Child Passenger Safety Week Is September 20-26 — Is Your Car Seat Installed Correctly?
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| National Week | September 20-26, 2026 |
| Free Inspections | Fire stations and Safe Kids Colorado chapters — watch for local announcements |
| CDC Stat | More than 1,000 child passengers (under 15) killed in U.S. crashes annually (2023 data) |
| Not Buckled Up | 43% of those killed were unrestrained (CDC) |
| Colorado Law | All children under 8 must be in an appropriate child restraint seat |
| AAP Recommendation | Rear-facing until child reaches the maximum height/weight for their seat |
| Check Your Seat | Pull out the manual and verify current height/weight limits match your child |
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Advertise hereThe Statistics That Matter
Motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death for children in the United States. The CDC reports that more than 1,000 children ages 14 and younger were killed in vehicle crashes in 2023 — and 43% of them were not buckled up at all.
But there's a second issue that doesn't get as much attention: many children who are buckled are in car seats that don't fit them properly, or seats that are installed incorrectly. A car seat that isn't installed the right way provides significantly less protection in a crash than one that is. Studies suggest that a majority of car seats on the road have some installation error.
The Three Car Seat Stages
Children move through three stages of car seat protection, and the transition times are based on height and weight — not age alone. Many parents move kids to the next stage too early, thinking age is the determining factor.
Stage one is rear-facing. The AAP recommends keeping children rear-facing until they reach the maximum height or weight limit for their specific seat — not just until they turn 2. Stage two is forward-facing with a harness. Once the rear-facing limit is reached, children move to a forward-facing seat with a five-point harness and stay there until they hit that seat's limit. Stage three is the booster seat, which positions the vehicle's seat belt correctly across the child's body. Colorado law requires children under 8 to be in an appropriate child restraint.
Free Inspections Coming to Colorado
During Child Passenger Safety Week, fire stations and Safe Kids Colorado chapters across the state hold free car seat inspection events. Certified child passenger safety technicians check the seat installation and fit at no cost to the family — and they'll show you exactly what to adjust.
Specific COS events will be announced through local fire department social media pages and the Safe Kids Colorado website in the days before the week begins. If you've never had a certified technician check your seat, this is one of the most practical free safety resources available.
What to Check Right Now
Before the week arrives, spend five minutes with your car seat's manual. Check the height and weight limits listed for your current seat stage. Compare those to your child's current measurements. Has your child grown past the rear-facing limit without you realizing it? Is your booster-age child still within the harness limits of their forward-facing seat?
Check the installation too: the seat should not move more than one inch side to side or front to back when pulled at the belt path. If it does, it needs tightening.
What's Next
Child Passenger Safety Week is September 20-26. Watch Colorado Springs fire department social media pages and the Safe Kids Colorado website for announcements of free COS inspection events. In the meantime, pull out your car seat manual and check the fit — it's a five-minute step that can make a significant difference in a crash.
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