There is a wealth of information that can be found online or at your pediatrician’s office on how to be sure the car seat you choose is safe and falls within the requirements of the law. Searching out the correct information can be a little tedious, but can make all the difference when it comes to keeping your baby safe in a vehicle.
Know the Car Seat Laws
Remember that many laws have changed in the last few years, so when investigating what is best for your infant, you need to make sure the data is up-to-date. According to a data of 2008, babies need to be placed in rear facing car seats until they are around the first year of age or they have reached a weight of at least 20 pounds. The transition to the next size car seat needs to be based mainly on weight and less on age. Just because a child is older does not mean they are not necessarily safer.
Choosing a Car Seat Based on Weight
There are a few things to consider when choosing a baby car seat as well. When it comes to car seats, there are two main types. There is a small rocker style made for infants only and a larger convertible type made for children from birth to 40 pounds. If you are unsure about which is which, check the label on the side of the seat and it should list the weight it is designed for. An infant seat designed for babies only should read up to 22 pounds, while the other should read up to 40 pounds. The larger convertible size can be placed forward or rear facing for both uses. When choosing the style of car seats, most types, whether expensive or not, usually work fine.
How to Use a Car Seat Properly
More important than the style or brand of your baby’s car seat is the way it is used. You must be sure to buckle the baby properly each and every time. A car seat that sits improperly in the car or is not buckled correctly can actually cause more injuries than it prevents. Each seat should come with specific instructions on how to properly align your baby’s seat.
The main thing is that the seat be at a 45-degree angle and that the chest straps fit snuggly to the baby’s chest. Many car models now have buckles to help fasten your new car seat in place. Check your vehicle documentation to insure proper use. If you want to be extremely cautious, you can always take your car seat to your local fire station, and they will align the car seat for you at no charge.
Tips to Ensure Infant Safety
Avoid buying used car seats. Once a car seat has been in an accident, it may not be safe any longer.
Check to see what car seats have been recently recalled.
Make sure the car seat you choose has a return policy.
While most infants are not transported during daycare, know how the facility handles this situation, if your child ever does need to be driven somewhere.
Finding the best looking seat is not the main issue. The main thing to be concerned with is protecting the cargo it carries. Always be vigilant in buckling your infant in every time you get in the car. Never take a child out of a car seat until she has reached the appropriate age and size. The biggest cause in child injury due to car seats today is the improper use of them. Read all instructions thoroughly and follow every direction to the letter.
Types of Children’s Car Seats
The purchase of a car seat is an investment. Parents should have a clear understanding of the types of available children’s car seats. When informed, parents can choose the car seat that best suits the needs of their child and their vehicle.
The Infant-Only Rear-Facing Seat
Infant-only rear-facing seats are generally intended for use on infants weighing between 4 – 22 pounds. Most infant only seats feature two distinct pieces: an installed base that stays anchored in the vehicle and a removable car seat. The removable seat often has a carrying handle to make transporting the child easier. They may also be a part of a stroller traveling system. Please note that even though these removable car seats are often seen hooked onto the top basket of a grocery cart, the American Academy of Pediatrics identifies this as an unsafe practice due to several reported injuries to infants.
The Convertible Car Seat
Convertible car seats have the advantage that they can be used both rear-facing and forward-facing. By United States law, children must stay rear-facing until a minimum of 20 pounds AND at least one year of age. However, both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) urge parents to keep children rear-facing for the upper-most weight range of the car seat. This upper limit could be as much as 35 pounds.
Convertible car seats have higher rear-facing weight limits than infant-only rear-facing seats. These seats are recommended for larger babies or for parents who wish to keep their child rear-facing as long as possible for added safety.
These seats are currently being produced in two styles of harnesses. 5-point harnesses and overhead shield harnesses. The 5-point harness is considered safest by car seat experts, especially for small babies who sit too close to the shield or for children with eyeglasses. A note on harness positioning: When rear-facing, harness position should be at or below baby’s shoulder level. When forward-facing, harness position should be at our above baby’s shoulder level.
The Built-In Children’s Seat
Some cars and vans are now equipped with built-in car seats. Weight and height limits vary. See car owner’s manual for details.
The Higher Weight Forward-Facing Seat or Youth Seat
Higher weight forward-facing restraints, such as the Britax Regent, can harness children up to 80 pounds. These seats would be necessary for children who cannot sit properly in a belt-positioning booster seat or for parents who prefer to keep their child in a harnessing seat for as long as possible for added safety. Vehicles with lap belts only must use a higher weight forward-facing restraint for children over 40 pounds not old enough to ride without a car seat restraint.
The Combination Harnessing/Booster
Combination seats are forward-facing only. The inner harness may last from 20 – 50 pounds. After that point, it can be used as a belt-positioning booster for up to a maximum 100 pounds. However , CPSafety (Child Passenger Safety) suggests that these seats are better for children age 3 and older because there is not a great deal of head support for napping.
Harnessing slots are typically higher than convertible seats to accommodate larger children. When used with the harness, combination car seats can be installed using a lap belt or a lap/shoulder belt. When used as a belt-positioning booster, it must be installed with the lap/shoulder belt.
The High Back Belt-Positioning Booster
The purpose of high back belt-positioning booster seats is to correctly position a lap/shoulder belt over the hips and chest of a young child between 33 – 100 pounds. High back models provide the head and neck support needed for vehicles without head rest or with low back seats. They do not have a harness and the seat belt is the functioning restraint. High back belt-positioning boosters must be used with lap/shoulder belts.
The Backless Belt-Positioning Booster
The difference between backless belt-positioning boosters and high back belt-positioning boosters is that backless boosters are to be used in vehicles with high seat backs and head support.
When purchasing a car seat, parents should not make the decision on price alone. They should try the seat out, and adjust the straps to fit the child. They should be sure it fits properly in their vehicle. The safest car seat is the one that fits the child’s size and needs, is installed properly according to the vehicle’s manual, and is used correctly every time.
