Car accidents are stressful at best, and tragic at worst. Although they are the leading cause of death for young children, using the proper car seats correctly means this doesn’t have to be the case.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, child and infant car seats significantly reduce the risks of fatal injury in infants and toddlers in the event of a crash.

Keep reading to see how you can both choose and install the best car seat for your child, and take a look at our traffic safety laws page for more information on state-specific laws.

Choosing the Right Infant Car Seat

Maybe you’re a new parent and have never had to worry about purchasing a car seat before. How do you know whether your child needs a front-facing infant car seat or a booster seat?

Don’t stress—the NHTSA lightens the load of this task by offering an interactive tool to help you choose the best car seat for your child's age, weight, and height.

Read on to learn the organization’s guidelines.

Rear-facing infant car seats : Are usually for children under 1 year old, but if your child can still fit in a rear-facing car seat until they are 1 to 3 years old the NHTSA recommends that you do so . Feature a harness strap system and a cradle design to protect a child's neck and spine in a crash.

: Front-facing car seats: Are typically for children 4 to 7 years old, OR children under 4 years old who have outgrown their seat's height and weight maximum . Feature a tether strap system that is much safer than a standard seatbelt for young children.

Booster seats: Are designed for children 8 to 12 years old , OR children under 8 years old who have outgrown their seat's height and weight maximum. Are built to add extra height so the car's seat belt fits your child properly.



Car Seat Installation Tips

Don't be intimidated by the seat once you take it out of the box. While car seat installation may vary slightly from vehicle to vehicle, there are some basics that always apply.

When installing a car seat, make sure to: