Choosing a Baby Car Seat
A baby car seat is among the most important purchases you'll make as a new parent. Learn about the various types to help you choose the most suitable one for your family.
Many baby car seats can be easily transformed into strollers to take excursions around town. Take note of this feature if you intend to use the seat for Uber or other rideshare services.
Safety
Parents work hard to protect their children from illnesses, bullies and sports injuries however, one of the most important aspects of your child's safety is ensuring that they are safe in a car seat for road trips. A car accident is the leading cause of death among children and infants under 13, and many of these deaths could be avoided by using a child safety seat.
The car seat is designed to protect your child's neck and head in the event of an accident. The seats will also shield your child from the hot engine air and stop them from being thrown around in the interior of your car.
Choose a harness with five points that is attached to the child's shoulders, crotch and hips. This will offer the maximum protection. A majority of seats come with side-impact protection which adds an additional layer of protection that can help absorb shock and reduce the impact force of a crash.
Whatever kind of seat you pick Be sure to read the directions for installation prior to using it. If you are unsure, visit an inspection station for assistance from a certified child passenger safety technician. They can help you correctly install your seat and make sure that it meets federal motor vehicles safety standards.
Take into consideration your budget, since car seats can be expensive. If you can't purchase a new car seat, consult your family and friends with children for their advice. They might have a car seat they can borrow for a short period of time.
It is best to purchase an entirely new car seat if you plan on purchasing one. The used ones could have been involved in crashes and are more likely to have problems that can put your child's safety at risk.
If your child is in the car seat, don't leave them alone. Place the seat on a flat surface such as a sofa or a chair, and not on a counter or another elevated surface that could cause them to fall. Don't hang toys on the seat handle - they could explode when they crash, and hurt or kill your child.
Comfort
It's important to think about how comfortable your baby will feel in the car. The seat's padding and materials along with the temperature and weather conditions in your area can impact how comfortable your child is. For example, a merino wool-filled seat might feel warm to infants in winter, but it can be hot for an older child in summer. While reading reviews can give you an idea of how comfortable a seat is, it's best to test a few before you decide.
Infants and newborns are especially sensitive to discomfort in the car seat. They can't hold their heads straight during car rides due to their neck muscles aren't strong enough. Therefore, they tend to snore or slump forward. It's crucial to make sure that the harness straps are securely fitted over their shoulders with no slack, pinching or sagging anywhere on the body. The chest clip should also be placed at the armpit level or lower. Winter coats and other heavy outer layers can also affect the fit of the harness. Dress your baby in light, thin clothing when needed.
When your child is no longer in their infant seat and is now able to move to a group 1 or 2 seat to ensure safety and comfort. These seats utilize the vehicle's seat belt or the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system to ensure they are secured in the back seat, and a tether strap to keep the seat in a more stable position. These seats can also come with additional features, like head and body support which can be adjusted or built-in inserts for infants, dependent on the age of the infant.
If you're selecting an infant car seat or a group 1-3 seat, search for features that are easy to use, such as simple buckles and harness adjustments, simple-to-grip handles, and a carrier release button that is conveniently located. The simpler it is to use a seat, the more likely parents are to use it correctly. This can ensure your child's safety.
Ease of Installation
Installing car seats correctly is essential to ensure your child's safety. In reality, more than half of the children killed in car accidents aren't properly restrained (FARS: Fatality Analysis Reporting System). To ensure that your infant car seat is as safe as possible, you must follow the manufacturer's instructions and vehicle manual carefully. If you're not comfortable installing your car seat, seek assistance from a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. They can provide hands-on assistance and show you how to install and operate an infant car seat, as well as other types.
There's a lot to learn about the car seat and the proper installation, gaining a grip on the process prior to when baby arrives can save you lots of stress. Acquainting yourself with the seat's features and mechanisms will make it much easier to put in and remove your baby's car seat as needed. The best way to acquaint yourself with the car seat is to reserve time before your little one's arrival and conduct a test run.
If you are installing the seat yourself, be sure you do it on a level surface. The majority of infant car seats come with bubble indicators that indicate that the seat is being installed correctly. Some seats also have a locking mechanism that prevents the seat from moving while you are driving. It is also important to ensure that the base is secured to the car and that all locking mechanisms are secured.
Examine the car seat after it is installed to see whether the LATCH attachments or harness straps are twisted. Twists in the LATCH straps or harness straps can compromise the integrity and safety of the car seat.
Don't also put your child's coat when strapped into the car seat. It's easy to be stuck in the buckle and dragged from the seat during an abrupt stop or a turn. This is especially true for snowsuits, which cause too much slack in the harness and could lead to an unsafe situation in the event of an accident.
Design
The best car seats are designed with top safety ratings to protect your child if an accident occurs. Certain car seats have features that are useful for parents with young children. For instance, an indicator light to show the safety of the harness and an easy release buckle. Some infant car seats have a carry handle built-in which makes it easier to move the baby into and out of the vehicle without disturbing them. Others can be used with an integrated travel system that integrates seamlessly with a compatible stroller for easy transitions between the car and your destination.
The best-designed car seats are made from high-quality plastics like polypropylene, which expands under pressure to absorb impact and ensure the child's safety. The plastic is delivered to the factory in pebble-sized pellets, where it is molded into seat shells and other components. Many car seat manufacturers work with companies that specialize in the production of smaller components, like buckle latch plates and belt adjusters. They are usually made of steel. For example, Indiana Mills produces buckle and adjustment mechanisms for most American car seat brands.
A snug, tight fit is a crucial feature of any car safety seat. The seat should fit snugly enough that you can't squeeze more than a finger width under the straps once they're tightened. However, it shouldn't feel so tight that your baby is uncomfortable. Always refer to the manual to find out how to install a car seat properly.
Another factor to consider is the number of slots for harnesses. A good number of harness slots will ensure that your child feels comfortable and secure in the car seat. This increases the safety of your child. There are a variety of baby car seat designs, ranging from basic models to high-end luxury options.
rear facing infant car seat is determined by many factors, such as your budget, the car you drive and your baby's requirements. Many families believe that an all-in-1 seat is the best choice since it can accommodate your baby from birth until the booster stage and eliminates the necessity for multiple car seats.