Proper use of car seats is one of the most effective ways to protect kids in a crash. Infants start rear-facing and should stay that way as long as possible, ideally until age 2 or until they outgrow the seat's height and weight limits. Installation matters too: check for a snug fit with less than one inch of movement at the belt path.
Related Terms
A car seat installed to face the back of the vehicle, which provides the best crash protection for infants and toddlers. The American Academy of Pediatrics says kids should ride rear-facing as long as possible, up to the seat's maximum height and weight limits.
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children is a car seat installation system built into most vehicles since 2002. It uses dedicated anchor points instead of the vehicle seat belt. Either LATCH or seat belt installation is acceptable; you don't need to use both.
A seat that raises a child up so the vehicle seat belt fits properly across their chest and lap, not their neck and stomach. Kids typically move to a booster between ages 4 and 8, and ride in one until the seat belt fits without it, usually around 4 feet 9 inches tall.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is the federal agency that regulates the safety of consumer products including cribs, car seats, toys, and furniture. They issue recalls, set safety standards, and maintain a database of product-related injuries and deaths.