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Car seat safety: Avoid 9 common mistakes

4. Reclining your child at the wrong angle

If your child's car seat faces the rear of the car, follow the seat maker's instructions to recline the seat to the correct angle. Do this so your child's head doesn't flop forward. Babies must ride semi-reclined to keep their airways open. Many seats have parts that let you change how much the seat reclines. Most have a device that helps you find the correct recline angle for the seat. As your child grows, you might need to change the angle. Check the seat maker's instructions for details.