Children depend on their parents for many things, one of them being to keep them safe from harm. A crucial way of providing such safety is by properly securing your child in a child car seat. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the U.S." Therefore it is necessary to carefully choose a suitable car seat for your child. Below are some factors to consider when selecting a car seat.
- New Car Seat: It is recommended to buy a new car seat rather than a second hand one for your child. This is because the old car seat might have the instruction manual missing, might have been in a crash or can even be a recalled model.
- Types of Seats:There are a few types of car seats available depending on the age, height and weight of your child:
- Infant Car Seat - This is suitable for new born babies. Your infant can use an infant car seat in the rear-facing position until he/she reaches the age and weight restrictions for the seat (typically 1 year old or 20 pounds) and can support him/herself. After this your child should be moved into a convertible car seat.
Handle: An Infant car seat has a handle for easy carrying, enabling you to safely carry your baby without having to unbuckle and wake him/her up. (Remember to place this in the down position while in the car to prevent injury to your baby).
Base: An infant car seat typically comes with a base which is installed in the car, allowing the infant car seat to be detached and carried while leaving the base firmly in place in the car.
Travel System: If you are also planning on buying a stroller, you might want to consider a Travel System. This is a package which includes a stroller, infant car seat (which securely attaches to the stroller), and an infant car seat base.
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Author: Sarosh Diwan