To begin with:
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Infants should always be placed in a rear facing car seat in the back seat
of the car. Preferably in the middle of back the back seat is the
safest spot. If driving a truck, then the passenger air bag should
be turned off or the child should not be placed there. Also, infants
should be in a rear facing car seat until they way at least 20
pounds. Keeping the child in a rear facing as long as possible is
safest.
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Toddlers can be in an upright, front facing car seat. However, they
should still be placed in the back seat and in the middle whenever
possible. The same goes with toddlers in the front seat of a truck,
the airbag should be turned off when they are seated there. Upright
car seats are when the child is at least a year old and ways over 20
pounds.
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School aged children can go into a booster. Still in the middle of
the back seat and not in the front seat, unless in a truck that the airbag
can be turned off. Children should stay be placed in the booster
when the shoulder straps in an upright car seat no longer fits them.
Children that are 4'9" tall and between the ages of 8 and 12 can then be
moved from the booster and into a regular seat belt. Children should
still be in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old.
Also, no child should ride in the front seat
ever. The front seats are not typically made to hold a child's car seat
or booster seat. So, the seat belts do not lock properly and the car
seat does not fit correctly in the seat. Keeping the child in the back
seat as long as possible is safest in the event of an accident.
Each state will vary their laws depending on
what their needs are. Knowing what your state regulations are as well is
important too. Local police stations can help with car seat installation
and making sure you know and understand what the state requires. Your
pediatricians office also will have information on the correct way to install
a child in their car seat.
Lastly, make sure you check all the installation
instructions that have come with your car seat. Many car seats know come
with the latch system, but not all cars that older are equipment for the latch
system. You can still install your car seat. The instructions will
have both ways of installing the car seat properly. Always check the
manual first to make sure you are placing the car seat correctly and that all
belts and harness are adjusted right.
