Car seat safety requirements changed last month \u2014 let\u2019s catch you up.<\/p>\n
After June 30, 2025<\/strong>, car seats made for children under 40 pounds must pass new side-impact crash testing, which better mimics real-world collisions. This will result in some changes to car seat features.<\/p>\n You can expect to see:<\/p>\n While front-end vehicle crashes are the most common (and the most dangerous), they are closely followed by side-impact crashes, commonly called \u201cT-bone\u201d collisions. When these lateral crashes happen, occupants need extra protection<\/strong>, as the sides of a vehicle offer less of a \u201ccrumple zone\u201d<\/strong> to absorb impact than the front.<\/p>\n Many car seat manufacturers have been doing their own voluntary side-impact testing for years, but now testing will be standardized \u2014 which is a good thing.<\/p>\n The changes to car seat weight ranges follow what we already know: It is safest to stay in each stage as long as possible<\/strong>. Make sure to always follow the limits and manufacturer instructions of your child\u2019s car seat \u2014 but it\u2019s recommended to keep them rear-facing as long as possible, then in a forward-facing harness as long as possible, and so on.<\/p>\n No<\/strong>. As long as your car seat is not expired, recalled or damaged \u2014 and you\u2019re using it correctly, per manufacturer instructions \u2014 your seat is safe. Your vehicle may not be the newest or have the latest safety features, but you wouldn\u2019t immediately trade it in when a safer one becomes available.<\/p>\n But when you are<\/strong> in the market for a new car seat, it\u2019s not a bad idea to look for one that meets the updated standards, called FMVSS 213a<\/strong> (and stay tuned for more changes, called FMVSS 213b, by the end of 2026).<\/p>\n Although some car seats on store shelves already adhere to the new standards, don\u2019t assume every car seat will meet them after July 1. The updated regulations apply to seats manufactured<\/strong> after June 30, 2025. Older seats can (and will) still be sold by retailers for some time.<\/p>\n Our certified child passenger safety technicians are here to help answer your questions or teach you how to use your car seat correctly.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Car seat safety requirements changed last month \u2014 let\u2019s catch you up. After June 30, 2025, car seats made for children under 40 pounds must pass new side-impact crash testing, which better mimics real-world collisions. This will result in some changes to car seat features. You can expect to see: Maximum weight for most infant […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":577,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,99],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-kids-health","category-primary-care"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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Why are these changes important?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Does this mean your current car seat is unsafe?<\/strong><\/h2>\n