Designed to protect infants and young children during vehicle travel. They are specifically engineered to mitigate injury in the event of a crash by restraining the child and distributing crash forces over a larger area of their body.

Key Safety Considerations

• Rear-Facing for as Long as Possible: Child safety experts, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), recommend keeping children in rear-facing car seats for as long as possible, until they reach the maximum weight or height limit for their seat. This is because rear-facing provides superior protection for a child’s head, neck, and spine in a frontal collision.
• Proper Harnessing: The car seat harness straps must be snug against the child’s body, with no slack. The chest clip should be positioned at armpit level. For rear-facing seats, the harness straps should be at or below the child’s shoulders. For forward-facing seats, they should be at or above the child’s shoulders.
• Correct Installation: Regardless of the installation method, the car seat must be installed tightly in the vehicle. There should be no more than one inch of movement side-to-side or front-to-back at the belt path.
• Expiration Dates: Car seats have expiration dates, typically 6-10 years from the date of manufacture. This is due to material degradation over time, changes in safety standards, and wear and tear. Using an expired car seat can compromise its safety.
• Crash History: A car seat that has been involved in a moderate to severe crash should be replaced, even if there is no visible damage, as its structural integrity may be compromised.