Every parent’s ultimate concern is baby safety. The most important part of that plan is to choose the best seat for the particular car. Here are a few things to look for when trying to find that perfect model.
The first things you need to look at are weight and age. Babies less than one year of age need to have a safety seat that is especially made for their small size. It still needs to be facing the rear, and shouldn’t be used with an older baby.
The average weight for a child between the ages of one and four is about 20 to 40 pounds. Of course, they’re also taller than small babies, and they keep increasing in height as they get older. That opens up the possibility of a forward-facing car seat, which is a little more convenient for parents. However, it still needs to be placed in the back seat.
Convenience doesn’t have to be sacrificed for any of these goals, of course. Some styles can be converted. That is, they can be turned from a rear-facing position to forward-facing with a few simple movements. Still, keep in mind the correct age and weight characteristics.
It’s essential that the car seat you use meets some minimum standards. It’s important to look for a seat with a five point harness feature. So the parents can use the car’s safety belt to fasten the baby seat at the shoulders, hips and between the legs. This gives a more secure and stable base.
It’s helpful to have an overhead shield, too. These padded covers circle down and around the infant. AT-shield is another option; this is a padded attachment for the should straps, in the shape of a T of course.
Choose a style that has a tether on top that attaches to a properly installed anchor in the car. That adds extra safety. Some have a system called LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children). Therefore, there’s no need to use the safety belts in the car which are really intended for adults and older children. The car seat attaches, instead, entirely to the anchors.
Extra safety and comfort is provided by baby car safety seats that safely allow for adding or subtracting padding or blankets. As well, parents don’t have to spend as much time making adjustments to the seat for a good fit. That’s a situation in which no-one loses. There are even those with an integrated travel vest to buckle around your child.
That same double theme of safety and convenience is carried on by seat designs that make it easy to insert and adjust the restraining straps. Parents are busy people and it’s all too easy to take an occasional shortcut. However, nobody wishes to skimp on safety. A model that needs just a few seconds to put in or move is the answer to all of those issues.
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