The Ultimate Car Seat Glossary for Parents

If shopping for a car seat makes you feel like you need a crash course in baby-gear lingo, you’re not alone. Between alphabet soup acronyms (LATCH, CPST, FAA, the list goes on) and features that sound more like engineering specs than parenting tools, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Our glossary is here to cut through the jargon and give you plain-English explanations, so you can shop, install, and ride with confidence.

Car Seat Types

• Infant Car Seat
  A lightweight, portable rear-facing seat designed for newborns. Often part of a travel system. Typically outgrown around the first year, depending on limits. Need help narrowing down? See our top infant car seat picks →

• Convertible Car Seat
  A seat that “converts” from rear-facing (for babies and toddlers) to forward-facing (for older kids). It doesn’t leave the car like an infant seat—you install it once and keep using it as your child grows. Is your baby ready to upgrade? Learn when to switch to a convertible car seat →

• All-in-One Car Seat
  The “Swiss Army knife” of car seats. It starts rear-facing for babies, flips to forward-facing for toddlers, and eventually becomes a booster for big kids. One seat, many years (although usually heavier and bulkier than stage-specific seats).

• Combination / Harness-to-Booster Seat
  Starts as a forward-facing seat with a harness and later converts to a booster. A good bridge option for growing kids. Time for the next stage? Find out here →

• High-Back Booster Seat
  A booster with added head and torso support, especially helpful in vehicles without headrests—or for kids who still snooze in the car.

• Backless Booster Seat
  A no-frills booster that lifts your child so the seat belt fits correctly. Great for bigger kids who still need a boost, but less supportive than high-back versions.

Installation Features

• LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether for Children)
  A government-mandated system that helps you install car seats without using a seat belt. Lower anchors are tucked in your vehicle seat and a tether anchor sits behind the seatback. Bonus: all seats can also be installed with a seat belt if needed. Not sure if you’re using LATCH correctly? Avoid these common mistakes →

• Rigid LATCH
  Metal connectors built into some car seats or bases. They click directly onto anchors—no tightening straps required.

• Top Tether
  A strap that anchors the top of forward-facing harnessed seats to the car. Helps reduce head movement in a crash.

• Top Tether Anchor
  The specific spot in your vehicle where the top tether attaches. Could be on the seatback, floor, ceiling, or behind the seat—always check your manual.

• Load Leg
  A support leg that extends from some infant seat bases to the vehicle floor. In a crash, it absorbs impact and reduces seat movement. Once a luxury feature, now increasingly common.

• Lock-Off
  A built-in feature that clamps down on the seat belt to create a tighter install.

• European Belt Path
  An alternate way to install some infant car seats with a seat belt. The shoulder portion routes around the back of the seat, creating a more stable install—especially useful when traveling without a base.

• Angle Indicator
  A built-in guide (bubble level or color-coded recline line) that helps you set the correct recline angle—critical for newborn safety.

• Recline Adjuster
  Lets you change the seat’s angle for comfort and proper positioning (especially important for infants).

• Tensioning Plate
  A mechanism that helps tighten the seat belt with less effort, ensuring a snug install.

• Seat Belt Path
  The designated route for threading the seat belt during installation. Often color-coded to keep things simple.

Safety Checks

• Inch Test
  Give the seat a wiggle at the belt path. If it moves less than one inch side-to-side or front-to-back, the install is secure. Worried your car seat isn't installed correctly? Find out how to check →

• Pinch Test
  Pinch the harness strap at your child’s collarbone. If you can grab any slack, tighten until it lies snug against their body.

• Seat Belt Fit Test
  A checklist for knowing when your child is ready to ride without a booster. They should:
  – Sit back fully against the seat.
  – Bend knees comfortably at the seat’s edge.
  – Keep the lap belt low on thighs (not stomach).
  – Keep the shoulder belt flat on the chest (not neck/arm).
  – Stay in proper position the whole ride.

Harness & Fit

• 5-Point Harness
  The gold standard: straps over both shoulders, both hips, and between the legs. Spreads crash forces over the strongest parts of the body.

• Chest Clip
  Keeps the harness straps positioned across your child’s chest. It should sit at armpit level—not on the belly or up at the neck.

• Harness Adjuster
  A lever, strap, or button that lets you tighten or loosen the harness for a secure fit.

• Harness Slots
  Openings in the seat back where the harness straps thread through. Proper placement depends on whether your child is rear- or forward-facing.

• No-Rethread Harness
  A parent-friendly upgrade: instead of re-threading straps, you simply slide the headrest up or down to adjust harness height. Faster, safer, and way less frustrating.

• Harness Height
  Where the straps rest on your child’s shoulders. For rear-facing, straps should be at or below the shoulders; for forward-facing, at or above.

• Headrest
  The adjustable cushion at the top of the seat. Moves up as your child grows and often adjusts the harness height along with it.

Safety Features & Materials

• Anti-Rebound Bar
  A safety bar that limits the seat’s rebound (or “bounce back”) toward the vehicle seat after a crash. Helps reduce movement and potential injury.

• Side Impact Protection
  Extra padding or engineering that helps shield your child’s head and body in a side collision. Standards vary, but it’s a valuable safety feature.

