At a health promotion fair, which car seat statement indicates understanding of proper car seat safety?

• A. I will place my newborn infant in a rear facing car seat in the middle of the rear seat.
• B. I will place the car seat in the front passenger seat facing backward.
• C. I will use a forward-facing seat as soon as the child can sit up.
• D. I will place the newborn in a rear-facing seat near the window.

Answer: (A)

Infants belong in a rear‑facing car seat in the back seat until they surpass the seat’s weight and height limits, and the safest spot in the back is typically the middle seat. This arrangement protects the head, neck, and spine by distributing crash forces more evenly and keeps the child away from potential side impact and airbag risks.

The statement about placing a newborn in a rear‑facing seat in the middle of the rear seat best reflects this guidance. It combines two key safety principles: keep the child rear-facing as long as possible, and choose the rear seat’s center position when feasible for maximum protection.

Why the other options aren’t as safe: putting a rear-facing seat in the front passenger seat exposes the child to airbag injury risks in a crash. Moving to a forward‑facing seat as soon as the child can sit up shortens the period of rear‑facing protection, increasing risk of injury. Placing the newborn in a rear‑facing seat near the window makes the child more vulnerable to window-related hazards and side impacts than the middle back seat.