Teenager Connor Wickham, who signed a new contract this week, has been the centre of attention at Portman Road for the last 12 months but it was the even younger Carson who stole the show with a goal in each half.
Paddy McCarthy grabbed a late strike for Palace, but it will be a tense end to the season for Dougie Freedman's men who are just five points above the drop zone.
Wickham had the first real effort on goal when he cut in from his station on the left to bend a low shot just wide of the far post.
Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni was then called into action for the first time as he parried a powerful Grant Leadbitter strike from at least 30 yards and Palace did well to clear the resulting corner from Jimmy Bullard.
Paul Jewell's side were dominating possession but it was the visitors who had the next chance when Darren Ambrose seized on a loose ball just inside the area but could not keep the ball down.
That brought Palace to life and after Dean Moxey did well down the left to dig out a cross midfielder Neil Danns smashed a volley just wide.
Ambrose then had a fine chance to open the scoring against his former club but he made a mess of steering Kemy Agustien's cross on target and the home side escaped.
Ambrose then stung the palms of Adam Lee-Barrett with a dipping strike before 17-year-old Carson opened the scoring at the other end in the 38th minute.
The youngster beat his man down the right before cutting into the area and firing in a powerful shot which beat Speroni at his near post.
Carson was instrumental again at the start of the second period when his cut-back found Carlos Edwards on the edge of the box who struck the base of the post with a left-footed strike.
Edwards then crossed for Wickham to volley wide as Ipswich piled on the pressure in the search for a second goal.
Palace were struggling to get out of their half but did mount a rare break which ended with James Vaughan testing Lee-Barrett with a shot on the turn.
Ambrose then flashed a header wide and saw another shot saved before Carson grabbed his second in the 66th minute.
A Bullard corner caused havoc and when captain Gareth McAuley saw his shot blocked the teenager was perfectly placed to score from three yards.
Palace did strike back in the 73rd minute with a McCarthy volley from a Moxey free-kick, but they could not create any other chances as Ipswich held on.
Ipswich 2-1 Crystal Palace: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.
Source: DSG
