Installing a car seat properly is critical. Here's how to
make certain that you get it right.
Rules to Live By
The base of a car seat must
be strapped into the car so that
it will not budge more than one
inch in any direction. The car
seat should be installed at a
45-degree angle so your child's
head can't flop forward.
Always harness your child
snugly into his seat. The front
chest clip should be level with
the child's armpits so he can't
be pitched out in an accident.
You must heed these car
seat guidelines:
A rear-facing car seat is required
until infants are at least 1 year
old and weigh at least 20
pounds (as long as possible -
until they outgrow the
manufacturer's height/weight
limit, which for some
convertible seats is 30 pounds).
If your baby reaches the carrier's
weight limit before he's 1, you
must put him in a rear-facing
convertible (made to be used in
both the rear-facing and
forward-facing positions) seat.
A forward-facing car seat is
required for kids 1 or older,
weighing 20 pounds or more.
(After age 1, a convertible seat
should be turned to the forwardfacing
position until your child
outgrows the weight limit for it,
about 40 pounds, though some
go up to 65 pounds or more).
A booster seat is required in
some states. Kids should stay in
one until they're 57 inches tall
and weigh 80 to 100 pounds.
Never buy a used car seat. It
may have sustained damage in
an accident that is not visible.
Check for car seat recalls by
contacting the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration,
nhtsa.dot.gov.
Even when your child
outgrows car seats, he's safest
in the back seat of the car.
Elizabeth Parker is a writer and mom in
Los Angeles.
Baby Checklist