Dayton Children's car seat safety program FAQ's

Did you know that while most parents believe their car seats are installed correctly, the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that nationally, 59% of car seats are not installed correctly? On average, Dayton Children’s sees that 86% of car seats checked at the hospital are not installed correctly. As scary as that sounds, the good news is we have plenty of resources to help you get your car seat installed correctly so you can drive with the peace of mind that your kids are riding safely!  

What are Ohio’s Laws for children in car seats?

Children ages 0 to 4 

Any child either less than 40 pounds of less than 4 years old must be properly secured in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions in a child restraint system that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards.  

Children ages 4 to 8 

Any child who is less than 8 years of age and less than 4 feet 9 inches in height must be properly secured in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions on a booster seat that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards.  

*It is recommended that children who may be 8 but less than 4 feet 9 inches in height remain in a booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly. 

What is a Certified Child Passenger Technician?   

The National Child Passenger Safety Certification Training Program (CPS certification program) certifies people as child passenger safety technicians and instructors. CPS technicians and instructors put their knowledge to work by conducting child safety seat checks, where parents and caregivers receive hands-on assistance for the proper use of child restraint systems and safety belts. This certification training program is held by Safe Kids Worldwide. For more information, you can visit their website here.  

What happens during a car seat check?

During a car seat inspection (check), your car seat will be checked for recalls and expiration dates. Then the technician will work with you to make sure your car seat is properly installed in your vehicle. Most car seat checks take 30 to 45 minutes.  

How do I set up a car seat by a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician?  

Dayton Children’s conducts monthly car seat checks by appointment. We also have car seat check events in the community throughout the year. 

To schedule a car seat check appointment, please visit our booking site to schedule online or call 937-641-3700.

*Please note, that each month's bookings open at the beginning of the month, so check back periodically to get your appointment scheduled.

There are also more than 30 other sites in this region that have car seat checks throughout the year that are approved and endorsed by Dayton Children's certified car seat technicians.

Use this map to find a site nearest to you to book an appointment. 

Where can I get a car seat or booster seat if I can’t afford it?  

The Ohio Department of Health’s child passenger safety (CPS) program, Ohio Buckles Buckeyes (OBB), provides child safety seats and booster seats to eligible low-income families in all Ohio counties. 

Dayton Children’s manages the Miami Valley region for the OBB program. In order to receive an OBB seat, a family’s income must be within WIC guidelines although the recipient does not need to be enrolled in WIC.

If eligible for this program, families can call the OBB site coordinator located in their county and schedule an appointment to attend an educational class provided by trained by the OBB coordinator. In these sessions, the parent/caregiver(s) receive important education on how to properly use the car seat for their child, and they are instructed on how to correctly install the car seat in their vehicle.

Families can use this map to find your local OBB site.

What other information about car seats and safety do you have?

We know that car seats are ever-changing and it’s hard to keep up with the constant changes in rules, regulations and recommendations. If you have any questions related to car seats or booster seat safety, please call 937-641-3700 and talk to one of our certified child passenger safety technicians!  

book a car seat check