Infant Car Seats: According to the AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics, infant car seats should always be rear-facing. This starts from the first day you drive home from the hospital until the age of 1 year with a weight of 20 pounds. Currently on the market, there are 2 different models of rear-facing car seats – infant car seats and convertible car seats.

Infant car seats very small and often have multiple carrying handles. These car seats have a max weight limit of 25 pounds and some models can support up to 35 pounds. When you are shopping to buy a car seat, you should carefully inspect the product for crakcs or weak points. Make sure the base is flat to remain stable while placed on the seat or other surface. The harness is the most important aspect of the seat. If the seat is designed to big, than the harnesses may cause injury to your child. There are two common types of harnesses on infant car seats: 5 Point Harness and Overhead Shield. Both come recommended and approved by the AAP. Both styles are very popular; Many parents favor the shield since babies can relax their arms on it and even nap on it. Many shield models also feature a 5 point harness.

Common Questions:
What about 1 year old  children that are over 20 pounds? It is recommended that you try to purchase a car seat that is designed to sit rear facing. You can distinguish these from ones that don’t by the loops for the seat belt straps. Since the car seat has to be secured, there should be hole that will fit the seat belt at the bottom (towards your child legs), which is closest to the seat when rear-facing.

What do I do when my infant is sitting to only 1 side or slouching? You can either purchase padding to try and comfort your child to sit properly or you can tightly roll up a sheet. It is important to keep your child sitting aligned or there could be health implications like: back problems, neck pain or joint soreness.

What if my child is premature? Parents of premature children should be given very descriptive instruction from their hospital about care. Generally, it is safe to allow your child to ride home in a reclined position. If the child must lay flat, then there are certain car seats that are tested to safely secure children while laying down. Tray shield models are often too big to fit premature children comfortably, since the shield can align at eye level.