If you’re expecting a baby, an infant car seat should be high on your to-buy list. You’ll need one to bring your baby home from the hospital and for every car trip after that. Take our quick quiz to find out how much you know about infant car seats and whether you’re using one safely.

1. T or F: It’s safe to use a convertible car seat instead of an infant car seat for infants.

Answer: True. You can start your baby out with a convertible car seat in the rear-facing position. However, we think infant car seats are preferable because they tend to fit small infants more securely and offer the convenience of a carrier that detaches from the base. Many strollers are now also designed to accommodate infant car seats, or you can purchase a car-seat carrier stroller frame that will accept many infant car seats.

2.  T or F: You can use an infant car seat in the rear- or front-facing position.

Answer: False. Infant car seats are designed to be used only with the baby facing the rear of the car. Never use one front facing. They’re for babies up to 22 pounds; a few can be used up to 30 pounds or more. Be sure to observe the height limit of the infant seat as well. If your child outgrows the seat in height before his weight, or vice versa, he’s ready for the next-phase car seat, a convertible model used in the rear-facing position.

3. You can secure an infant car seat base to your car by:
 A. Using LATCH connections.
 B. Using a vehicle safety belt.
 C. Either A and B.
 D. Neither A nor B.

Answer: C--both A and B. Nearly all infant seats have a base that secures to your vehicle with LATCH connections or a vehicle safety belt. LATCH, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, includes belts that hook or “click” into the base to metal anchors in the car. If you have more than one car, buy an extra base for the second one. You can also strap most infant seats into a car without a base, using the vehicle safety belts.

4. T or F: Three-point harnesses--two adjustable shoulder straps that come together at a buckle in the seat itself or at a crotch strap—are the norm on infant car seats.

Answer: False. The vast majority of infant car seats now have an adjustable five-point harness system--two straps over the shoulders, two for the thighs, and a crotch strap. But there are a few three-point models still around. We recommend the five-point version.

5. When using an infant car seat as a carrier, be sure the seat is:
 A. In an upright position.
 B. At a 118-degree angle.
 C. Properly reclined.

Answer: C. Properly reclined. When carrying your baby in an infant car seat, the seat should be positioned so that your baby’s head doesn’t fall forward, which can inhibit his breathing.

6. T or F: It’s safe to hook an infant car seat onto a shopping cart.

Answer: False. Slots underneath many seats help them attach to the frame of a shopping cart, but the American Academy of Pediatrics and many manufacturers don’t recommend using them this way, and neither do we.

7. If your baby falls asleep in his infant car seat:
 A. Let him sleep there all day if he wants to. Consider it a portable crib.
 B. Move him to a full-size crib as soon as you can.
 C. Let him sleep there for two hours before moving him.

Answer: B. Move him to a full-size crib as soon as you can. With an infant car seat, you can move your baby from car to house or vice versa without waking him up—a plus for both of you. But don’t let your baby sleep in an infant car seat when you’re not in the car and don’t leave him in the seat for long periods, even after taking the seat out of the car. Move him to a firm, flat surface, such as a full-size crib. That’s the safest place for a baby to sleep.

8. T or F: Most babies only use an infant car seat until they’re 6 to 9 months old.

Answer: True. Much sooner than you think, your baby may outgrow an infant car seat and become too heavy for you to use the seat as a carrier. Know the manufacturer’s weight and height recommendations. You may find yourself having to buy a convertible car seat by the time your baby is 6 to 9 months old. That short stint may not seem practical or cost effective. However, our advice is still to start with an infant seat before moving up to a convertible seat because it’s more secure and compact for infants. We consider them the safest way to transport the youngest babies.

See our car seats section for car seat ratings and more.