What to Know about Traveling with a Child in a Car Seat

One of the challenges of travel that affects us as we get older is driving with kids in the car. I distinctly remember standing on a bench seat with my dad as we drove up and down country roads — something that would be pretty roundly forbidden today. There are many things to understand about traveling with a child, and specifically about traveling with a child in a car seat. Here are a few myths you may have heard, and what we can tell you about dispelling them, in honor of Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 13-19).

Traveling with a Child in a Car Seat

True or False: Kids can sit in the front seat after they outgrow their car seats.
False. This one might surprise a lot of parents, but the NHTSA suggests that all children 13 or under sit in back. Why? The simple fact that they are safer in back during an accident due to the more enveloping nature of a back seat.

True or False: Children should be rear-facing until age two.
True. Despite their innate desire to look around and see everything around them, they should remain backward-facing until at least the age of two. Why? Because, according to a University of Virginia study, children two and under are 75 percent less likely to be seriously hurt or worse if they’re facing the rear. So, until they exceed the height or weight of the car seat, they should stay in a car seat looking rearward.
True or False: It’s okay to spend less on a car seat than I would on a really expensive one.
True. Regardless of price, every single car seat manufacturer is required to meet the same exacting performance standards of the NHTSA. There are a variety of things that can make them more expensive: fancier fabric, recycled materials or what have you. But the safety must meet the same threshold across the board.
True or False: Car seats don’t have expiration dates.
False. Surprised? Well, don’t be. Even though it’s obviously a way to save money, sometimes used car seats can actually expire. The plastic and fabric, as you may have seen, can easily degrade over time. Fortunately, you can generally just check the expiration date yourself, found on a sticker on the seat itself or on its registration card.
True or False: Once my kid is out of the car seat, he doesn’t need a booster seat.
False. Up until they’re about 4’9”, a booster seat still needs to be used. Regular seat belts don’t fit children smaller than this, and can be dangerous in the event of an accident.
We hope that you have a safe and healthy Child Passenger Safety Week, and that these tips help make it that way! Come see us soon at Avondale Nissan!
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