How to Choose a Safe Car Seat

Car seat guidelines, recommendations, and safety standards have changed dramatically over the years. Whether you are pregnant and need to buy a car seat for a newborn, or have a toddler who is ready to transition to a larger car seat, shopping for a car seat can be time consuming and confusing. Follow these steps to guide yourself through the process of choosing a safe car seat for your child.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. INFANTS
   
   Choose a rear-facing car seat if you have an infant. Babies’ necks are not strong enough to support their heads in the event of a head on collision. A rear-facing car seat provides babies with the extra support and safety that their little bodies need. Most rear-facing car seats accommodate babies until they weigh 20 pounds, but some seats, such as the Graco Snugride 32, accommodate children up to 32 pounds and 32 inches, so you can keep your child rear-facing longer.

2. TODDLERS/PRE-SCHOOLERS
   
   Upgrade to a forward-facing car seat when a child is over 20 pounds and more than one year old. Once a child has met these growth milestones their neck muscles are more developed and a forward-facing car seat is deemed safe. Compare toddler car seat specifications. Some seats are good up to 40 pounds, and some accommodate children up to 80 pounds. Look at different features such as snack trays, cup holders, reclining capability, bulkiness, and comfort.

3. SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN
   
   Choose a booster seat for children that have outgrown their car seat, but are not yet tall enough for a seatbelt to fit properly across their chest. Booster seats raise the height at which a child sits so that the seat belt is more effective. Use a booster seat for children under 4 feet 9 inches tall.

4. CONVERTIBLES
   
   Consider buying a convertible car seat that can be installed facing forward or facing the rear. Many companies make convertible car seats, such as Britax, Safety 1st, Cosco, Maxi-Cosi, and Eddie Bauer. Convertibles are a safe option because you can have you child rear-facing for longer, but many convertible seats do not have carry handles that strictly infant car seats have.

5. COMBINATIONS
   
   Consider buying a car seat that can also be used as a booster seat later on. If you have an infant and a toddler this may not be worth it to you because the infant will need the toddler’s car seat by the time the toddler is ready to transition to a booster seat. In this case, you would need to buy a booster seat anyways.

6. REVIEWS
   
   Read Consumer Reports online, as well as, reviews written by other parents who have used the car seat you are considering buying. Consumer Reports offers articles, buying guides, and ratings for car seats from independent, unbiased experts. You can also read reviews written by other parents when you are shopping online for car seats. Parents offer pros and cons such as whether a car seat is easy to install, comfortable, or too bulky. Take your time shopping, so you choose a safe, comfortable, and affordable car seat for your child.

Resources

• Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat in Matrix
• Evenflo Triumph Advance LX Convertible Car Seat - Harbortown
• Britax Marathon Convertible Car Seat

[cherold598]

on 5/11/2009 Excellent tips and resources for a very important topic.