As a parent, car seat safety can be overwhelming. To help ease some of the confusion, here are some car seat safety tips for the use of the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system.

LATCH has been around since 2002 when it was mandated by the government to be included on all new vehicles & child restraints. However, since you may be a new parent, you may not know what LATCH is or how to use it.

Click here for LATCH FAQs and tips.

Below are some Dos and Don’ts when it comes to Car Seat Safety.

The Dos
DO...put your Graco® car seat or booster seat in the rear seat of your car. That's the safest place for children under 12.

DO...use the level indicator on your rear-facing infant or convertible seat to get the correct angle for your little one - check your Graco car seat instruction manual for details.

DO...check that the harness is snug. You should not be able to pinch the harness if it is snug. It lies in a relatively straight line without sagging. It does not press on the child’s flesh or push the child’s body into unnatural position.

DO...look for LATCH in any new vehicle you buy. It simplifies installing your child car seat. (More info on LATCH.)

DO...read your Graco child car seat instructions and your automobile owner's manual.

DO...visit our car seat selector tool to find the right Graco car seat for your little one.

The Dont's
DON'T...ever put a infant car seat in the front seat with an active air bag.

DON'T...ever put a child less than one year of age and twenty pounds forward facing.

DON'T...buy a used child car seat. Safety standards change, and you want the most up-to-date model. You also don't want to ever use a child car seat that may have been involved in a crash.

DON'T...dress your baby in sack sleepers or papooses, or wrap your baby in a blanket when using a child car seat. Extra clothing can keep the harness straps from fitting snugly. Instead, find warm, comfortable clothing. Or better yet, look into getting the Graco Snugride® infant car seat that comes with the cold weather boot to keep tiny toes warm.

DON'T...let the child car seat become loose! It should be firmly attached to the rear seat of your automobile. Check the child car seat by tugging it just above where the seat belt is routed through the automobile belt hooks. It shouldn't move more than an inch in any direction.

DON'T...hurry. Take a moment every time you put your baby in your Graco car seat to make sure that he or she is comfortable and secure.