety a family habit!

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