Practice Car Seat Safety to Protect Your Precious Cargo

Road injuries are a leading cause of preventable death for children in the U.S., but you have the power to prevent them. The single most effective way to protect your child in a vehicle is to use a car seat correctly. When used properly, a car seat can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71%. Unfortunately, about 46 percent of car and booster seats are used incorrectly in a way that could reduce their effectiveness.

"Our emergency and trauma care teams are always ready to save lives, but obviously we would prefer not to have children come in with traumatic injuries," says Margaret McGuire, M.D., Pediatric Trauma medical director, Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) & K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital. "Taking a few extra minutes to ensure your child is properly secured can make all the difference. It’s a simple act with life-saving consequences."

For newborns and infants, the safest place is in a rear-facing car seat, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer. This position provides the best protection for their developing head, neck, and spine in a crash. When you can no longer use a rear-facing seat, your child should transition to a forward-facing seat with a harness and tether, which should be used until they reach the seat's limits. After that, a booster seat is crucial until the vehicle's seat belt fits them properly, typically when they are about 4 feet, 9 inches tall.

"A common mistake we see is the car seat not being installed tightly enough," says Patricia Bonatakis, PT, DPT, Pediatric Trauma Injury Prevention coordinator, JSUMC, and certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. "It shouldn't move more than an inch in any direction at the belt path." Bonatakis also reminds parents to check the harness for snugness using the "pinch test." If you can pinch a horizontal fold of webbing at your child's collarbone, the harness is too loose. The chest clip should always be at armpit level.

Always register your car seat with the manufacturer to be notified of any recalls. Avoid using secondhand seats if you don't know their full history, as they could be expired or have been in a crash. “By following these guidelines, you are taking a crucial step in safeguarding your child’s future,” says Patricia. “Also we provide, in partnership with the New Jersey State Police, free monthly car seat safety checks for families the first Tuesday of every month, 3 to 7 p.m., at the Mary V Black Pavilion entrance on JSUMC’s campus.”

JSUMC provides the community with adult and pediatric emergency department care and Monmouth & Ocean counties’ only Level 1 Pediatric and Adult Trauma Centers. The E.D. achieved the 2026 ENA Lantern Award from the Emergency Nurses Association, recognizing advanced patient care and innovative care performance. For information, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/locations/jersey-shore-university-medical-center.