Guides · Safety · 0–12 months · 3 min read

Car Seat Basics

Rear-facing, back seat, snug harness — the fundamentals of car seat safety for the first year.

A correctly used car seat is one of the most effective pieces of safety equipment you'll ever own — and studies consistently find that a large share of seats are installed or used incorrectly. Here are the fundamentals for the first year.

The core rules

• **Rear-facing, every ride.** The AAP recommends babies ride rear-facing as long as possible, until they reach the seat's rear-facing height or weight limit — well beyond the first birthday for virtually all children. Rear-facing supports the head, neck, and spine in a crash.
• **Back seat, always.** Never place a rear-facing seat in front of an active airbag.
• Use an infant seat or convertible seat appropriate for your baby's current weight and height, and check the seat isn't expired or previously crashed (be cautious with secondhand seats).

Getting the install right

• Install with either the LATCH/ISOFIX system or the seat belt (not both, unless the manual allows), at the recline angle indicated for newborns.
• The installed seat shouldn't move more than an inch side-to-side or front-to-back at the belt path.
• Read both the car seat manual and your vehicle manual — and take advantage of free car seat checks by certified technicians (common at fire stations and hospitals).

Harness right, every time

• Harness straps at or **below** the shoulders when rear-facing, snug enough that you can't pinch a fold of webbing at the collarbone.
• Chest clip at armpit level.
• **No puffy coats or thick layers under the harness** — buckle first, tuck a blanket over the top.

One more habit

Car seats are for travel, not routine sleep — transfer baby to a flat, firm surface when you arrive. And never, ever leave a baby alone in a car, even briefly.

*Always consult your pediatrician for advice specific to your baby.*