When purchasing a baby car seat, some features are absolutely essential. Keeping your baby safe should be every parent's highest priority, and a good car seat will do just that. Unfortunately, searching for the right car seat can be overwhelming as there are hundreds of models, features and brands to sort through. If you don't know what to look for, the process can be time-consuming and draining. Concentrating on a few essential features will help you sort through your choices and find the car seat that's right for your family.
The single most important feature of any car seat is the 5-point attach. Most car seats feature one of two kinds of attachments: the 3-point harness and the 5-point harness. A 3-point harness is probably okay, but the 5-point harness will do much more to keep your baby safe and secure in the car seat. With more attachments, the 5-point harness further restrains the child in case of ejection.
While everyone knows the basic rule that a small child has to be restrained in a car seat, not everyone understands the other features and safety recommendations for child safety seats. In the most basic terms, there are four kinds of seat positions: front-facing, rear-facing, combination and booster seats.
Even older children are candidates for child safety seats, including children who weigh around 60 pounds. A nine-year-old, for example, might be a candidate for a car safety seat made for an older, larger child. In general, a standard car seat will accommodate a child that weighs 20-25 pounds. If your child is about 10 pounds heavier, you'll probably need to purchase a car seat that is geared for larger children.
Of the four types of child safety seats, the rear-facing seat is considered the safest. When deciding on a car seat, you might want to consider how much your child is going to grow - and perhaps purchase a larger car seat so they won't outgrow it as quickly. A booster seat, one kind of child safety seat, is for older kids, or those that weigh around 40-50 pounds. Whether you have a small seat, large seat, rear-facing or booster, it's extremely important that the car seat is installed carefully and thoroughly.
Your older child's booster should allow for the shoulder belt to cross the center of the shoulder and chest. Avoid crossing it over the neck. The lap belt should ride across the hips. If your car has low seat backs without headrests, use a high-back model. You may be able to find a model with adjustable head supports and extra padding.
All car seats for babies and small children are examined and tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Car seats are tested on a number of features, including the ease and readability of the instructions. The government's suggestions from these tests are carefully considered by car seat manufacturers, and they work hard to update and enhance the design of their products. More information can be found on NHTSA's web site.
Some car seats get top marks - all A's, that is - from the NHTSA. These models are easy to find, especially if you use the Internet (check out eBay and Froogle, especially) to do your research. Whichever model you select, online or at the store, be sure to check the safety rating from NHTSA.
Article Source: http://www.alltopinfo.com
SallyThatcher is a great thinker and enjoys mentoring kids. She often adds to the conversations about infant car safety seats and cheap infant car seats.
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