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

For children aged 1-4 years, the appropriate choice is a forward-facing child seat in the back seat. At this age, children have typically outgrown their rear-facing car seats, which are designed for infants and younger toddlers. Transitioning to a forward-facing car seat ensures that the child is properly secured and protected in the event of a collision.

Forward-facing car seats come equipped with built-in harness systems that provide additional protection for toddlers who are more mobile and require a different type of restraint than that offered by rear-facing seats. This stage offers more safety features, including side-impact protection and adjustable harness systems for a better fit as the child grows.

Additionally, placing the seat in the back seat is important for safety, as the back seat is statistically the safest location for children in a vehicle. While booster seats are applicable for older children and adult seatbelts are safe for older teens and adults, neither is suitable for children under the age of four who still need the support and restraint that a forward-facing child seat offers.