Car Seat Laws by State: What Parents Need to Know
Car seat laws aren’t the same everywhere in the United States. Every state has child passenger safety laws, but the specific requirements can differ based on a child’s age, height, weight, seating position, and type of restraint. Some states…
How to Check If Your Car Seat Has Been Recalled
A car seat can look perfectly fine and still be affected by a safety recall. Manufacturers issue recalls when a car seat has a safety defect or does not meet applicable safety requirements. A recall may involve a specific model, production period,…
Car Seat Rules for Flying with a Baby
The FAA doesn’t require a car seat for a baby on a plane — a “lap infant” under 2 is legally allowed to fly on an adult’s lap without a seat of their own. It’s also not the option the FAA or the American Academy of…
How Long Can a Baby Safely Stay in a Car Seat?
A car seat is one of the safest places for a baby to be during a drive — and one of the riskier places for a baby to sleep for an extended period once the car has stopped. This isn’t a contradiction; it comes down to a specific angle and mechanism…
Car Seat Safety in Extreme Heat: What Parents Need to Know
“Car seat safety in hot weather” usually gets treated as one topic, but it’s really two different hazards with two different solutions: the risk of a child being left in a hot vehicle, and the more everyday risk of a scorching-hot…
Is It Safe to Buy a Used or Secondhand Car Seat?
Search this question and you’ll get two confident, opposite answers: some sources say used car seats are fine with the right checks, others say avoid them entirely. Both are half-right. The honest answer depends less on “used vs. new”…
Infant Car Seat vs. Convertible Car Seat: Which Should You Buy First?
Almost every guide to this decision frames it the same way: infant seats are portable and convenient, convertible seats are a better long-term value, pick based on your budget and lifestyle. That’s true, but it skips something worth knowing before…
Best Car Seats for Small Cars / 3-Across Fitting
Finding the right car seat is challenging enough—but if you drive a compact car, hatchback, coupe, or small SUV, the decision becomes even more complicated. Limited rear-seat space, narrow bench widths, and reduced legroom can make even highly rated car…
How to Choose the Right Car Seat for Your Child
Choosing a car seat is one of the most important safety decisions you’ll make as a parent. With so many options available—from infant and convertible seats to booster models—it can be difficult to know which one is truly right for your child. The…
Types of Car Seats Explained
Choosing the right car seat can feel overwhelming, especially for first-time parents. With infant seats, convertible models, booster seats, and all-in-one options available, it’s easy to wonder which one your child actually needs—and when…