Child Passenger Safety Week runs September 19–25, 2027, a yearly federal campaign to get kids into the right car seat, installed the right way. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration runs it, though its materials don’t say when it started. It ends with National Seat Check Saturday.
Mid-to-Late September
Every September, it spans the third full week, Sunday to Saturday. The 2026 campaign covered September 20 to 26, with Seat Check Saturday on the 26th.
NHTSA, the federal highway safety agency, sends out the campaign materials. Local police, fire departments and hospitals host the free car seat checks.
How the Campaign Works
Partners get ready-made materials from NHTSA each September. Its 2026 release didn’t say when the first week was held, so the start year is unclear.
Saturday is the centerpiece. Certified child passenger safety technicians check seats and show parents how to install them and adjust the harness.
Inspections are free in most cases, NHTSA says, and some locations now offer virtual checks.
Administrator Jonathan Morrison summed up the goal in 2026. “The right car seat, properly installed, is the best tool we have to protect a child in a crash,” he said.
Why Car Seats Matter
Crashes remain a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 13, according to federal data.
Counts differ by agency and year. NHTSA’s 2026 release put 2024 deaths among children 14 and younger at 677, with about 160,850 hurt.
CDC counted 1,019 child passengers in that age group killed in 2023, and more than 142,000 injured. Of the children killed, 43% weren’t buckled up.
Installation mistakes are common. About half of all car seats are put in incorrectly, NHTSA’s 2026 release noted, often without parents knowing.
A correct fit makes a big difference. In passenger cars, a properly installed seat cuts the risk of a fatal injury by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers.
Car seats saved 325 children under 5 in a single year, by NHTSA’s estimate.
Restraint use is still a gap. The agency found that 39% of children killed in car crashes in 2024 were unrestrained.
Booster seats are often dropped too soon. Many kids ages 8 to 12 still need one, and the back seat is the safest place for every child under 13.
Leaving a child alone in a car is another danger. NHTSA warns never to do it, not even for a minute.
Check Your Child’s Seat
Start with the right seat for your child’s size. NHTSA’s guide keeps babies rear-facing as long as possible, then moves kids to a forward-facing seat with a harness and tether.
Seat belts usually fit properly somewhere around ages 9 to 12, CDC says. The lap belt should sit on the upper thighs and the shoulder belt across the chest.
- Find a Seat Check Saturday event or inspection station near you.
- Read your car seat manual and your vehicle manual together.
- Register your car seat with the maker, or sign up for federal recall alerts, so you hear about recalls.
- Keep your child in their current seat until they outgrow its height or weight limit.
- Never place a rear-facing seat in front of an airbag.
- Call 911 right away if you see a child alone in a car.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a car seat check free?
Usually, yes. Certified technicians at most events don’t charge.
When can my child stop using a booster?
When the adult belt fits properly, which varies by child.
Can I get a car seat checked online?
In some places. A few inspection stations offer virtual checks.
Who runs Child Passenger Safety Week?
A federal agency, working with local police, fire and health partners.