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What's the best place to put a child's car seat?

I just had my first child and I finally feel confident to take them with me on errands. However, I know little about children's car seats and proper safety. Where's the best place to put a child's car seat?

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Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“Congratulations on the little one and it is wonderful that you are so proactive about their safety! The best place to put a child’s car seat is always in the back seat and in the reverse position. .
American Academy of Pediatrics just updated its guidelines last year on car seat safety. They recommend that all children remain rear-facing until they reach their particular car seat’s height or weight limits. You can find the limitations on the seat itself and in the car seat manual.
You may want to check with your DMV about the local car seat law. For example, in New York, all kids under the age of two need to rear-facing. If they aren’t, a ticket of $200 can be issued.
The best place to put a child’s car seat is always in the back seat. If possible, you should position the car seat in the middle spot, as this keeps them away from side air bags.
If the car seat doesn’t fit in the middle position, the debate remains on which side to put it on. Generally speaking, a driver will subconsciously avoid a collision by turning the car toward the passenger’s side and moving themsevles away from impact. However, putting the car seat on the passenger’s side allows you to monitor the child while you’re driving. The final decision is up to you.
To err on the side of caution, you might want to consider adding
medical payments
to your car insurance, which can offset the costs of hospital bills in the event of an accident.
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