The LATCH system is beneficial because it not only makes installing a carseat easy

To the uninitiated parent, buying a car seat for your child can seem technical at best.  There are a dozen terms designers and retail stores use to describe car seats, their various accessories and features.  Below you'll find some handy tips for sorting through the riff raff and deciding what features and accessories you really need for your carseat.Key TermsHere are some key terms you should familiarize yourself with before shopping for your child's first carseat.LATCH ? This stands for 'lower anchors and tethers for children.'  Now what the heck is that you ask?  Most vehicles built after 2002 have standard hardware in the seats that help attach the carseat more easily to the car.  A LATCH system replaces a seatbelt for fastening the carseat into your car. 

The LATCH system is beneficial because it not only makes installing a carseat easy, but it also prevents the seat from slipping out of place over time.  Don't worry if your car doesn't have a LATCH system.  You can still install almost any car seat using the seatbelt only.  Some mode car seats built after 2002 are especially designed to accommodate LATCH systems, but you can still install these using a standard belt as well.Convertible Car Seat ? This is a seat that can accommodate an infant in a rear facing position or an older child in a forward facing position.  Some convertible seats also act as a booster when your child is almost old enough to ride using a standard seat belt.Rear Facing ? Rear facing simply refers to car seats that are designed to face the rear rather than the front of your car.  All infants less than one year old and under 20 pounds must ride in a rear facing car seat. 

All infant carriers are rear facing, meaning they are designed to sit in the rear of your car.  Convertible car seats have the option of being rear facing or forward facing.Forward Facing ? Forward Facing only car seats are those designed for children over 1 year of age up to about 3 or 4 years of age.