Car seats are a very important part of keeping your child safe. There are strict standards for car seat safety and it’s important you research and determine which car seat will be best for your baby and family. Here are some tips to help you choose a safe and comfortable car seat.
Infant Car Seats
Most families start with an infant carrier car seat. This type of car seat ispreferred for newborns because the seat can be taken off of its base without taking the child out. This gives you a better way to carry your infant and also gives you somewhere for them to sleep or lay comfortably. The weight limit on infant car seats is typically between 22-35 pounds. These car seats are designed to face the rear of the car. You should have a car seat purchased and installed in your car before your due date so that your baby can be transported home safely. The Chicco Keyfit, Safety 1st onBoard35 Air, and UPPAbaby Mesa are all highly rated infant car seats in safety and comfort. Most parents keep their children in infant car seats until they reach the seat’s weight limit or become too difficult to carry.
Convertible Car Seats
Convertible car seats are designed to rear and forward face. These car seats grow with your child. Most of have minimum weight requirement of 5 pounds so these can be used in place of an infant seat if you don’t need the convenience of an infant carrier. Convertible car seats are designed to last your child several years. It is recommended to keep the convertible car seat rear facing until the child is 2 years old. Each seat varies on weight maximum so be sure to check that when researching the best car seat for your child. Convertible car seats can be quite bulky, so if space is a concern check out the Maxi-Cosi Pria 70. It is one of the smallest seats on the market and also has great safety ratings. Britax and Chicco also make several convertible car seats that rate very high in safety and comfort. It is recommended that children stay in a convertible car seat until they reach the maximum weight limit for the seat.
Booster Seats
Children need to be at least four years old and at least 40 pounds to switch to a booster seat. There are several different styles of booster seats including no back booster, high back booster and high back booster with harness. The high back booster with harness is very similar to a convertible car seat. They have a detachable harness that can be removed when your child has reached the harness weight limit and the lap and shoulder belt can then be used just like a high back booster.
