Car Seat Basics – Selection and Use

• Kids 12 and under should ALWAYS ride in the back seat.
  This cuts their risk of death by 36%.
• Kids should be in a carseat or booster until they can be seated
  properly in a seatbelt.  For most kids, this is around 8-12 years
  old or 4′ 9″ tall, but proper seatbelt fit is the most important
  factor.
• Never place a rear-facing carseat in the front seat when
  there is an active frontal airbag.
• Keep your baby rear-facing
  as long as possible.  That can mean up to 35 or 40 pounds in most
  current convertible seats, unless they outgrow it by height
  first.
• All current car seats pass government safety standards.  
  Select the one that best fits your child, your vehicle and your
  budget.  Some models do have different features; select one that
  has the features that will allow you to use it correctly EVERY
  trip.
• Always read the owners manuals for your vehicle and carseat
  thoroughly.  They often contain specific information about carseat
  installation that may not be obvious.  Some models may vary from what
  you would expect.
• Make sure that the harness fits snugly on your child, the carseat
  fits snugly in your vehicle, and that your vehicle seatbelts
  are locked properly.
• When you buy a carseat, make sure
  you have a good return policy in
  case it doesn’t fit or in case you find you don’t like it.  Have your
  seat inspected by a certified technician for free at a checkup event or fitting
  station.
• Please be wary of used carseats, especially those over six years old, those
  with an unknown history that may have been in a crash, those that show any
  form of cracks or damage, and those with missing labels, model number,
  manufacturing date, instructions or parts.
• Please give driving your complete, unimpaired attention and wear your
  own seatbelt all the time.  These two simple steps are among these
  easiest ways you can protect yourself and your passengers from injury or
  death.

Also see our Frequently Asked Questions List for answers
to other common carseat issues.

• Use rear-facing up to 22-35 pounds, depending on the model.
• A 5-point harness is preferred. Keep chest clip at armpit
  level and not on the neck or tummy.
• Harness strap slots should be at or below the shoulders.
• A front adjuster to tighten the harness makes it easy to
  use.
• Newborns and infants should have a 45 degree maximum
  recline.
• Built-in angle indicators and adjusters may help get the correct
  recline.
• Manufacturers have differing instructions on where handle should be while traveling. Read the instruction manual to learn if it should be up or down in the vehicle.
• A rear-facing tether or impact foam found
  on some models may improve safety.
• Infant seats may fit newborns better than convertible
  models.
• Some models include a complete stroller and base system, while
  others may include just the convenient base that installs in the car.

• Rear-Facing is SAFEST!
• Select a model with a 35 or 40 pound rear-facing weight
  limit and keep your child rear-facing as long as possible.
• Your child should be turned front-facing at the 35 or 40 pound
  rear-facing limit, or if the top of their head is within an
  inch of the top of the shell.
• Models with a 5-point harness and front harness adjuster
  are preferred.
• Keep the harness straps at or below the shoulders while
  rear-facing.
• Keep the harness straps at or above the shoulders while
  front-facing.
• Some older models require the use of TOP slots while
  front-facing (check your manual).
• Keep chest clip at armpit level, not on the neck or tummy.
• Make sure you use the correct seat belt path or LATCH hooks intended
  for front-facing or rear-facing.
• A 45 degree maximum recline is needed for newborns and young infants
  while rear-facing.  Older babies with good head support can have less
  recline while rear-facing.
• Upright with no recline is best for front-facing.
• Some models feature tethers that can also be used rear-facing and
  impact foam for added safety.  Some also have built-in locking
  clips for convenience.

