Parentpedia

What Experts Say

With so many car safety seats on the market, you'd think choosing one would be the hardest part of keeping your baby safe on the road -- but it's only the beginning. There are a slew of issues to review, from where to put the seat to sending in your registration card, before you put the key in the ignition.

Safety seat laws may vary as you cross state lines, but any expert will tell you that babies should ride in safety seats facing backwards until they reach 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. At this point, children can ride in forward-facing seats with a five-point harness until that is outgrown, and then graduate to a booster seat. (However, be sure to check what your state laws dictate.)

The car seat you choose must fit your child and your car, and be easy to use. In an effort to simplify the sometimes mystifying process of using car safety seats, the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system was made standard in cars built after September 2002. Yet the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported earlier this year that many parents are either unaware of LATCH or don't understand how to use it properly. And that's just one component of safe car seat use.

Here's how to get started:

• Start off with the right seat. Beware of used seats, which could be damaged, missing instruction manuals and parts, or be out-of-date with current standards or recalled without your knowledge.
• Get up to speed on LATCH.
• Do the paperwork. Read the manuals that come with your child safety seat, and the ones that come with your car before installing a car seat in your car. Fill out and send in the registration card that comes with the safety seat -- that way, you'll be notified if there's a recall.
• Install and adjust the seat correctly. Visit a child safety seat inspection where a nationally certified technician will make sure that your baby's car seat meets current safety standards. He or she will also make sure that the seat is installed correctly, and that belts and harnesses are properly adjusted.

Follow safe practices in the car at all times:

• Infants should always ride in the back seat, in a rear-facing seat.
• Never place a safety seat in front of a passenger air bag.
• If your car doesn't have LATCH, be sure that both your baby and baby's safety seat are buckled securely.
• Use the safety seat every time your baby rides in the car.
• Never leave a child in a car without an adult.