• Flame Retardant Free
  Some brands use fabrics (like wool) that meet flammability standards without added chemical flame retardants. These are labeled “FR-free.”

• GREENGUARD GOLD Certification
  A third-party label showing a product meets strict standards for low chemical emissions, improving indoor air quality. Looking for seats with this certification? Explore our GREENGUARD GOLD gear →

• OEKO-TEX Certification
  A label that means the fabric has been tested for hundreds of harmful substances, proving it meets strict textile safety standards.

• Extended Rear-Facing
  Using a convertible or all-in-one seat rear-facing past age 2. Many seats allow kids to ride rear-facing up to 40–50 lbs, which offers the best protection for the head, neck, and spine. Wondering how long your child should stay rear-facing? Learn more here →

• FAA-Approved
  Car seats labeled safe for airplane use. Most harnessed seats are, but many boosters are not. Always check for the FAA approval sticker before flying.

Other Helpful Terms

• Car Seat Base
  The part of an infant car seat that stays in your car. Installs with LATCH or a seat belt so you can click the carrier in and out without reinstalling every time.

• Car Seat Adapters
  Add-on pieces that let you attach an infant car seat to a stroller frame—handy for turning your gear into a travel system.

• Travel System
  A stroller and car seat combo that works seamlessly together. Many infant seats click directly onto compatible strollers, sometimes with adapters.

• Bight
  The crack where the seat cushion meets the seatback (aka the Cheerio graveyard). This is where your car’s lower LATCH anchors are located.

• Shell
  The main plastic frame of the car seat. Provides structure, absorbs crash forces, and supports the padding and cover.

• Overhang
  How much of the car seat base can extend past the edge of the vehicle seat. Most brands allow no more than 20%. Always check your manual.

• Tightness Indicator
  A feature on some car seats that shows if your installation is tight enough—often with a green/red visual cue.

• Vehicle Seat Belt Types
  Car seats can be installed with lap-only or lap-and-shoulder belts. Boosters, however, require a lap-and-shoulder belt for proper fit.

• Vehicle Seat Protector
  A mat or cover placed under a car seat to protect your car’s upholstery. Only use protectors approved by your car seat’s manufacturer to avoid safety issues.

• Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST)
  A trained car seat expert who can help with installation, harnessing, and choosing the right seat. Find one near you at seatcheck.org →

FAQs About Car Seats

Even with a glossary, car seats come with plenty of “wait, what?” moments. We get it (because we’ve been there too). That’s why we pulled together answers to the questions parents ask us most. From knowing when to move your kiddo to a booster to figuring out if that hand-me-down seat is safe, here’s the need-to-know stuff, minus the overwhelm.

What is the safest type of car seat?

The safest car seat is one that fits your child’s current age, height, and weight—and one you can install correctly every time. For infants, that means a rear-facing car seat. As your child grows, you’ll transition to a forward-facing seat with a harness, and eventually a booster.

When should my child switch from a car seat to a booster?

Most kids aren’t ready for a booster until they’ve outgrown the height or weight limits of their forward-facing car seat with a harness. Even then, they need to pass the “seat belt fit test,” which usually doesn’t happen until around ages 8–12.

What’s the difference between LATCH and seat belt installation?

Both are safe when used correctly. LATCH can simplify installation for infant and convertible car seats, but most vehicles have a LATCH weight limit (usually around 65 pounds combined for the child and seat). Once you reach that limit, it’s safer to switch to a seat belt installation.

Do car seats expire?

Yes—most car seats expire 7–10 years after the date of manufacture. Over time, materials can break down and safety standards may change. You can find the expiration date on the seat itself or in the user manual.

Can I use a used or secondhand car seat?

It’s not recommended unless you know the full history of the seat. A seat that’s been in a crash, recalled, or missing parts could put your child at risk. If you’re not 100% sure about its background, it’s safer to buy new.

What age should my child ride forward-facing?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends keeping children rear-facing until they reach the maximum height or weight limit for their car seat—often well past age 2. Rear-facing offers the best protection in a crash, especially for a child’s head, neck, and spine.

What’s the best car seat for my child’s age?

That depends! Infant car seats are designed for newborns and younger babies, convertible and all-in-one seats offer extended use, and boosters are for older kids. If you’re unsure which type is right for your family, shop by stage: Infant Car Seats, Convertible Car Seats, All-in-One Car Seats, and Boosters.

Why should you trust Bambi Baby?

At Bambi Baby, our decades-long commitment to quality and customer satisfaction has established us as a trusted authority in the baby products' industry. With over 40 years of experience, we have developed a deep understanding of what parents require when choosing the perfect gear. Our expert team is dedicated to guiding you through this important decision with personalized recommendations, ensuring that the gear you pick perfectly matches your lifestyle and needs.

Still have questions? 

Bambi Baby experts are ready to connect! If you have any more questions regarding car seat safety, you can reach us at cs@bambibaby.com or chat with us on our website. We would love to hear from you!

We would also love to see you in store! Feel free to visit any of our store locations in New York, New Jersey, or Miami if you prefer personalized assistance from one of our experts. We're here to ensure you find the perfect gear for your baby with confidence and ease.