• Use the internal harness front-facing to the maximum limits indicated in the manual!
• Models with a 5-point harness and front harness adjuster
  are preferred.
• Keep chest clip at armpit level, not on the neck or tummy.
• When the child reaches the weight limit of the harness or his or her shoulders are above the top harness slots,
  remove the harness and use the seat as a booster with a lap AND shoulder belt.
• As a booster, the lap belt should ride high on the thighs or low on
  the hips.
• As a booster, the shoulder belt should cross the center
  of the shoulder and chest.
• Use the built-in shoulder belt guide if the shoulder belt
  doesn’t fit correctly.
• The shoulder belt guide on some models can “catch” the seatbelt and
  leave slack.  Please make sure the belt is tight at all
  times.
• Look for high, top harness slots to accommodate taller children up to
  40 pounds (more for many models) in the harness.

• Best used after 40 pounds with a only lap AND shoulder belt.
• Use until the manufacturer’s weight limit, or until your child
  can wear a seatbelt properly, usually around 8-12
  years old or 4′ 9″ tall.
• Shoulder belt should cross the center of the shoulder and
  chest, not on the neck.
• Lap belt should be high on the thighs or low on the hips,
  not on the tummy.
• Use a high back model if your vehicle has low seat backs
  with no head rests. Some models may offer increased side impact protection.
• A backless model is fine if your vehicle has headrests,
  or if there is plenty of growing room from the tops of your
  child’s ears up to the top of the seat back.
• Many models have open loop shoulder belt guides that don’t catch like
  some guides on combination seats.
• Many have adjustable head supports and extra padding for added
  comfort, compared to combination seats.

• Some models are suitable for older kids in vehicles that don’t
  have shoulder belts, or for big kids that are still too
  immature to ride properly in a seatbelt or booster. 
  Others are designed for children with special needs. If you have a lap-only belt seating position and
  cannot have a shoulder belt retrofitted, one of these models may work for you.
• The Britax Marathon 70, Boulevard 70, Boulevard 70 CS and Advocate 70 CS are convertible seats that are rated
  to 70 pounds front-facing. Top shoulder height setting is around 17.
• The Britax Frontier 85™ goes to 85 pounds
  with an internal 5-point harness. Top shoulder height setting is about 20″. The seat then converts to an adjustable high-back booster for children 40 lbs. to over 100 lbs.
• The Britax Regent (discontinued) goes to 80 pounds
  with an internal 5-point harness. Top shoulder height setting is about 19″.
• The Cosco/Safety 1st Apex goes to 65 pounds with an internal 5-point harness. Top shoulder height setting is about 17″ but the vehicle must provide adequate head restraint.
• The Diono Radian™ comes in three models; a 65 pound version, and two 80 pound versions, all with an internal 5-point harness. Top shoulder height setting is 17″+. The seat is relatively narrow and can also be used rear-facing.
• The Evenflo Titan DLX goes to 35 pounds rear-racing and to 50 pounds front-facing with a five point harness.
• The Evenflo Triumph Advance 65 goes to 40 pounds rear-racing and to 65 pounds front-facing with a five point harness. Shoulder strap height is easily adjusted from the front of the seat and the harness is tightened by turning an adjustment knob on the side of the seat.
• The Graco Nautilus is a front-facing only seat with an internal harness to 65 pounds. The seat then converts to an adjustable high-back booster from 30 to 100 pounds.
• The Graco My Ride is a convertible car seat with a 40-pound rear-facing weight limit and a 65-pound front-facing weight limit. The top harness height is about 17″.
• E-Z-On Products makes harnesses for vehicles with lap belts and
  children with special needs, including the Kid-Y Harness and similar Kid-Y Harness plus Ride Ryte Booster. The vehicle must provide adequate head restraint.
• Safe Traffic Systems makes the RideSafer Travel Vest in a 60 and 80 pound version as an alternative to boosters and for vehicles with lap belts. Vehicle must provide adequate head restraint.
• The Safety 1st Go Hybrid Booster Car Seat goes to 65 pounds with a hybrid 5-point harness. Top shoulder height setting is over 17″, depending on the vehicle. The vehicle must provide adequate head restraint.
• The Cosco Dreamride™ Car Bed and AngelGuard Infant Car Bed can
  be used for premature infants and babies with possible breathing problems or special needs
• Snugseat and Columbia Medical make
  models for children with special needs.