Car seat safety information you can trust
When it comes to your child’s car seat safety, you want to be sure to get it right. The Penn State Health Pediatric Injury Prevention Program is in a unique position to provide comprehensive information you can trust. Our expert team includes certified instructors for National Child Passenger Safety (CPS) certification training, and we have numerous certified CPS technicians on our hospital staff. In addition, we have one of only two instructors in Pennsylvania certified to teach child passenger safety for children with special health care needs. Trust us to help your child stay safe when they ride in vehicles.
Thanks to strong partnerships with the Safe Kids Capital Region Coalition, local law enforcement and community-focused organizations, we also provide weekly car seat safety inspection stations throughout the region.
Car seat safety tips and resources
Car seat installation videos
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly half of all car seats and booster seats are used incorrectly. To prevent this, make sure to read the manual that comes with your car seat. Watch our videos to review important tips on adjusting and installing your car seat appropriately for the age and size of your child.
Rear-Facing Car Seat (Infant Only)
Rear-Facing Convertible Car Seat
Forward-Facing Car Seat
Booster Car Seat
Car seat inspection station locations
We encourage you to have your car seat checked by a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) through all ages and stages as your child grows. Our certified CPSTs are available to evaluate your needs and provide instructions on proper car seat installation at no cost to you. We offer weekly appointments at locations across south central Pennsylvania.
Contact us for available times, If you live outside of the area, message us with your general location, and we will connect you with the help you need.
Car seat, booster seat and seat belt safety tips
Choosing the right car seat is a crucial step in keeping your child safe. Pennsylvania requires infants and children through 8 years old to use either a car seat or a booster seat. For safety, many children need to continue to use a booster seat until they are 10 to 12 years old or 4 feet, 9 inches tall. Read our tips below to make sure your child is safely secured in the right seat for their age, height, weight and developmental needs. Also, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website for a helpful guide.
Child passenger safety laws and best practice
Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, almost half of all car seats and booster seats are used incorrectly. To keep your child safe, make sure you are following your state’s car seat laws and the American Academy of Pediatrics' Child Passenger Safety guidelines. Remember: the best practice for your child may differ from the law.
Special needs car seat program
Most car seats on the market are made for children who are of average weight and height with no special health care needs. However, car seats that address a child’s individual needs are often unavailable in local retail stores. If you have a child with special needs or behavioral concerns, it’s important to have them evaluated by a certified car seat technician with a special needs endorsement. These specialists are members of our team and here to help you find the right restraint so your child can safely travel in a car.
For more information, please send us a message and we will connect you with the help you need.