There are some new safety regulations that go into effect on June 30th, and some parents are wondering if they need to buy a new car seat, here's the details.

Car Seat Safety

When I was pregnant with my first child, one of the most overwhelming things for me was figuring out which car seat to get. I was reading reviews, watching video reviews, and reading so much about the safety standards that it was honestly beginning to make my head spin.  But I learned that if a car seat is for sale through a reputable retailer in the United States, it has to meet ALL federal safety standard guidelines, so that made me feel a little bit less stressed about choosing a car seat.

According to Consumer Reports:

All car seats sold in the U.S. must meet federal safety standards. These rules dictate how critical safety information is conveyed to buyers through labels and instruction manuals, and how each seat performs in crash tests.

 

Whether you get the top-of-the-line, most expensive seat or get the cheapest option, as long as the car seat is purchased from a reputable retailer, they all meet the same minimum standard for safety. I know sometimes car seat safety can seem like it's "over the top," but when it comes to keeping our kids safe, it needs to be.  As of June 30th, those federal safety standards will be changing.

Get our free mobile app

Just as a sidenote, Consumer Reports also says there has been a rise in noncompliant car seats available for purchase online, which puts your children directly at risk. More on that, here. 

New Car Seat Safety Regulations Begin June 30, 2025

According to Consumer Reports, car crashes are the leading cause of injury for kids under 12.  The new regulations that go into effect on June 30th will help make car seats even safer in side impact collisions.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Department of Transportation ruled on this in 2022, and gave manufacturers 3 years to comply, and June 30, 2025 is when the ruling goes into effect. You can see the full safety standards NHTSA ruling by clicking here.

The specific ruling states:

Standard No. 213a requires child restraints designed to seat children weighing up to 18.1 kg (40 lb), or for children in a height range that includes heights up to 1100 millimeters (43.3 inches) to meet performance criteria when tested in a dynamic test replicating a vehicle-to-vehicle side impact. The child restraints must provide proper restraint, manage side crash forces, and protect against harmful head and chest contact with intruding structures. In addition, child restraints will be required to meet other performance requirements in the sled test to ensure, among other things, the restraint can withstand crash forces from a side impact without collapsing or fragmenting in a manner that could harm the child. This new standard will reduce the number of children killed or injured in side crashes.

 

Do Parents Need to Get A New Car Seat To Meet The New Standards?

I have two kids who are still in car seats, so I was concerned that I may need to buy them new car seats to keep them safe, but it turns out that's not the case.  According to What to Expect, car seats that are not expired and installed properly still meet very strict safety standards; this update just adds a new safety requirement.

That being said, if you want to purchase a car seat with the latest safety standards, you don't have to wait.  Many car seats on the market already meet these standards since they've had three years to prepare and make necessary changes.  You can even check to see if your existing car seats already meet the new standards.

What to Expect explains:

To check if a new car seat already meets the latest regulations, NHTSA says to contact the car seat's manufacturer or check its website to see if it is compliant with FMVSS 213a. Seat labels may also state that they're FMVSS 213a compliant or they're tested for side impact. All car seats manufactured after June 30 will comply with the new requirements.