Car seats and booster seats provide protection for infants and children in a crash, but it’s important to make sure your child is in the right seat for their age and size – and that the seat is installed correctly.
Child Passenger Safety Week
Child Passenger Safety Week is recognized each year in September and brings heightened awareness to how parents and caregivers can keep children safe in vehicles. Child Passenger Safety Week 2026 will be held from September 20-26. Use NHTSA’s Car Seat Finder to make sure your child is in The Right Seat.
Get Your Car Seat Inspected
As part of Child Passenger Safety Week, National Seat Check Saturday, on September 26, is a day for you to receive free instruction on how to correctly install and use the right car seats for your children. Use NHTSA’s Car Seat Inspection locator to find a location near you.
By the Numbers
- Every day in 2024, on average, two children 14 and younger were killed and 349 were injured in traffic crashes while riding in passenger vehicles.
- In 2024, 39% of children killed in car crashes were unrestrained.
Find the Right Car Seat
It's important to choose the right seat and use it correctly every time your child is in the car.
- Learn about the four car seat types.
- Follow NHTSA’s car seat recommendations based on your child’s age and size.
- Use the Car Seat Finder to compare car seats and ease-of-use-ratings.
Install Your Car Seat Correctly
- Understand the parts and tips of car seats and booster seats.
- Follow our detailed car seat installation instructions and videos.
Keep Your Child Safe
Register your car seat and sign up for recall notices to receive safety updates via email or through our SaferCar app.