What You Need to Know to Choose a Safe Car Seat
Safe Car Seat
A lady who happened to be a pediatrician was asked what factors went into her decision to purchase a car seat. Her answer: 1st factor – safety; 2nd factor – safety; 3rd factor – safety. While safety is the number one concern for all parents, there are other factors to consider such as the child’s age and weight. This will determine the type of car seat to consider.
Types of Car Seats
* Rear Facing Car Seat – These seats face to the rear of the vehicle. They are a must for infants one year old or less and weigh 20 pounds or less. The infant is secured with a built in harness and on an incline that provides maximum protection from a crash without interfering with breathing.
* Convertible Car Seats – These seats are convertible in that they can either face to the rear or to the front. They advantage of these types of seats is that they can be used as the baby becomes older than one year eliminating the need to purchase a new seat. When facing to the front, they can accommodate toddlers up to 40 pounds.
* Toddler Booster Seats – These seats come with a built in harness and secure the child only in the front facing position. When the child reaches 40 pounds, the harness can be removed and the seat can be used with the vehicles’ safety belts. You should use a booster until the child reaches 80 pounds and is at least 57 inches tall – the minimum height for using the car safety belts safely without a booster.
* Belt Positioning Booster Seats – These seats do not have a built in harness and are designed to be used only with the car safety belts. The purpose of these seats is to lift the child so that the car safety belts are positioned properly across the child’s shoulders and the lap belt fits across the thighs.
When Can My Child Use Seat Belts?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), children can begin to use seat belts at age 8 and older or taller than 4’9”. All children aged 12 and under should always ride in the back seat.
The Academy of Pediatrics recommends switching to seat belts when the child has outgrown the booster seat and ride in the back seat until age 13.
In all cases, make sure the shoulder belt lies across the shoulder and not the throat. The lap belt should be low across the hips and not the stomach.
As you can see, choosing a car seat involves many factors mostly related to age and weight. By following the guidelines above, you should be able to confidently shop for the correct seat for your child.
A final reminder – after you purchase a car seat, be sure to send in the registration card so that you will be notified in case of a re-call.
Examples of Car Seats
Cosco Scenera Convertable Car Seat
This convertible car seat can be used as rear facing from 5-35 pounds and forward facing from 22-40 pounds. It features a 5-point harness with an upfront harness adjustment. This comes with four harness heights and 3 buckle strap locations allow for a snug and secure fit and the 2 position recline offers comfort. This car seat boasts a removable cup holder and a removable and washable seat pad.
Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat
The Nautilus features an extended five-point harness design that can accommodate children over the age of one, from 20 to 65 pounds in weight–a wider range than most other forward-facing car seats. As your child grows, the seat easily converts to a high-back booster and then, lastly, to a backless booster for a child up to 100 pounds in weight. A steel-reinforced frame and superior construction help to ensure safety and durability through years of use.
Graco High Back TurboBooster Car Seat
The seat children and their parents can agree on with cool perks like hide-away cup holders to stash road trip must-haves and “big kid” design. The padded seat, two plush side pillows and adjustable armrests persuade passengers to sit back and enjoy the ride. This easy to use booster has a head support that gets taller when your child does, and later the seat even converts to a backless booster. A great pick for even the pickiest little people.