Regulations for Front-Facing Infant Car Seats

When To Graduate

• Until your baby is old enough, car seats face the rear of the car -- not the best view, maybe, but certainly the safest position for small bodies to be in if there is an accident. When a child weighs 20 pounds or more, it is time for them to graduate to a front-facing car seat. These seats come in many varieties, some of which convert later into booster seats for use by older children who have outgrown their car seat but are still too small to use a seat belt properly.

Safety Features

• Front-facing car seats can be placed in either the front or the back seat of the vehicle, unlike rear-facing seats which must be installed in the back. Check your car and your car seat to see if it has the LATCH system, which is designed for installing car seats specifically -- this feature is found on vehicles manufactured after 2002. The car seat should also have one of two types of harness: either an overhead shield, which is a padded, tray-like shield that swings down over the child's head, or a five-point security harness.

Proper Installation

• Making sure your car seat is properly installed is the only way to ensure that it is providing the maximum protection for your child. The LATCH system is designed to make installation of car seats simpler. Front-facing car seats may also need a tether strap along the top to keep the seat in a secure position. Many local authorities and child care businesses run safety checks on child car seats to help you install and verify your car seat installation; this is the best way to make sure that your seat is correctly installed and that you are following all regulations for your area.