Child Car Seats

Keeping your child safely secured in a properly secured and sized car seat can greatly reduce the risk of injuries during an automobile crash. For maximum child passenger safety, follow the steps below:

• Keep infants rear-facing until a minimum of age 1 and at least 20 lbs.
• When children outgrow their rear-facing seats, they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the seat (usually around age 4 and 40 lbs.).
• Once the children outgrow their forward-facing seat, they should ride in booster seats, in the back seat, until the vehicle seat belts fit properly. State law requires children to be in a child restraint system until their 8th birthday, unless they are 4'9" tall.
• When children outgrow their booster seats, they can use the adult seat belt in the back seat if it fits properly (lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt across the chest). It is recommended that children under 13 remain in the back seat.

To be sure your car seat is installed properly, stop in at one of the free car seat checks offered each week in South King County (schedule below). You may also call 1-800-BUCKLUP with car seat questions.

Car Seat Fitting Dates and Locations (pdf)