Safe Seats Safe Kids Campaign

Every buckle matters. Every installation counts.

 

Jump To: See the Safety Checklist Wisconsin Law Guide

Is Your Child’s Car Seat Keeping them Safe?

Most parents are diligent about buckling their kids in. But there’s more to car seat safety than clicking the harness closed. The seat itself must be the right type for your child’s size, installed correctly, free of any recalls, and within its manufacturer’s lifespan.

Over time, plastic components weaken due to years of exposure to heat, cold, and sunlight. That weakening, called embrittlement, means a seat that looks perfectly fine can fail catastrophically in a crash. This can lead to severe injury or death if you end up in a crash. ­

What Wisconsin Requires for Child Passengers

Wisconsin law sets specific age, height, and weight requirements for car seats and booster seats. Here’s what every parent and caregiver should know.

Rear-Facing Car Seat

Required when children are under 1 year old AND under 20 lbs.

Forward-Facing Harness Seat

Required when children are ages 1–4 AND 20–40 lbs

Booster Seat

Required when Ages 4–8, under 80 lbs, or shorter than 4’9″

Seat Belt Only

Required when age 8 or older, over 80 lbs, and at least 4’9″

6 Things to Check on Your Car Seat

Look on the bottom or side of the seat. Most expire within 2–8 years of manufacture. Don’t see a date? Call the manufacturer directly.

Register your child seat with the manufacturer so you receive recall notices immediately. You can also check for active recalls anytime at safecar.gov.

Seat type should be based on your child’s current age, height, and weight — not just a milestone like a birthday. Children should stay rear-facing as long as possible, until they exceed the manufacturer’s height or weight limit.

Grab the seat at the belt path and push it side-to-side and front-to-back. A properly installed seat should not move more than 1 inch in any direction. If it moves more than that, reinstall it.

 

After buckling your child, try to pinch the harness webbing at the shoulder. If you can pinch any slack, tighten the straps. The chest clip should sit at armpit level, not at the belly or neck.

Bulky coats compress in a crash, leaving the harness dangerously loose. Instead, buckle your child normally and drape the coat over them like a cape.

 

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