Use a child restraint instead of your arms
Holding a child in your lap does not replace a correctly installed restraint. Follow the seat's installation instructions.
Secure a young child in a child safety seat according to its instructions.
NHTSA estimates 71% lower fatal-injury risk for infants in passenger cars using child restraints.
Why consider it?
The relative reduction is a US crash-data estimate for infants under 1 year, comparing restraint use with being unrestrained. It is not a trial, a universal legal age rule or a promise about an individual crash. Correct installation remains part of the book's practical advice.
Read the sources
Source grade A is reproduced from the original work. It does not establish suitability for everyone.
- NHTSA (2024). Occupant Protection in Passenger Vehicles: 2022 Data (DOT HS 813 573).
- WHO (2025). Road traffic injuries fact sheet.
Adaptation: Rewritten in English from the locked Chinese original; retained evidence grade and study limits. Effect sizes quoted from the cited source: estimates are kept in their original comparison and population; observational associations are not described as proven personal gains.
Make space for a practical habit.
Add this idea to your local checklist.