Child Passenger Safety
Child Passenger Safety in Iowa
Welcome to Iowa's Child Passenger Safety Program. Here you will find information and assistance for child passenger safety issues. The Iowa Child Passenger Safety Program, based out of Blank Children's Hospital, is supported with generous funding from the Iowa Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau.
For Parents and Caregivers
As children grow, how they ride in a vehicle should change. Keep your child safe by following the Iowa Child Passenger Safety Law and Best Practice Guidelines.
Safety Seat Checklist
Make sure you are using your child safety seat properly by asking yourself the following questions:
- Is the car seat appropriate for the child's age, weight and height according to the manufacturer's directions?
- Is the seat belt routed properly, through the child safety seat according to manufacturer's directions?
- If the car seat is rear-facing, is the child less than the maximum weight and height limit?
- If the car seat is forward-facing, is the tether strap connected to its designated anchor point?
- Is the child safety seat installed tightly in your vehicle? It should move less than one inch front-to-back or side-to-side when grasped at the belt path.
If your child safety seat uses a harness:
- Are the harness straps threaded through the appropriate slots in the child safety seat?
- Are the harness straps snug? You should not be able to pinch any slack in the harness straps.
- Is the harness retainer clip threaded according to manufacturer's instructions and resting at armpit level when your child is in the seat?
If your child is in a booster seat:
- Does the shoulder belt ride across your child's collarbone?
- Does the lap belt ride across the top of your child's thighs?
Steps to Child Passenger Safety
Children should ride rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight or height limit of their car seat. At a minimum, per Iowa law, a child must stay rear-facing until 1 year of age and at least 20 pounds.
| Rear-Facing Only | Convertible | |
|---|---|---|
| Direction in Vehicle | This seat can ONLY rear-face in a vehicle. | This seat can rear-face or forward-face in a vehicle, depending on the child's age and weight. |
| Lower Weight Limit | Most lower weight limits for infant carriers is 4-5 pounds. | Most lower weight limits for convertible seats is 4-5 pounds. |
| Upper Weight Limit | The upper weight limit of infant carriers can range from 20 to 35+ pounds. | The upper weight limit of rear-facing convertible seats can range from 40-50 pounds. |
| Harness Strap Position | Put the harnesses through the slots so they are even with or below the child's shoulders. | Put the harnesses through the slots so they are even with or below the child's shoulders. |
| Harness Strap Tightness | Be sure the harness is snug, so you cannot pinch extra webbing at the child's shoulder. | Be sure the harness is snug, so you cannot pinch extra webbing at the child's shoulder. |
| Chest Clip | Adjust the chest clip to the armpit level every trip. | Adjust the chest clip to the armpit level every trip. |
| Installation Angle | Install your child's car seat rear-facing at the angle determined by the manufacturer. Locate and use the recline indicator on your seat. | Install your child's car seat rear-facing at the angle determined by the manufacturer. Locate and use the recline indicator on your seat. |
When children outgrow their rear-facing seats, they should ride in a forward-facing child safety seat with a harness system.
| Forward-Facing Combination | Convertible | |
|---|---|---|
| Direction in Vehicle | This seat can ONLY forward-face in a vehicle. | This seat can rear-face or forward-face in a vehicle, depending on the child's age and weight. |
| Lower Weight Limit | Most lower weight limits for combination seats is 20 pounds. | Most lower weight limits for convertible seats is 5 pounds. |
| Upper Weight Limit | The upper weight limit of combination seats with a harness can range from 40-90 pounds. | The upper weight limit of forward-facing convertible seats can range from 40-85 pounds. |
| Harness Strap Position | Put the harnesses through the slots so they are even with or above the child's shoulders. | Put the harnesses through the slots so they are even with or above the child's shoulders. |
| Harness Strap Tightness | Be sure the harness is snug, so you cannot pinch extra webbing at the child's shoulder. | Be sure the harness is snug, so you cannot pinch extra webbing at the child's shoulder. |
| Chest Clip | Adjust the chest clip to the armpit level every trip. | Adjust the chest clip to the armpit level every trip. |
| Installation Angle | Use a top tether if your vehicle and car seat are both so equipped. | Use a top tether if your vehicle and car seat are both so equipped. |
Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats with a harness, they should ride in a booster seat. Booster seats must be used in a seating position that has a lap and shoulder belt. Never use a booster seat with a lap belt only seat belt.
