You're heading out the door! The coffee is getting cold and your toddler is refusing to let you get the harness in place. Maybe grandma has pickup today, or your child rides with their other parent on Tuesdays.
Daycare drop off can be hectic! That hectic morning routine is exactly when we're more likely to make mistakes using and installing a car seat. Some common mistakes are not tightening the harness or buckling up your child while they're wearing a puffy coat. Another is a rushed reinstall when the car seat moves from one car to another.
When it comes to transporting children, parents and daycares follow different sets of rules. Your state has laws and regulations in place for using a car seat properly and keeping your child safe. Your daycare may have to follow additional licensing regulations for transporting your child (on top of following car seat laws).
It may seem complicated, so let's make this simpler. Below you'll find more information about car seat rules and regulations for daycare. We'll also cover questions to ask your daycare about their practices (and what good answers may look like). Then we'll share easy ways to make your daycare drop off as safe as possible (without the overwhelm!).
A Quick Note on Who “We” Are
Here's a quick note on who "we" are, because it matters when you're trusting someone with safety advice. Safe in the Seat was started by Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) Michelle Pratt in 2018.
At her son's newborn photo session, she learned his car seat straps weren't positioned correctly or tight enough. So she set out to help other parents. Since then, our CPSTs and real moms have been trusted by millions of families. We've been featured on Good Morning America, Forbes, NBC News, Parents, and more. We crouch down in cars trying to get the installation just right along with you!
The Three Things Behind Car Seat Rules for Daycare Drop Off
When it comes to car seat safety, three things play a part in keeping your child safe:
- The child passenger safety laws and regulations in your state
- Your car seat manufacturer's guidelines
- Your daycare's transportation regulations (if they transport children)
Keep in mind that the law sets the minimum, not best practice. What's legal isn't always what keeps your child the safest. Some state laws have not been updated in over a decade and don't even match car seat manufacturer minimums for forward-facing or boosters.
Child passenger safety experts recommend staying rear-facing until the child reaches one of the maximum rear-facing limits for the seat you have. Rear-facing is the safest way for infants and toddlers to ride, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). In a rear-facing seat, your child is more protected because crash forces are spread over the entire back of the seat.
Secondly, it's important to understand your car seat's limitations. Always follow the guidelines laid out by the manufacturer for safely using and installing your car seat. The manufacturer sets the height and weight limits for how long your child can stay in their car seat.
Lastly, find out if your daycare follows regulations for transporting your child. Depending on your state, daycares may be required to follow additional regulations to transport children in a vehicle.
Whenever someone besides you transports your child in a vehicle, be sure to clearly define who is responsible for:
- Providing the car seat
- Properly installing the car seat
- Securing and buckling your child into the car seat
It's these gray areas where confusion can lead to mistakes.
What Car Seat Rules Should Parents Know Before Daycare Drop Off
Now you understand there are varying rules for car seats in your family vehicle and in your daycare's vehicle. Here are some of the top car seat rules we recommend parents know before dropping their child off at daycare:
Use the Right Seat for Your Child's Age and Size
Every parent wants what's safest for their child. Make sure you're using a seat appropriate for your child's height and weight, properly installed in your vehicle. Unsure when it's time to flip your child to forward-facing? Check out our in-depth guide: rear-facing vs. forward-facing car seats.
Make Sure the Harness Fits Every Time
Even the best car seat won't protect your child if the harness isn't right. Every time anyone buckles your child in, make sure:
- Rear-facing: the harness straps come out of the slots at or below your child's shoulders. Forward-facing: the straps come out at or above their shoulders.
- Their chest clip is positioned at armpit level
- You can't pinch any slack in the harness webbing at your child's collarbone (called the "pinch test")
Not sure you're doing the pinch test correctly? This video will show you how.
Follow the Manufacturer's Installation Instructions
Many parents and caregivers believe they install their car seat correctly. However, nearly half of car seats have at least one major mistake, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Each car seat is slightly different. Follow the instructions for installing your particular car seat (you can find these in your car seat manual). When it's installed properly, your car seat shouldn't move more than one inch at the belt path. That goes for front to back and side to side. Not sure about your car seat installation? We've got you covered: how to know your car seat is installed properly.
