Why are car seats important? A secure, properly used car seat could save your child's life during a car accident. According the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration car seats can decrease your child’s chance of dying in a car accident by almost three quarters for infants and more than half for toddlers and school aged children.

What types of car seats are there? 

1. REAR FACING: Rear facing car seats are designed to be buckled in with the child facing the back of the car. These car seats are used for infants and young toddlers. 
2. CONVERTIBLE: Some car seats are designed to be both rear facing and front facing. These seats are used as rear facing for infants but can be turned to forward facing for older toddlers. 
3. BOOSTER SEAT: Booster seats are used for older toddlers and young school aged children to ensure safe positioning of a normal car seat belt on your child. 

Which car seat should I buy? The type of car seat that your child needs depends on the age and size of your child.

1.  INFANTS: All children under one year old should be rear facing in an infant or convertible car seat until they weight at least 20 pounds AND they are more than one year old. Ideally your should keep your child in a rear facing seat until they are two years old or out grow their rear facing car seat. 
2. TODDLERS: Children between two years old and five years old should continue to use rear facing seats until they out grow the manufacturer’s rear facing recommended weight. After your child exceeds the maximum weight or height for your rear facing car seat he or she can transition to a front facing car seat. 
3. SCHOOL AGE: School aged children should sit in front facing booster seats until they are tall enough for shoulder belts to fit appropriately. Most children out grow booster seats between age 8 and 12 or by the time they are 4 feet 9 inches tall. 

 How should I use my child's car seat? 

• Car seats should be used for every child on every trip. 
• It is important to read the instructions for your child's car seat fully before you use it. Your car’s manual will also have information about what types of car seats fit best in your car and how to secure your car seat in your car. 
• Car seats should always be installed in the back seat. Your car seat should be tightly secured and move no more than 1 inch in any direction after it is installed.   
• On each trip the restraints on the seat should fit snugly against your child; only one finger should fit between your child’s collar bone and the safety harness and the chest clip should be at the level of your child’s armpit.   

Remember, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, "The best seat is one that fits your child, fits your vehicle and that you will use correctly on every trip." 

Contributed by Marissa Raymond-Flesch, M.D.