Four out of every five car seats are used incorrectly.
How safe is your child?

Using the correct child passenger safety seat for your child's age and size, and ensuring that the child is secured in the seat correctly and the seat is secured in the vehicle correctly significantly reduces the risk of serious injury, or death, in the event of an automobile crash. The following table will help you determine if your child is riding in the correct safety seat:

Which Safety Seat is the Right One for My Child?

My child is . . .	Infant	Toddler or Pre-Schooler	Young Child
Age & Weight	Birth to at least 1y. old & over 20 lbs	Over 1 yr old & over 20 lbs to about 4 yrs old & 40 lbs	To 8 yrs old or about 80 lbs
Type of Child Passenger Seat	Infant carrier or convertible safety seat	Convertible or forward-facing car seat with harness	Belt positioning booster seat
Seat Position	Rear-facing in back seat	Forward facing in back seat	Forward facing in back seat
Note	Harness straps should be at or below shoulder level; nation recommendation states that infants should remain rear-facing until they reach the max. weight & height limit indicated on the seat	Harness straps should be at or above shoulders. Be aware of max. weight & height limits; most seats only accommodate children to 40 lbs, though some accommodate children up to 65 lbs.	Use with the vehicle's lap and shoulder belt. NYS law requires children remain in appropriate safety seat until they reach their 7th birthday. However, national recommendation is until a child fits the vehicle seat correctly w/o the assistance of a booster seat

Note: Using the child passenger safety seat that fits your child and your vehicle and correctly installing the safety seat each time your child travels is essential for ensuring the safety of your child. Always refer to your vehicle and safety seat manuals for instructions of using your safety seat correctly.