Prenatal Tips for Your Newborn
Being in a car safety seat is the only safe place for an infant when in a car. Always put the infant safety seat in the car's back seat. NEVER put an infant in a car seat in the front seat. If you have an accident, children are safer in the back seat. Most cars have front passenger side airbags and the force of the airbags can kill infants and small children.
Infants need to ride in the back seat —facing the back window of the car—until they reach at least two years of age or until they reach the highest weight and height allowed by their car seat's manufacturer. More information on approved car seats and car seat safety can be found in the article, "Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families" on the American Academy of Pediatrics web site.
Read the installation instructions for the car seat. Follow them to properly install the seat in your car. It is recommended that a nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technician check your child's safety seat. Call your local highway patrol or fire station for information.