Skip the Puffy Coat
It may be tempting to keep your little one extra snuggled up in chilly weather. However, dressing them in a puffy coat before buckling them into their car seat can actually put your child at risk. In a car accident, your child's winter coat or snowsuit compresses. That leaves room for them to slide out from under the straps and potentially be ejected from their car seat. That's why the AAP recommends against any bulky clothing (like a winter coat or snowsuit) underneath the harness.
Dress your child in thin layers and secure them in their car seat. Then drape their coat over them. Want to know more? Check out: Can your child wear a coat in the car?
Know Your State's Car Seat Laws
States have varying laws around rear-facing, forward-facing, booster seats, and when kids can ride with just the seat belt. You may choose to exceed these laws in the interest of safety. Still, it's important to know the law where you live. Not sure what laws pertain to booster seats in your state? Check out our guide to booster seat laws to learn more.
Know the Rules Are Different in Daycare Vehicles
Some daycares and schools pick up or transport children (for field trips, after-school care, emergencies, etc.). They're held to a different set of rules than parents and caregivers. These daycare transportation requirements vary by state. They may cover the types of vehicles used to transport children, car seats and boosters, staff training, staff-to-child ratios, and more. It's okay to ask questions!
Build Habits So a Child Is Never Forgotten in the Car
Forgetting a child in the car can happen to even the most loving and attentive parents and caregivers. Changes in routine increase the likelihood that a parent or caregiver will forget their child in a vehicle. According to NHTSA, in nearly half of these cases, the caregiver meant to take the child to daycare or preschool. Whoever is driving, these habits help make sure a child is never forgotten in the car:
- Place an item you'd never leave home without (phone, purse, wallet, work badge, etc.) next to your child in the car
- Make it a habit to check the backseat each time you park your car
- Ask your daycare or preschool to let you know if your child isn't dropped off as expected
These habits build a backstop for a brain that's running on empty.
What Should You Ask Your Daycare About Car Seats
You deserve straight answers from your childcare provider. Here's what to ask and what a good answer looks like:
Does Your Staff Ever Transport Children?
Ask specifically about field trips, school pickups, and emergencies. Vague answers are a sign to dig deeper. We love answers like, "We don't transport children," or "We only transport children for X situations, and this is our policy..."
Who Provides and Installs the Car Seats?
If applicable, ask if they provide car seats and boosters or if parents and caregivers provide them. Ideally, you want to hear that a specific employee is in charge of car seat installation. You also want to hear that seats are age- and size-appropriate for each child.
Are Staff Trained in Car Seat Safety?
Look for at least one staff member who's nationally certified to perform car seat inspections, installations, and harness checks. That person is known as a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). If no one is trained, it's not a deal breaker. In that case, pay closer attention to who installs the seats, how often they're checked, and whether the policy is in writing.
What Vehicles Do You Use, and How Are They Maintained?
Ask about the type of vehicles they use and how often they get inspected. We love hearing that their vehicles get regular maintenance and have appropriate seats!
How Will I Be Told About Transportation Changes?
Ask how and when you'll be notified about any transportation services or plans. We love hearing that parents will receive "advance written notification" and that there's a process to grant or deny permission.
Will You Call Me if My Child Doesn't Arrive?
Ask your childcare provider to set up an "absence" call system. NHTSA recommends this backup: your childcare provider calls you if your child doesn't arrive as expected. That call can catch a mix-up (like each parent thinking the other one handled drop-off) before it turns into an emergency. We love hearing, "Yes! We let parents know if their child isn't here!"
Where Should I Park and Unload Safely?
Ask ahead of time where you should park and the safest way to unload your little one. Hopefully, they'll point you to a specific place away from foot and vehicle traffic and describe the routine to you. That way, you won't be trying to figure out what to do at drop off while holding on to your toddler.
