You know why it’s so important to put your child in her car seat, no matter how short the drive: Car crashes are one of the leading causes of injury and death among children, and most occur within 25 miles of home (and not, as is often believed, on highways).
A crash at even 30 miles per hour creates as much force as falling from a three-story window. But using a car seat — especially the first time — can be tricky. How do you know it’s installed correctly? And how can you protect your newborn's floppy head? Here’s everything you need to know to ensure you’re using your little one’s car seat as safely as possible.
Types of car seats
Car seats for newborns and infants
There are three types of car seats you can use with your infant:
- Infant car seat. This small, portable seat (sometimes part of a stroller travel system) has a carrying handle and a separate base that’s meant to be left in the car. (If you have more than one vehicle, you can buy additional bases for most car seats.) Infant car seats are generally designed for babies weighing up to about 22 to 40 pounds, depending on the model, and are meant to be used only in the rear-facing position. Most babies outgrow infant seats by the time they’re 9 to 18 months old — at which point you’ll need to transition your baby to a rear-facing convertible or a rear-facing all-in-one car seat.
- Convertible car seat. With a higher height and weight limit (usually up to 40 to 60 pounds), convertible car seats can be used for longer in the rear-facing position and can later be used in the front-facing position. However, convertible car seats are generally bulkier and less travel-friendly than infant car seats (and they usually aren't compatible with travel systems, if that's something that's important to you). The fit of a convertible seat may also be slightly less secure for a newborn. So if you choose this model, make sure your baby fits snugly in it.
- All-in-one (3-in-1) car seat. An all-in-one seat can be transformed from a rear-facing car seat to a forward-facing car seat and finally a booster seat. Just check to be sure yours is designed to be used with babies (not all are). The downside? All-in-one seats don't generally have a carrying handle or separate base. And because they're bigger, in addition to ensuring your newborn fits snugly into it, you’ll need to check its manual to be sure the seat fits your car model.
Car seats for toddlers and preschoolers
- Convertible car seat. Toddlers should ride in the rear-facing position of their convertible car seat until they've reached the maximum height or weight for their model (that's until age 2 at the very earliest, although most children aren't ready to face forward until age 3 or 4).
- All-in-one (3-in-1) car seat. Again, if your toddler is riding in an all-in-one model, make sure he's in the rear-facing position for as long as possible.
Car seats for school-aged children
- All-in-one (3-in-1) car seat. Once your child has reached the maximum weight or height for the forward-facing position of his all-in-one seat, you can transition it to the booster seat setting.
- Booster seat. If you don't have an all-in-one model, you can move your child to a belt-positioning booster seat once he reaches the height or weight limit on his forward-facing seat. He should remain in the booster seat until the seatbelt fits properly (usually when your child is 4 feet 9 inches tall).
No matter what car seat you choose, make sure it meets the following criteria:
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- Has a 5-point harness. All new car seats these days are designed with a 5-point harness, since it offers the most points of protection. The harness’s belts attach to the seat at five separate points: Two above the shoulders, two at either side of baby’s hips, and one between baby’s legs. (The one exception to this is if your child is big enough for a booster seat, which does not come with a harness but instead uses the lap and shoulder seatbelts.)
- Meets NHTSA standards. Your car seat should meet federal motor vehicle safety standards. Look for a label with this statement from the NHTSA. If you can't find it, don't buy the seat.
- Is in the back seat. No matter what type of car seat you need, remember that children younger than 13 years should always ride in the back seat.
- Is in good condition. If it's expired, damaged, recalled, has been in an accident or is missing any parts, don't use it.
How to properly buckle a baby in a car seat
Ready to hit the road? Keep these tips in in mind when buckling your child into a car seat:
- Dress baby comfortably. Because the harness straps go between a baby's legs, dress him in pants, leggings or tights that allow you to strap him in comfortably. You should never strap baby into her car seat in a jacket or snowsuit. Because they add an extra layer between your baby and the harness, bulky winter clothing can make it difficult for you to get the harness straps tight enough. Instead, cover baby’s body with a blanket over the top of his secured car seat.
- Set the seat at a 45-degree angle. If the car seat is too flat, your baby may slide out through the straps; too upright and his head may flop forward too much and make it difficult for him to breathe. That’s why all rear-facing seats have built-in angle adjustors or indicators, so check yours. Your baby’s head should rest at least 2 inches below the top of the car seat. Once your baby's older and has more head control, he can sit at a more upright angle.
- Buckle your child in correctly. Gently place your baby’s arms and shoulders through the harness straps, then buckle the crotch buckle and chest clip. Make sure you always fully attach both the crotch buckle and the chest clip.
- Check your work. Make sure the harness straps are lying flat (they should never be twisted) and are equally snug on both sides. You’ll know they’re tight enough when you can’t pinch any excess fabric along your baby’s shoulder. Next, check the car seat buckle. Is there a gap between the buckle and your baby’s groin? If so, check your manual. Some seats have multiple positions for the crotch buckle, or may allow you to use a rolled up washcloth to fill this space. Finally, check the position of the chest clip. It should sit right at the level of your baby’s armpits. You’ll want to check this last, since it can move around while you’re tightening the straps!
- Make sure baby’s head is secure. Even at the 45-degree angle, you'll want to keep an infant's head from flopping around. Most infant seats come with special cushioned inserts to secure baby's head; if not, pad the sides and the area around your baby's head and neck with a tightly-rolled blanket. And never use inserts that don't come with the car seat; it not only voids the warranty, but it could make baby unsafe.
- Use rolled-up blankets if baby slouches. Many newborns slouch to one side of the seat. If this happens, place a rolled up hand towel or blanket on each side of your baby’s shoulders. Only use specially-designed supports if they came with your car seat. And never place any padding under your baby, since it can affect the safety of the harness.
Car seat safety 101
Finally, always keep these safety basics in mind when using a car seat:
- Never leave a child unattended in or around a car. Even if she's buckled in her car seat.
- Only use car seats for travel. Properly-secured car seats are designed to be perfectly safe for a supervised snooze on a short car trip. However you should never, ever rely on your baby’s car seat as a spot for napping. Remember: The only safe place for a baby to sleep is on his back, in his crib. Move your baby to a safe sleep location once you’re done driving.
- Children under 13 should sit in the back seat. Never place a rear-facing car seat in the front passenger seat, since the airbag could injure your baby.
- Always read the manual. If you’re unsure a seat is installed correctly or are having trouble, contact a local certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) for help.
- Never use a car seat that’s damaged, expired or has an unknown history. These seats may not provide adequate protection in the event of a crash.
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