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Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- A new rule on child safety seats that goes into effect next year is creating confusion now.

"Latch" anchors for child car seats have been required by federal law since 2001, but safety advocates say they're not strong enough.

Starting in 2014, parents will be required to know the combined weight of the seat and their child before deciding whether to secure the safety seat with latches or with a seat belt.

Jeanne Cosgrove-Marsala is a registered nurse who directs the Safe Kids program at Sunrise Children's Hospital. She says the new rules are designed to take into account larger children over the age of three and heavier car seats.

She says, "The bottom line is, you need to make sure you check your owner's manual of your vehicle to check what your upper weight limits are to the lower anchors in your car. If your child has exceeded that weight, then you are to use the seat belt to buckle your car seat in."

Cosgrove-Marsala adds that parents who use latches and seat belts together are making a big mistake, because that can crack a safety seat frame and put a child further at risk.