Baby gear

Babies need lots of stuff to stay safe and comfortable.
Get a car seat and make sure you can install it correctly.
Be sure any pre-owned items are cleaned and the right size.

Infant car seats

The law says you must have an infant car seat, or safety seat, to bring your baby home from the hospital. And you must use the seat any time you take your baby in the car. You can find out more about car seats and car safety at Consumer Reports.

Shopping tips

Buy a new infant car seat, if you can. You can choose an infant-only seat, which is always used rear-facing. All infant seats in the United States now have a minimum weight limit of 22 pounds. You can also choose a convertible seat. These start out rear-facing but can change to a front-facing seat when your baby gets bigger.
Look for a model with a five-point harness (two shoulder straps, two leg straps, and one crotch strap).
Try the seat in your car before you buy it. Not all car seats work in every car. Also, make sure the car seat does not move more than 1 inch in any direction once installed.
If you want to take your baby out of the car in the seat or use the seat with a stroller, buy an infant seat that clicks into a separate base. You can leave the base in the car. If you use more than one car, you can buy a base for each car.
Send in the registration card. That way, you will be told if the seat is recalled for safety problems.

If you get a used infant seat, make sure:

It is not more than 6 years old. Look for a label on the seat that indicates the date it was made.
It has never been in a crash. It’s important to know the history of the seat.
It has not been recalled. You can check at recalls.gov.
It has labels explaining proper installation and the seat’s weight and height limits.
It has the instruction manual.

Safety tips
Installing the car seat in the car

Read the owner's booklets for both the seat and your car before you install the seat.
Install the seat rear-facing for an infant.
Check the strap adjustments for your baby’s size.
Get a free inspection to make sure the seat is installed right. Go to nhtsa.gov to find an inspection center near you.

Putting your baby in the car seat

Place your baby in the seat and fasten the harness.
Make sure the harness straps are straight and snug.
For rear-facing seats, use the harness slot at, or just below, your baby’s shoulder. The chest clip should be at the same level as the child’s armpits.
If your baby needs a blanket or thick coat, put it over or on her after she is strapped in.

More car safety tips

Put loose items in the trunk, or strap them down with cargo anchors. Loose items can fly around in the car and hurt your baby if you have to stop suddenly or you are in a crash.
Replace the car seat right away if it is in an accident.
Never leave your baby alone in the car. A car can get very hot, even on a cloudy day.
To help you remember that your baby is in the car, put a soft toy in the front seat. Or secure something you need, such as a purse or backpack, in the backseat near your baby as a reminder.

Looking ahead
As your baby grows, you will need to change his car seat.

July 2011