LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children, and the latest research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that 46% of car seats are misused. 

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, child restraints reduce fatalities by 71% for infants younger than one and by 54% for children ages 1 to 4. 

What You Need To Know

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data shows that 46% of car seats are misused 
  • Common mistakes for car seat installation inclduekids being moved to forward facing car seats too soon and the chest strap being too low

  • You can tell what car seat phase your child is in by looking at the sticker on the side

  •  Kinzie Everard with Norton Children's Prevention & Wellness says rear-facing is the safest the child will ever be in the car

Kinzie Everard helps parents keep kids safe in the car.

“Rear facing is the safest the child will ever be in the car,” said Everard, who is the coordinator for injury prevention programming at Norton Children’s Prevention & Wellness and the coordinator for Safe Kids Louisville Coalition. 

“We really want parents to know what phase of car seat their child should be in and hold on to that phase as long as possible,” she said. 

You can tell what car seat phase your child is in by looking at the sticker on the side. Once you know the car seat that’s right for you, then you’re ready to install.

Common mistakes Everard sees when doing car seat check ups include kids being moved to forward facing car seats too soon and the chest strap being too low. 

“The chest clip is usually a little too low. We want it perfectly inline with the child’s armpits,” said Everard. 

And once your child has maxed out the height and weight for rear-facing car seats, they’re ready to go forward facing.

All to help keep little ones safe.