| High Back Booster | Backless Booster | |
|---|---|---|
| Direction in Vehicle | This seat can only forward-face in a vehicle. | This seat can only forward-face in a vehicle.. |
| Lower Weight Limit | Most lower weight limits for high back boosters is 40 pounds. | Most lower weight limits for backless boosters is 40 pounds. |
| Upper Weight Limit | The upper weight limit of high back booster seats can range from 80-120 pounds. | The upper weight limit of backless booster seats can range from 80-120 pounds. |
| Seat Belt Position | The shoulder belt should cross the child's collar bone and the lap belt should cross the child's upper thighs. | The shoulder belt should cross the child's collar bone and the lap belt should cross the child's upper thighs. |
| Difference Between a High Back and Low Back | A high back booster must be used if there is no vehicle head support for your child when they sit on the booster. | A backless booster can be used if there is vehicle head support for your child when they sit on the booster. |
| Installation | Booster seats sit on the vehicle seat. Buckle the seat belt even when the booster is not in use, unless your booster is equipped with lower anchor attachments. | Booster seats sit on the vehicle seat. Buckle the seat belt even when the booster is not in use, unless your booster is equipped with lower anchor attachments. |
A child can move out of a booster seat once they successfully pass the five step test.
Can the child:
- Keep their back against the vehicle seat without slouching?
- Keep their knees naturally bent over the edge of the vehicle seat?
- Keep their feet flat on the floor?
- Have their lap belt lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach?
- Have the shoulder belt lie snugly across the shoulder and chest, not across the neck or face?
Child Safety Seat FAQs
No. By law, she must remain rear-facing until she is at least 1 year of age and weighs a minimum of 20 pounds. It is also important to consider and compare potential injuries in a crash rear-facing versus forward-facing.
- In a car crash, a rear-facing child safety seat absorbs a majority of the force and the child's head and neck is supported.
- In a forward-facing child safety seat, the child's head and neck must endure much more.
Rear-facing a child whose feet touch the back of the vehicle seat may result in an injury such as a broken leg(s), but forward-facing a child too early may result in an injury such as a stretched spinal cord. Children should remain rear-facing until they reach the maximum weight limit of their car seat, usually 40-50 pounds.
Both types of booster seats are designed to raise your child so the seat belt fits properly.
- High back boosters must be used in vehicles that do not have head rests or low seat backs.
- Low back booster seats can be safely used in vehicles with head rests and high seat backs.
The lower and upper weight limits for these two types of boosters also differ. Be sure to check your manufacturer instruction manual to make sure your child fits within their recommendations.
Car Seat Installation Assistance
If you are located in Central Iowa, please complete the form below to request an appointment with a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). To find a CPST outside of Central Iowa, search the technician directory on the National Child Passenger Safety Certification website.
Car Seat Educational Videos
Healthcare and Childcare Provider Resources
Healthcare Providers
- It is our goal to supply healthcare providers statewide with the resources necessary to provide accurate, age-appropriate information to their patients regarding child passenger safety. For these reasons, we have developed a child passenger safety best practice poster for exam rooms and waiting areas,and a flier for distribution to families. If you would like to take advantage of these free resource, please complete an order form.
- If you have a child passenger safety related question, call 1-800-258-6419 and one of our CPS technicians would be happy to help you.
Childcare Providers
As a childcare provider, we know you want to provide the safest possible mode of transportation available for your children. Use the resources below to learn about modes of transportation.