How to Find the Best Infant Car Seat

Levi Quinn asked:


Selecting an infant car seat is one of the most important moves a parent can make to protect a little bundle of joy from Day One. Picking out a seat, unfortunately, is not as easy as it sounds. There are some pretty strict rules of the road when it comes to doing so.

Before attempting to purchase a seat for a newborn or toddler, it is imperative to have a few basic facts handy. These things will impact what kind of seat should be purchased:

The child's age - Although state laws vary, there are generally rules on the book that dictate whether a rear- or forward-facing seat is required. Also, the time to move up to a booster seat will also be partially dictated by age in many jurisdictions.

The child's weight - This is a very strong factor in determining the type of car seat that is needed. It is not uncommon for a rear-facing seat to be needed until a child reaches at least 22 pounds.

State laws - Since laws do vary from state to state, it is very wise to brush up on the rules of the road locally before investing in a car seat. This becomes particularly important when making the decision to switch a child out of a regular infant/toddler seat to a booster.

Collecting basic facts is only the first step that goes into selecting a good car seat. The next thing purchasers should do is research different seats based on safety ratings and also recommendations for the make and model of the vehicle the baby will be riding in. Not all car seats are designed to work with every vehicle on the road. If there is any question about what seat would work best in a vehicle, it is not a bad idea to seek out advice from a professional. Many local police and fire departments have certified child passenger safety technicians on staff.

Proper Installation Is Vital

Picking out the right car seat for the child and vehicle in question is not enough to increase the odds of safety. For a car seat to work properly, it must be installed right and used correctly every time. To make sure this is done, be certain to:

Use the instructions - Read manufacturer installation instructions thoroughly before trying to install an infant car seat into any vehicle. If instructions are not clear or there are questions about how a seat fits in a particular vehicle, check with a technician or call the company that manufactured the seat.

Check the fit - A car seat should fit snugly within a vehicle and not tip over. If it does not feel right, it is not.

Make sure the child is properly secured - The belt part of any car seat should fit snugly on the child. The center clip should rest at armpit level.

Selecting and installing a car seat is an important task for any parent. To make sure a child is properly secured, carefully research the purchase and how to tackle installation. If there are any questions or concerns, it is always smart to check with a certified technician. Many communities even play host to installation workshops where technicians will either install a seat for parents or teach them how to do it right.



Alexis