Child Safety Seats

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly 73 percent of all child restraints are improperly used, needlessly exposing children to an increased risk of death or injury.

Check your child's safety seat! Use the 1-Minute Child Safety Seat Check for guidance.

Safety Seats for Children

Iowa law (321.446) requires child restraint devices for all children through the age of eight years old riding in any vehicle manufactured after January 1, 1965.

A child under 1 year old and weighing less than 20 lbs. must be secured in a rear-facing child restraint system.

A child age 1 up to 6 years old must be secured in a child restraint system (a safety seat or booster seat--NOT a seat belt).

A child from the age of 6 up to the age of 11 must be secured in a child restraint system or by a safety belt.

Common Child Safety Seat Misuses:
+ Seat installed too loose
+ Improper seating position (in front of an air bag)
+ Not buckling child into restraint
+ Not securely anchoring the child restraint to the vehicle
+ Improper seat for child's age and size
+ Infant riding facing forward
+ Harness retainer clip not at armpit level
+ Loose harness straps

To graduate to an adult belt -- a child must be able to sit with their back/buttocks against the seat with their knees bent at the edge of the seat. The belt system must be snug across the center of the child's chest and across their lap at the hips.

Common Safety Belt Misuses for Children:
+ Lap belt up on abdomen
+ Lap belt loose, shoulder belt loose
+ Shoulder belt behind back
+ Shoulder belt under their arm

For further information, you may contact the State Child Restraint Coordinator at 1-800-728-3367.

For Certified Child Passenger Technicians / Child Restraint Checks, visit this website: www.blankchildrens.org

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