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Choose your baby car seats safely

There is only ONE consideration when buying a baby car seat – SAFETY! It doesn’t matter how nice it looks, only how well it functions.

 

Your child is precious to you and obviously you want to do everything to make  sure you protect them from harm. That’s why you use a car seat – its specifically designed to protect your child in the event of a crash.  But if it isn’t installed or used properly, it may as well not be there in the first place.

 

Almost all child injuries from vehicle crashes could have been avoided with the proper safety measures and further research shows that when most parents put their children in car seats, either they aren’t fastened in properly, or the car seat itself isn’t anchored properly.  Please, please, please choose the right seat and read all the manufacturer’s installation instructions. It’s your child’s life you’re dealing with here!

 

So what do you need to know when choosing a baby car seat?  Well, the first thing to note is that there are 3 types of seats available:

 

• Infant car seats – Used from birth to 1 year old, with a minimum weight of about 20 pounds. These are designed to support the back, neck and head. A rear-facing convertible car seat may be used as long as you meet the age and weight requirements. The harness straps must be at or below the child’s shoulder.

 

• Infant-Toddler (Convertible) Seats – Used for newborns then can convert to a car seat for infants up to 40 pounds. The name convertible comes from the ability to change the car seat from rear to forward facing. Generally can be used until at least the child’s first birthday or longer up to 40 pounds. The harness straps must be at or below the child’s shoulders.

 

• Booster car seats – Used for 4-8 years old, with a minimum weight of 40 pounds, and a maximum height of 4’9”.  Perfect for older children who aren’t quite yet ready for your car’s safety belt system.  A belt-positioning booster seat is forward-facing, and must use a lap and shoulder seat belt. The lap belt must ride low across the child’s upper thighs, with the shoulder belt reaching across the chest and shoulder. Check your vehicle owner’s manual to see if you have a lock mode for the rear seat belts – that’ll keep the booster seat anchored firmly in place.

Now that you know what to look for, you can go ahead and choose your new baby car seat.  Make the process easier by following these guidelines:

 

• Keep in mind the weight limits
• Find a seat which is easy to use and fits in your vehicle. Be sure it can be buckled tightly.
• Remember that if you buy an infant-only seat, you will have to change to an infant-toddler (convertible) seat later.
• Make sure the seat you choose can be fixed in the rear-facing position for as long as possible.

 

So now you have the right information, have a look through our recommended baby car seat merchants below to select the correct car seat for your baby.  And remember to read all the installation instructions – and be sure to buckle up!

 

 

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