Child safety seats, when properly installed, save lives. In fact, they reduce the risk of serious injury by as much as 71 percent for infants, according to Jeffrey Weiss, M.D., medical director of the Injury Prevention Center. A recent study released by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, however, reports that 85 percent of the 17,500 seats inspected were installed correctly. The most common misues were the safety belt not holding the seat tightly and harness straps not being used properly. Free car seat checks through Phoenix Children's Hospital Injury Prevention Center are available.
Appointments are available on the first and third Fridays of each month.
An English and Spanish version of the Phoenix Children's Hospital Child Passenger Safety brochure is available here. Shield boosters fail safety tests for children weighing more than 40 pounds. Learn the best safety seat option for your child. Babies should remain in rear-facing car seats until at least one year and at least 20 pounds. Many car seats do not accommodate babies who weigh more than 22 pounds.