Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Jamie Kondis, MD, a WashU Medicine pediatric emergency medicine physician at St. Louis Children's Hospital, provides essential car seat safety tips for parents.
• Car seat planning should happen before your baby is born.
• Find a certified car seat safety technician at St. Louis Children’s Safety Stop or a local firehouse.
• Infants should be rear-facing in an infant seat or convertible car seat.
• Children can be in rear-facing seats as long as they meet the height and weight requirements.
• Children should stay in forward-facing and high-backed car seats for as long as they meet the height and weight requirements.
• When children outgrow their car seat, they should use a high-backed booster seat, then a backless booster seat.
• Most children should use a booster seat until ages 10-12, when the lap and shoulder seat belts fit correctly.
• The back seat is the safest place for children to sit.
St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s Safety Stop offers car seat installation and discounted car seats for sale with safety experts that can help you navigate which car seat is right for your child. Safety Stop has appointments at five area locations. These include the main hospital, the West and South County Specialty Care Centers, Progress West Hospital, and The Magic House. Call 314-565-0369 to make an appointment.
Jamie Kondis, MD, a WashU Medicine pediatric emergency medicine physician at St. Louis Children's Hospital, provides essential car seat safety tips for parents.
• Car seat planning should happen before your baby is born.
• Find a certified car seat safety technician at St. Louis Children’s Safety Stop or a local firehouse.
• Infants should be rear-facing in an infant seat or convertible car seat.
• Children can be in rear-facing seats as long as they meet the height and weight requirements.
• Children should stay in forward-facing and high-backed car seats for as long as they meet the height and weight requirements.
• When children outgrow their car seat, they should use a high-backed booster seat, then a backless booster seat.
• Most children should use a booster seat until ages 10-12, when the lap and shoulder seat belts fit correctly.
• The back seat is the safest place for children to sit.
St. Louis Children’s Hospital’s Safety Stop offers car seat installation and discounted car seats for sale with safety experts that can help you navigate which car seat is right for your child. Safety Stop has appointments at five area locations. These include the main hospital, the West and South County Specialty Care Centers, Progress West Hospital, and The Magic House. Call 314-565-0369 to make an appointment.
