How should 2-year-olds be secured in a vehicle for child passenger safety?

Securing 2-year-olds in a vehicle for child passenger safety is best achieved by using a rear-facing car seat. This method is recommended because it offers optimal protection for a child's head, neck, and spine in the event of a crash. Rear-facing seats are designed to distribute the force of a collision across the back of the seat rather than concentrating it on the child's body, thereby minimizing the risk of injury.

At this age, children typically weigh between 22 and 40 pounds, making them appropriate candidates for a rear-facing car seat. It is important to emphasize that children should remain in a rear-facing position as long as possible, up to the maximum height and weight limits set by the car seat manufacturer, in accordance with best safety practices.

While booster seats and front-facing car seats are suitable forms of child restraint, they are recommended for older children who have outgrown their rear-facing seats. The use of just a seatbelt without an appropriate child restraint system is not safe for 2-year-olds, as seatbelts are designed for adult body shapes and do not adequately protect young children.