Which statement about infant car safety is correct?

• A. A car seat should be used for all infants and kept rear-facing until the child reaches the weight/height limit.
• B. Car seat is optional if lap/shoulder belt is in place.
• C. Car seat is not necessary if the child can hold on to the car.
• D. Front-seat placement is acceptable for infants if a seat belt is available.

Answer: (A)

Infants are safest riding in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, up to the seat’s weight or height limit. In a crash, rear-facing seats cradle the baby’s head, neck, and spine and distribute crash forces along the back of the seat rather than concentrating them on the fragile neck and upper spine. This is especially important for infants, who have proportionally larger heads and weaker neck muscles. Using a rear-facing seat in the back seat away from airbags provides the best protection.

Belts alone aren’t appropriate for infants, front-seat placement with an infant is not recommended, and a child should not ride unrestrained or rely on a seat belt to replace a proper infant car seat. Once the seat’s limits are reached, the child should transition to the next appropriate forward-facing seat with a harness.