Here are some general guidelines for choosing and using a car seat:
1. All car seats sold on the US marke are safe, they all pass strict government guidelines. You should choose a car seat that is easy to use, to ensure it is used properly.
2. Chose a seat that is appropriate for your child’s weight and height.
3. Always follow the installation and usage outlined in the manual. Every seat is different, so do not assume you know the correct way to use and install it.
4. The center of the back seat, facing Rear is the absolute safest place for a baby. Keep the baby rear facing as long as the seat allows. Even though technically, you can make the child forward facing at 1 year and 20 pounds, it is MUCH safer to keep the child rear facing up to the weight limit of the seat. The reason for this is that the most common crashes involve head on, frontal collision. When the child is rear facing, the impact causes the baby to be forced back into the seat, thereby cushioning his body. If the baby were forward facing in this type of collision, his body is propelled forward into the straps. Since a toddlers breast bone is not yet developed, this can cause serious internal injury. So in short, Keep your child rear facing as long as possible, as inconvenient as this might be!!
5. NEVER use any attachments or add-on to the seat unless they came with the seat. This includes toys, straps, cushions, etc. When the car seat is tested for crash worthiness, it is tested without anything interfering with its strap and impact systems. There is no way to know how a car seat will react in a crash with ANYTHING extra on it that could affect how it reacts. Why do they sell them then , you may ask? who knows, but all car seat manufacturers will give you this same advice
6. Never use rear facing view mirrors that attach to the back seat or around that area. In a crash, the rear facing seat is actually lifted off the cars seat and propelled towards the rear of the car. This places the baby in a “cocoon” to prevent being hit from flying debris. If a mirror is on the rear seat, the baby’s face can impact it, causing serious injury.
I hope this helps and feel free to post any questions you have regarding car seat usage.