Car Seat FAQ's

1. When should my child use a rear-facing/front-facing seat/booster seat?
This depends on the state you live in. Generally, a rear-facing infant seat is recommended until the baby is around 12-15 months, then a rear-facing seat until 3-4 years of age depending on your child's height and weight. After that you can move to a front-facing seat, or booster until at least 7 years of age. Check your individual state's seatbelt laws for the most up to date information.

2. What is a LATCH and do I need one?
The word LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. There are special connectors on the child seat which attach to anchor points loccated in the slot between the car's seat back and seat cushions to help secure the car seat. These are usually also used with a top tether that attaches from the top of the child seat to a special tether anchor behind the car's seat (not all seats need the top tether). LATCH anchors can be found on many vehicles made after 2000; they are required on almost all cars from 2003 and up.
Securing a child seat with LATCH, especially when the tether is also used, keeps the seat just as secure as it would be with a properly installed seatbelt. The primary purpose of LATCH is to make it easy for you to install your car seat every time, no matter what kind of car you have. If you are confident that you can secure your child properly with a seatbelt, then it is up to you. It is recommended that you use LATCH if in doubt. Once you get the hang of it, it is very easy to use. It is also excellent for permanent installations.

3. What is a Tether and do I need one?
A tether is a strong strap that attaches on one end to the top of a car seat, and fastens on the other end to an anchor point behind the car's seatback. It's used to keep the top of the child seat from traveling too forward in the event of a collision. Not all child seats have tethers, but many infant seats do. A tether is an excellent supplement to the bottom LATCH connectors; it will keep the top of the seat properly positioned while the LATCH connectors secure the bottom.
If your child seat came with a tether, use it if you can (it never hurts to have some additional security).
If your child seat didn't come with a tether (most boosters don't), then you don't have to worry; just use the seatbelt, and make sure to follow the instructions carefully.

4. Can I use a car seat in the front seat of my car?
For front-facing child seats, or if you don't have a passenger-side airbag: you can if you want, but as always, the safest place by far is in the back. For rear-facing child seats, and if you car has a passenger-side airbag: the answer is NO. The reason is that an airbag can suddenly push the child seat up and back with a lot of force, which will likely throw the baby from the seat and cause injury.

5. What is a convertible car seat and do I need one?
A convertible car seat is a child seat that can be used in a rear-facing or front-facing position, depending on your child's height, age and weight. It's good if you only want to buy one car seat until it's time for a booster seat.

6. What's the main difference between different kinds of booster seats?
The two main kinds of boosters are high-back boosters and backless boosters.
High-back boosters are generally the best kind. They have seatbelt positioners for the lap and shoulder belts to let you adjust and position the seatbelt to your liking, and have added side-impact protection. Some even have five-point harnesses, which are even better than regular lap-and-shoulder seatbelts. For these reasons, a high-back booster is highly recommended for your child as long as you can, which is typically until your child's ears are above the booster (each booster has maximum height specifications; these are a good reference).
Backless boosters are simpler designs made simply to add a few inches to your child's riding height in the car, just so that the car's seatbelt can be positioned properly. Basically, a backless booster is just a high-back booster without the seatback. It provides no extra positioning for the vehicle's shoulder belt. Aside from the lack of side impact protection, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a backless booster if your child is tall enough (remember, the shoulder belt should come no less than an inch below your child's ear). Plus, its much smaller than a high-back booster, which makes it more convenient in some cases.

7. My child seems too old to be in her current booster seat, but she is not too tall or heavy. Should I move her to a different kind of seat?
When you're thinking about what kind of seat your child should sit in, height and weight are the most important things. Weight is important because each child seat is designed to bear a certain weight range; too heavy or too light, and the child seat won't work the way it should. Height is important because a child that is too tall or short for a child seat won't fit properly with the harness or belt, and won't be properly secured. If your child is 3 to 4 years too old, you might consider switching car seats, but think carefully about it first.

8. Can I use a second hand car seat?
This is kind of a touchy subject. It's never a good idea to use a car seat that's been ill-treated or in an accident, so you're going to want to make sure that you trust whomever you are buying it from. As with cars, child seats are almost never the same after being in a serious accident. Try to make sure you know exactly where it came from and what it's been through before you use it.

9. Even with a booster, the shoulder belt still cuts into my child's neck and he tucks it behind his arm. Is this okay? What can I do about this?
A seatbelt tucked into behind the arm will not be positioned properly to protect your child in a crash. The best thing to do is to place a towel around the portion of the belt that's causing the trouble.

10. Should I use a locking clip?
Yes, it will help keep the seatbelt in the proper position at all times.