Toyota Makes Child Seats Child’s Play

Safety is a big priority at Toyota, as well as with all of us at McGrath Elmhurst Toyota. While child car seat technology has improved considerably over the years, research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that over half of all child car seats are installed incorrectly.

According to the NHTSA, proper installation and use of car safety seats can reduce the rate of injuries in a collision by more than 70%, while the Center for Disease Control tells us that booster seats can lower the risk of injury by 45%.

To help ensure the safety of young passengers, Toyota decided to distribute information about proper car seat installation in vehicles. The result is Toyota for Families. Parents can access this feature in the Toyota Owners App or on Toyota’s website. Users simply select the vehicle from a list or enter the VIN. They then choose the seat’s location in the vehicle and enter the type of car seat they own (forward-facing, rear-facing or booster seat). Drivers who aren’t sure which kind of seat is best to use can enter the child’s age and weight to get a recommendation.

The app will play a custom video with step-by-step instructions on installing the child seat into their specific Toyota model. If there’s a known incompatibility with their selection, the system is designed to automatically flag it. To help avoid installation mistakes, the video displays crucial steps necessary to install the seat correctly. The video will also instruct users on any necessary additional steps, such as removing a headrest.

The App toolkit initially launched with the 2021 Toyota Sienna. Toyota plans to expand video directions and written content to other vehicles in its lineup. Toyota For Families is accessible through the Toyota Owners App and ToyotaOwners.com. Smartphone users can download iPhone or Android versions of the app.