Car seat safety

Rear-facing until at least age 2 is the minimum; the AAP now recommends rear-facing as long as the seat's height and weight limits allow, often to age 3 or 4. Rear-facing is dramatically safer in crashes because it distributes force across the whole back and neck. Harness straps should sit at or below the shoulders in rear-facing, and at or above in forward-facing. The chest clip goes at armpit level. Straps should be snug — you shouldn't be able to pinch the webbing at the shoulder. No thick coats under the harness; they compress in a crash and leave the harness loose. Get the seat professionally checked once installed. Most fire stations and pediatric offices have free car seat safety technicians. Register the seat with the manufacturer so you get recall notices.