Child Passenger Safety

A car seat is one of the most important purchases that you will make for the safety of your child, but it can also be one of the most complicated. More than 70% of car seats installed by families have at least one critical installation error. Read on to learn how to make sure your child's car seat is as safe as it can be.

Akron Children’s serves as the regional coordinator for the Ohio Buckles Buckeyes (OBB) program in Summit and Mahoning Counties. Periodically throughout the year, the hospital receives free seats from ODH that are distributed on a first come-first served basis to participants. Please call to register.

For more information, call 330-543-8942 in Summit County and 330-729-9254 in Mahoning County.

The best car seat for your child will depend on age, height, and weight. We have compiled a car seat selector guide to make choosing a seat easy.

Car Seat Selector Guide

Installation guidelines and videos can be found online by searching your car seat model number (found on a sticker on the side of the seat).

Children ages four to eight who ride in booster seats are 45% less likely to be seriously injured in an accident than those riding with a seat belt alone. Follow this guide to decide if your child is ready to move out of a booster seat:

Does your child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
Do your child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
Does the seat belt cross your child's shoulder between the neck and arm?
Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching your child's thighs?
Can your child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

If you answered "NO" to any of these questions, your child should ride in a booster seat. If not, he or she may be ready to ride without a booster.

All children under the age of 13 years old should ride in the back seat of the vehicle with a seat belt. Passenger seat airbags are powerful and can cause serious injury to children under age 13.

Professional seat checks and installations are offered by NHTSA-certified technicians at Akron Children's through the External Affairs office. To make an appointment at the Akron campus, call (330) 543-8942. There are other certified Safe Kids Summit County technicians also has several other at car seat inspection stations located throughout the county. For information about seat check and installations at the Beeghly Campus, call (330) 729-9254.

Akron Children's provides brand new car seats at a discounted price to income-eligible families. Families receiving government assistance (e.g. WIC, Medicaid, etc.) are eligible for this discount. Education is provided to caregivers about how to properly use the seat and install it into a vehicle. Program topics include proper seat angle, seat tightness and harness adjustment.

To register for the car seat distribution program, call the External Affairs department at 330-543-8942. In the Mahoning Valley, call 330-729-9254. Please be prepared to provide:

First and last name
Phone number
Zip code
Age and weight of child, or due date if pregnant

Akron Children's employees may purchase seats at cost plus tax, please call External Affairs at ext. 38942 for cost and availability.

If you have an upcoming car seat appointment our address is as follows:

Akron Campus
300 Locust Street Suite #160
Akron, OH 44308

Beeghly Campus
6505 Market Street
Building A
Boardman, OH 44512

Safe Mobility Project Website Screengrab

Managed through the Akron Children’s External Affairs department, the Safe Mobility Project website contains resources to help parents select the right car seat, install it and even check it for correct installation. In addition, the website is available in 7 languages. The website also contains information about bike safely and fitting bicycle helmets correctly. And for new teen drivers, the site includes driving laws, driving risks and tips for parents. Parents and teens can take our Teen Driving Pledge, creating a custom pledge. Visit www.safemobilityproject.org.