What type of car seat is appropriate for children aged 1-4 years?

For children aged 1-4 years, the most appropriate choice is a forward-facing child seat in the back seat. This type of car seat is designed for children who have outgrown rear-facing seats. According to safety recommendations, once a child reaches the age of 1 and has met the weight and height limits of their rear-facing car seat, they can transition to a forward-facing seat.

Forward-facing car seats are equipped with a harness that provides additional safety as children grow and become more active, significantly reducing the risk of injury in the event of a crash. It's recommended to keep children in a forward-facing seat with a harness until they outgrow the manufacturer’s weight and height limits.

Other options, while relevant to car seat safety, do not provide the level of protection recommended for this particular age group. A booster seat is typically intended for older children who have outgrown forward-facing seats. Rear-facing car seats are suitable for younger infants but not for the age group indicated in this question. Finally, using an adult seatbelt alone is not safe for children under 8 years old, as it does not properly fit their smaller bodies and could lead to serious injuries in a collision.