Choosing a Baby Car Seat
As the new parent, a baby car seat is one of the most important purchases you make. Learn about the different types to help you choose the best one for your family.
Many baby car seat s can be easily converted into strollers for trips around town. Consider this feature if you plan to use the seat for Uber or other ridesharing services.
Safety
Parents work hard to protect their children from illness as well as injuries caused by bullies and sports, but one of the most important aspects of your child's safety is ensuring that they are safe in a car seat for journeys. The leading reason for death among infants and children under 13 is a car crash. A lot of these deaths could be avoided by the use of a child safety seat.
The car seat is designed to safeguard your child's neck and head in the event of an accident. The seats also shield your child from the hot engine air and also prevent them from being thrown around the interior of your car.
Find a five-point harness that can be attached to the child's shoulders, crotch and hips. This will give the most protection. A majority of seats have side impact protection, an additional layer of protection to absorb shock and reduce force in an accident.
Before using any seat, make sure you read the instructions. If you aren't sure, visit an inspection station for help from a certified child passenger safety technician. They can show you how to properly install your seat and check that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Car seats can be expensive. If you're unable to pay for a new car seat, consult your family and friends with children for advice. You may be able borrow a car seat for a short 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 accidents and are more likely to have issues that could put your child's safety at risk.
If your child is in the car seat, do not leave them unattended. Place the seat on a flat surface such as a sofa or chair, not on a counter or another elevated surface that might cause them to fall. And don't hang toys from the handle of the seat - they could become projectiles in a crash and injure or cause death to your child.
Comfort
It is crucial to consider how your baby will feel in the car. This can be affected by the padding and materials used in the seat, as well as the weather and temperature where you reside. A seat stuffed with merino can be cozy for a newborn during the winter, but hot in summer for a baby who is older. It is important to try several seats before making a decision. Reviewing reviews can give you an idea of how comfortable they are.
Infants and newborns are particularly sensitive to discomfort when in the car seat. They aren't able to hold their heads straight during car rides because their neck muscles aren't strong enough. They tend to drool or slump forward. For this reason, it's crucial to ensure the harness straps are snugly over their shoulders, without slack or pinching in any part of the body, and that the chest clip sits at armpit level or lower. The bulky outer layers of winter coats may also hinder the proper fit of the harness, so make sure to dress your baby in light lightweight clothing when needed.
After your baby has outgrown their infant seat, they can be moved to the group 1 or 2 seat for safety and ease of use. These seats use the vehicle's seatbelt or the Lower Anchors & Tethers for Children system (LATCH) to secure them into the back seats. They also come with a tether to help keep the seat in place. These seats could also have additional features, like head and body support that can be adjusted or built-in inserts for infants, depending on the age of the infant.
If you're selecting an infant car seat or a group 1-3 seat, look for features that are easy to use, like buckles that are simple and harness adjustments, a simple grip handles, and a carrier release button that's easily accessible. The easier a seat is to use, the more likely parents will use it properly which will ensure your child's safety.
Ease of Installation
Car seats are an essential part of your child's safety in the car, but they can only provide protection if they're used correctly. In fact, more than half of children killed in crashes are not properly restrained (FARS: Fatality Analysis Reporting System). To ensure that your child's car seat is as secure as it can be, you must follow the manufacturer's instructions and the car's manual thoroughly. If you're not confident installing your car seat on your own, ask for help from a Child Passenger Security Technician. These professionals can offer you practical assistance and help you learn how to install and use a baby car seat as well as other types of car seats.
There's plenty to learn about your car seat and its proper installation, having a grasp on the process prior to when baby arrives can save you many headaches. Familiarizing yourself with the car seat's features and mechanisms will make it simpler to set up and take away the baby's seat when required. To become familiar with your car seat, you should perform an initial test prior to the time your baby is born.
Install the seat on an even surface if are installing it yourself. Most infant car seats have bubble indicators that indicate whether the seat is set at the right angle. Some seats also have locks that stop the seat from moving while you drive. It is also important to ensure that the base of your vehicle is securely secured and that the locking devices are secure.
After the car seat is installed, take a look at it to see whether there are any twists in the harness straps or LATCH attachments. Twists in the harness straps or LATCH attachments could compromise the integrity and safety of the car seat.
Don't also put your child's coat when strapped into the car seat. It is easy for the buckle to catch and drag the child from the car seat if there's a sudden turn or stop. This is also the case for snowsuits that create too much slack in the harness and could lead to a risky situation in an accident.
Design
The most well-designed car seats come with high safety ratings, which help to protect your child in the event of an accident. They may also have additional features that can be beneficial for parents who are new like an indicator light that shows the moment when the harness is secure and a quick-release buckle. Some infant car seats come with a carry handle built in that makes it easy to transport your baby into and out of the car without disturbing them. Certain infant car seats can be used as part of a travel system that connects seamlessly with a compatible baby stroller to make it easier to transition between your vehicle and your destination.
The most well-designed car seats are made of high-quality plastics, such as polypropylene which flexes under pressure to absorb impact and ensure the child's safety. The plastic is shipped to the factory in small pellets, and then molded into seat shells and other components. A lot of car seat manufacturers contract with specialist companies to make smaller components like buckle latch plates and harness adjusters which are usually made from metals. For example, Indiana Mills produces buckle and adjustment mechanisms for most American car seat brands.
The most important aspect of a car seat is a secure fitting, comfortable fit. The seat should be snug enough that you can't pinch more than a finger width under the straps once they are tightened. However, it shouldn't feel too tight that your baby feels uncomfortable. Always read the instruction manual to learn how to install the car seat correctly.
Another factor to consider is the number of slots in the harness. A proper number of harness slots will ensure that your child is safe and secure in the car seat. This can increase the safety of your child. There are a myriad of baby car seat designs, from basic ones to luxurious options.
The right infant car seat is determined by many factors, such as your budget, the car you drive and your baby's requirements. An all-in-one car seat is a great choice for a lot of families, since it can be used by your baby from birth through the booster seat stage, eliminating the need to purchase several car seats.