Before your first day, ask for these answers in writing:
- What is the center or school's policy on transportation?
- Who is responsible for car seats? Installation?
- How will parents and caregivers be notified if there's a change in transportation?
- What is the absence or call-in procedure?
It never hurts to shoot an email to the director!
Feeling unsure about any of this? Our team of CPSTs and real moms sends no-overwhelm car seat guidance straight to your inbox. Join the Safe in the Seat newsletter and get clarity without more noise.
How Can You Make Daycare Drop Off Safer and Easier
Here are some quick tips to make the process a little easier. They'll also keep you from forgetting car seat best practices when the craziness ensues!
Do the Harness Check Every Single Time
Do the pinch test and check that the chest clip is at armpit level every time your child is buckled, even on the mornings you're running late. Rushed mornings are exactly when a loose harness slips by. The same goes for the ride home: whoever does pickup should do the same quick check.
Leave Extra Time So You're Not Rushing the Buckle
This goes hand in hand with the previous tip. Leaving 5 minutes earlier means you won't feel as rushed when it's time to buckle your child in. Feeling rushed makes it easier to miss a loose harness.
Get a Second Car Seat for Other Caregivers
If your child regularly shuttles back and forth between more than one car, we highly recommend a second car seat. Hopping from one vehicle to the next each and every day is the perfect setup for an improperly installed car seat. Instead, a second seat will be consistently installed and ready to go. We know a second seat is an added cost. Still on the fence? Check out our guide on when to consider purchasing a second car seat. It includes some affordable options that meet federal safety standards!
Show Every Caregiver How to Use Your Car Seat
Grandma, the nanny, or the babysitter may have used an entirely different model of car seat in the past. Spend a few minutes teaching them how to tighten the harness and position the chest clip.
You can even show them how to make sure the car seat is correctly installed. Here are some tips for hiring a babysitter, including what to cover about car seat safety. Want something you can hand off? Our guide, The Confident Caregiver, walks grandparents, babysitters, and nannies through installation basics and buckling step by step.
Keep a Copy of Your Car Seat Manual in the Car
Chances are, there's a little pocket in your car seat meant to hold the car seat manual. Pop the instructions in there. That way, any questions about belt path or proper recline can easily be answered. No digging through your online search history (or starting a brand new search while trying to buckle your little one in!). Keep your vehicle manual handy too, since questions about seating positions and lower anchors are answered there.
Stop Little Escape Artists
We feel ya! An unbuckled chest clip is a real safety issue. Here are some tips on how to keep your toddler from unbuckling the chest clip. (Hint: you're not the only one, and there ARE ways to deal with this!)
Get Your Installation Checked by a CPST
A CPST can check your car seat installation for you. It's often free, and gives you the peace of mind you deserve. Wondering if you can do this at the fire station? Check out our guide: Do fire stations install car seats?
Tell Everyone When Pickup Plans Change
Remember, a change in routine raises the risk of a child being forgotten in a car. Make sure you communicate any changes in the usual drop-off and pickup routine. Feel free to over-communicate here, especially if there are multiple caregivers involved. Here's a sample text you could use: "Just confirming I've got pickup today; you're off the hook!" Yes, it's annoying; we get it, but we promise it's better to be safe than sorry.
Consistency is key here, folks! Work a couple (or all) of these into your regular drop-off and pickup routine. That way, you're not relying on remembering best practices when you're frazzled and running out the door.
Want to learn more about the most commonly made car seat mistakes? Check out our roundup of common car seat mistakes. Worried your little one is outgrowing their current car seat? Our guide on how to choose a car seat can help you figure out what to buy next. Our Convertible Buying Kit can help you narrow down the right seat for your child, car, and budget.
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Safe in the Seat may earn a small commission from links in this post at no extra cost to you. This content is for educational purposes and isn't a substitute for your car seat manual, manufacturer guidance, or professional advice. Always check your own state's car seat laws, your daycare's written policies, and your seat's instructions.
