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Car Seat Safety - Keep Your Child Safe in your Vehicle While You're Driving

Infants should be placed in the back seat in a rear facing infant carseat, as the back of the seat protects their back and neck. This should be used until the child is about one year of age or until their head extends past the top of the seat.

Since newborns can't control neck movement, they should be placed in a semi-reclining position, at about a 45° angle. If baby's head flops forward then the seat is too upright, so try using a rolled up towel under the front edge of the seat to tilt it back.

After one year of age, the baby can be moved to a convertible seat. They should face the rear as long as possible before being changed to face the front. Front facing car seats should not recline. The seat must fit snugly in the vehicle. Children can be moved to a booster when they are too tall to be harnessed in a carseat (usually around 8 years of age).

5-point harnesses are considered the safest. Harness straps should fit snugly over the shoulders and between the legs. For rear-facing car seats the strap slots should be even with or just below the shoulders; front-facing seats should have the slots above the shoulder area.

You want the straps to be snug against their bodies so do not dress babies in bulky clothing, buntings, or clothes that encumber leg movement. Place a blanket over them for warmth after they've been harnessed in.

It's recommended to buy new unless you know the history. Older, used models may not meet today's safety standards or may have been involved in a crash. It's also important to have the owner's manual. Fill in the registration to ensure being notified of recalls. Before purchasing, see if you can try out the model in your car to make sure it will buckle in tightly. If not, inquire about their return policy. Practice buckling it in before baby's first ride.

More Safety Tips

The front seat is usually not recommended for kids under the age of 12. Airbags can be deadly to children and infants in rearfacing carseats. If the front of the automobile must be used, disable the airbag and move the seat back as far as possible.

Don't leave the handles pointing up, make sure they are horizontal.

Always read the owner's manual for specifics on your particular model.

For premature or very tiny newborn babies they may need to be transported using a carbed; try inquiring at the hospital.

There is no single safest carseat that fits all children and all cars. The safest seat is one that fits your child and your particular automobile and is used correctly.