The NHTSA now recommends that children stay in appropriate car seats through 8 years, 80 pounds, or up to 4’9″.

Do you feel strange about putting your baby in the back seat? It is so far away! And in a rear-facing seat? Seems rather like a punishment for both of you. He can’t see where he’s going. You can’t see him. You fear he’ll be bored, might even get car sick. And how can you comfort him when he cries? What can you do when the sun sneaks around the shades on your car’s windows?

Everyone says this is the way to do it, but you are looking forward to the day you can turn that seat around!
(I can remember driving during the day with my rear-view mirror adjusted for headlights because that way I could see my son’s face while I was watching the road. But he was older then, a toddler in a forward-facing seat.
Babies do not watch the scenery because their young eyes can not yet focus on the distance, the gradations of color, or the movement. Think of the mobile you placed over your baby’s crib: strong contrasts, simple patterns, large objects that move slowly. It was designed for your baby. Trees flying by at 65 miles per hour outside a car window are nothing but a blur. Don’t worry: your baby will not miss the scenery.

    Infant Car Seats and Carriers:

  • Use rear-facing up to 20-22 pounds or higher on some models.
  • 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, rebound bar and 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

    • Convertible Car Seats:

  • Rear-Facing is SAFEST!
  • Select a model with a 30, 33 or 35 pound rear-facing weight limit and keep your child rear-facing as long as possible

  • Your child should be turned front-facing at the 30, 33 or 35 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 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.

    • Combination Car Seats:

  • 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

    • Booster Car Seats:

  • Best used after 40 pounds with a lap AND shoulder belt
  • Use until the manufacturer’s weight limit, or until your child can wear a seatbelt properly, usually around 8 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

Compare the seats first for safety, then look at the added features. Pay careful attention to the weight limits on your seat. The seat will not protect your baby once she is bigger than weight limit.
If your baby is long and lean, watch where his head rests on the seat back. The entire head should be below the top of the seat. If he is sneaking up past the top, it is time to move to a convertible seat, still in the rear-facing position.