Gone are the days of running to the store with a sweet snoozing infant strapped in his car seat. Now you’ve got a still sweet but not-quite-so-submissive toddler who’s raring to get out of his car seat and isn’t shy about letting you know. Which can make driving stressful — even on a trip to the corner store for a gallon of milk.

Read on for tips to help protect your most precious cargo whenever you’re on the road.

Types of car seats for toddlers

While you can choose your tot’s clothes based on what looks cute to you, when you choose a car seat, it’s not about looks — it’s about safety. You’ll want to consider what works best for your family and your car.

Consider these three options, all of which should have a five-point harness that attaches at the shoulders, hips and between the legs:[1]

  • Rear-facing only infant car seat. Have your child stay in a rear-facing infant seat until he’s the highest weight or height recommended by the car seat manufacturer. Check the seat’s manual to verify when it’s time to move on from this option.
  • Convertible seat. What’s convenient about convertible car seats is that they can be easily switched from rear-facing to forward-facing mode for older children. Although they are bulkier than infant seats and do not come with carrying handles or separate bases, they can be used for a longer period of time. Many convertible seats have high rear-facing weight limits and can hold up to 40 to 50 pounds (and in forward-facing mode typically have a weight limit of 65 pounds), making them more ideal for bigger babies and toddlers.
  • All-in-one (3-in-1). All-in-one seats are similar to convertible car seats, but they can be transformed from a rear-facing car seat to a forward-facing car seat and then a booster seat. Because they're bigger than the other two varieties, all-in-one car seats might not fit comfortably in all cars (and the only way to know if it fits in yours is to give installation a try).

When should your toddler switch to a forward-facing car seat?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) no longer suggests using age 2 as a measure for when you should flip your child's car seat. They now recommend keeping your child in the rear-facing position for as long as possible, until they've hit their seat's height or weight limit for the rear-facing position. Kids should move to a new seat when they reach either limit, height or weight: Don't wait until your child outgrows both limits.

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A rear-facing seat is a safer place for babies and toddlers — your child's head, neck and spine are better supported in case of a crash. So check your car seat manual to verify weight/height limits, and your vehicle's manual when it's time for re-installation instructions.

Can toddlers use a booster car seat?

No, booster seats are not meant for toddlers. Your child should ride in a five-point harness car seat until he reaches the forward-facing car seat's upper height and weight limits (usually around at least 4 years old) — and only then is it safe to transition to a belt-positioning booster seat in the back seat. As always, be sure to check the manufacturer’s guidelines on your vehicle and car seat manuals.

Don’t want to buy another seat in two years? You can opt for an “all-in-one” seat now that transitions from forward-facing car seat to a booster seat for his pre-K years and beyond.[2]

Keep in mind that your car’s regular seat belts are meant to work alone only when a child weighs about 80 pounds and is 4 feet 9 inches tall. And kids should always ride in the back seat until they're at least 13 years old.

Toddler car safety tips

  • Review car seat safety guidelines. Even the right car seat can’t do its job if your toddler’s not strapped in just right. So although you’re probably a pro at fastening all the harnesses and latches, take time to review the basic car seat safety tips, especially if you’re buying a new model. Give your vehicle’s and the car seat’s manuals a close and thorough read. Remember, the safest place is often in the middle of the back seat, away from passenger-side airbags and side impact crashes (though it is safe to install car seats in any position in the back seat where you get a good fit). And make sure that once the seat is installed, you can’t move it more than an inch from side to side and front to back when you grasp the car seat at the belt path (where it's actually attached to the car). Don't check for tightness anywhere else on the seat; the top of the seat is designed to move significantly to distribute crash forces.
  • Get a new seat professionally inspected. Bought a new car seat for your child? Get the installation re-checked by your local police or fire station if they have certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs). You can also find a certified car-seat inspector technician in your area (you can also call 866-SEAT-CHECK).
  • Adjust the harness to fit your child. Harness straps should be in the slots that are at or just below your child’s shoulders when they're riding rear-facing, and at or just above your child's shoulders when riding front-facing. The middle of the chest clip should be at the level of the bottom of your child’s armpits.
  • Avoid bulky winter clothing. For the safest ride, harness straps must remain tight on your child's shoulders — and bulky winter jackets and snowsuits add an extra layer between your child and protection. So never strap your child in wearing a jacket or snowsuit; instead lay the coat (or a blanket) over the buckled harness straps. Or consider the car seat while selecting his outfit — a light, thin sweater will keep him toasty in the car without interfering with the safety straps.
  • Be a good role model. Make sure everyone in the car obeys the buckle-up rule (especially you) — after all, the best way to teach good habits to kids is to practice them yourself.
  • Keep little fingers and arms safe. Making windows go up and down with a push of a button is oh-so-tempting for busy little fingers but dangerous if that window closes on them. To keep your curious toddler safe, control windows from the driver’s seat, keeping them locked, if possible. When you do need to raise them, always check to make sure hands (or arms or heads) aren’t anywhere near. You can nip the temptation to touch the buttons by giving your child something to keep his hands busy, like a just-for-the-car book or toy. Want to be sure that no fingers will get caught in the car door? Before you shut the door (and after you’ve strapped him in his seat) ask your toddler to show you how tightly he can hug himself.
  • Don't leave your tot in the car. Not even for a minute: Cars can cool down — and heat up — fast. How fast? Twenty degrees in 10 minutes — which can be alarming when the temperature soars from 90 degrees to 110. It’s especially dangerous for kids younger than 4, since their bodies absorb more heat and increase in temperature faster than adults’ bodies do. So don’t take a chance leaving your little one in the car alone, no matter what the weather. Want to avoid accidentally leaving your little one in the car (yes, it happens — especially when kids are asleep and a parent is distracted or stressed)? Always put your purse or briefcase in the back seat so you’ll have to check there anyway before you get out of the car. And make a habit of looking in the front and back of the car before walking away — just in case.
  • Use car seats for travel only. Car seats aren’t intended for other uses outside the car — especially unsupervised sleeping. So while it’s perfectly safe for your toddler to snooze in his seat when he’s properly buckled in for a ride to the supermarket, leaving him otherwise unattended in a car seat poses big risks, including death from strangulation or suffocation.
  • Take extra care with the trunk. Toddlers love to tuck themselves into small spaces, and that makes the trunk of a car a tempting place to explore. So teach your toddler another important rule of car safety: The trunk is absolutely off-limits. Don’t rely on your words alone (it’ll be awhile before your tot absorbs safety lessons). Keep your trunk and car doors locked, store keys out of reach and keep the rear fold-down seats locked upright to prevent your tot from climbing into the trunk from inside the car. Never put your toddler in the trunk even for a moment (while you load the groceries, for instance). You can show an older toddler or preschooler what to do if he does get trapped in the trunk, so point out the emergency handle in the trunk and practice using it (without putting your child in the trunk).
  • Pay attention to parked cars. Just because a car is parked doesn’t mean it’s safe: Drivers may not notice a child, say, drawing with chalk in the driveway or running up to say hello. So don’t let your toddler play in the driveway (and keep his toys in a safer, less-tempting place). Also remind the drivers in your family about these toddler car safety tips: Always walk around the car before moving it, back up slowly, pay attention to the mirrors and keep vehicles locked at all times, even when parked in the garage or driveway.