During National Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 15-21), AAA and the National Safety Council (NSC) are releasing a safety alert for parents.

A new AAA analysis of five years of government crash data reveals a concerning trend: child seat and booster use declines after a child turns three, despite the continued need for these safety devices. In Tennessee 89% of parents and caregivers transitioned their children to an adult seatbelt too soon and nearly 23% transitioned to a booster seat too soon. This is alarming, as over four million children aged 11 and under were involved in car crashes, from 2018 to 2022, resulting in 547,000 injuries and nearly 3,000 fatalities.

“We know parents and caregivers go to great lengths to protect their children,” said Megan Cooper, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Yet, even with the best intentions, parents may unknowingly endanger their children by putting them in the wrong seat or not securing them properly. Since safety recommendations can vary as your child grows, AAA urges parents to take a moment to understand what type of child restraint to use and when.”

According to the National Digital Car Seat Check Form (NDCF) database, of the car seats inspected in 2023, 74% were not used properly or incorrectly installed. The three most common misuses were:

1.   Car seat installation is too loose.

2.   Not using the tether when installing a forward-facing car seat with either the lower anchors or seat belt.

3.   The harness is too loose when securing a child in a car seat.

When used correctly, car seats, booster seats, and seat belts protect young passengers. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, child restraints reduce fatalities by 71% for infants younger than one and by 54% for children 1 to 4 years old in passenger cars. 

Child seat advice

•     Find the right car seat. Types of seats vary based on their age, weight and height. Click here

•     Install your car seat correctly. Review instructions and video tutorials.

•     Get your car seat inspected. Click here to find a car seat inspection provider near you.

•     Ensure safety belts fit properly every time. The placement of the safety harness or seat belt can be critical.

•     Register your car seat. Sign up for recall notices to receive safety updates.

“Parents are often eager to turn their young children forward-facing in their car seats too soon,” Cooper said. “However, due to their underdeveloped bodies, young children below the age of two who ride forward-facing are at a greater risk of head, neck and spinal cord injuries if involved in a collision.”

Which seat should I use?

If you’re not sure when to move your child to the next type of car seat, look to these stages:

•     Rear-facing safety seat: Children should stay rear-facing as long as possible, up to the limits of the car safety seat. This includes almost all children under 2.

•     Forward-facing safety seat, with harness: Many seats can take children up to 60 pounds or more. When they are ready and exceed the seat’s limits, move to a belt-positioning booster seat.

•     Belt-positioning booster seat: Use until the vehicle’s lap and shoulder seat belts fit properly—generally when children are at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall (usually 8 to 12 years old).

•     Front seat versus back seat: All children younger than 13 should be restrained in the rear seats. Young children riding in the front seat can be injured or even killed if an air bag opens.

Child Passenger Seat Laws

Every state has different laws on child passenger seats. In Tennessee the law requires:

•     Age 1 and under: Children must be rear-facing in a car seat until they are 1 year and weigh over 20 pounds, following manufacturer instructions.

•     Ages 1 – 3 (and over 20 pounds): Children must be in a harnessed child safety seat, following manufacturer instructions. 

•     Ages 4–9 (and shorter than 4’9”): Children must be in a booster seat, following manufacturer instructions (until 9th birthday).

•     Seat belts: Children 9 years or younger and taller than 4’9”, must use a seat belt and be in the rear seat if available. Sitting in the rear seat is recommended for ages 9 – 12.

When is your child ready for a seatbelt?

“Seat belts are designed for adults, not children,” Cooper said. “A seat belt that does not fit correctly, could cause injury in the event of a crash.”

Seat belts are about height not age. Check the following before moving your child to an adult seat belt:

1.   Your child’s knees bend at the edge of the seat when their back and bottom are against the vehicle seat back. Feet should touch the floor for comfort and stability.

2.   The vehicle lap belt fits snugly across the hips or upper thighs.

3.   The shoulder belt fits across the shoulder and chest, NOT across the face or neck.

If your child does not meet all three of these conditions, they should continue using a car seat or booster seat until they get taller.