Optimal Car Seat Positioning for a 2-Week-Old Neonate

For optimal safety, parents should place their 2-week-old son in a rear-facing car seat in the back seat of the vehicle. 1

Car Seat Selection and Positioning

A 2-week-old infant must be placed in a rear-facing car safety seat (CSS)
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants and toddlers ride in a rear-facing CSS as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their CSS's manufacturer 1
"Backwards is Best" is a key safety principle for infants, as they are safest in a head-on crash when facing backward 2

All children under 13 years of age should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection 1
A rear-facing safety seat must NEVER be placed in the front passenger seat of any vehicle that has an air bag on the passenger side 1
The center position of the back seat provides the greatest safety, with a 43% lower risk of injury compared to outboard positions 3

The car seat should be installed at approximately a 45-degree angle to prevent slumping and airway obstruction 1
The infant's head should not flop forward
The car seat should be installed tightly either with the vehicle seat belt or with the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system, if available 1

In rear-facing safety seats for infants, shoulder harnesses should be placed in the slots at or below the shoulders 1
The harness should be snug
The retainer clip should be positioned at the level of the infant's armpit, not on the abdomen or neck area 1

Never place a rear-facing car seat in the front passenger seat with an active airbag - this can cause serious injury or death to the infant in a crash
Never use a car seat that is too reclined or too upright - follow the manufacturer's guidelines for proper angle
Never transition to forward-facing too early - research from Sweden has shown that the injury-reducing effect of the rearward-facing child seat is superior to all other types of child restraints 4
Never place the infant on someone's lap - this provides no protection in a crash
Never allow the harness to be loose or twisted - it should fit snugly against the infant's body

As the child grows, follow these transitions (but not relevant for a 2-week-old):

Remain rear-facing until at least 2 years of age or until reaching the highest weight/height allowed by the car seat manufacturer 1, 5
Transition to forward-facing with harness when outgrown rear-facing limits
Use a belt-positioning booster seat when outgrown forward-facing limits
Use vehicle seat belt alone when properly fitted (typically 8-12 years)

Remember that each transition is associated with some decrease in protection, so parents should delay these transitions for as long as possible 1.