Car Seat Information

• Safety Tips and Links
• Tennessee Child Passenger Safety Law
• Does My Child Need a Booster Seat?

^ Top Safety Tips and Links

Attention parents of infants and young children: We at UT Medical Center want to ensure that your child has a safe car ride. Here are some important Internet links and resources.

• Child Passenger Transportation Safety Tips—“How to protect your new baby in the car” is just one of the many tips available at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps/newtips.
• Car Seat Checkpoint Stations—Free-of-charge opportunity to help your infant/child ride safely in your car (to be sure your car seat is a safe fit for your child and verify that your car seat is installed properly and safely in your car). For dates/times and locations of car seat checkpoint stations, call the Knoxville branch of the SAFE KIDS Coalition 865.215.5175 or call the Knoxville Police Department at 865.215.8633 (car seat safety office).

Did you know that any car seat can be “recalled” at any time?

The National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA) spot checks car seats in crash tests at random after they are available in the stores.

To check if your child’s car seat has been recalled or to report a problem with your car seat:

• Call the NHTSA Auto Safety Hotline: 1.888.DASH.2DOT (1.888.327.4236)
• Go online to www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/index
• For more information on infant and child car seats and booster seats as well as general child passenger safety, check these links to national organizations:
  • www.safekids.org
  • www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/childps

If your new baby was born prematurely: Before your premature (less than 37 weeks gestation) infant’s first ride home from the hospital, he will have a car seat tolerance test done to check your baby’s ability to tolerate the car seat sitting position. There are many styles of infant car seats and some seats fit small premature infants better than others. Ask your baby’s nurse for advice before you purchase a car seat. UT Medical Center has many information pamphlets to help you select the best fitting car seat for your special baby. UT Medical Center also has NHTSA-certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians on staff to help advise you.

Healthcare coordinators are available by calling toll-free 1.877.UT.CARES (1.865.882.2737) Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or emailing hcc@mc.utmck.edu.

^ Top Tennessee Child Passenger Safety Law

All seats must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and be used according to child safety restraint system and vehicle manufacturer's instructions.

Any child who has special needs and cannot be safely transported in a conventional child restraint requires a doctor’s prescription for a specially modified seat.

^ Top Does my child need a booster seat?

You child may still require a booster seat. Take this quick assessment to answer your questions.