Why You Must Have a Baby Car Seat

Having a car safety seat for your baby is a must, and some features are more important than others. Like most parents, you simply want to keep your child safe and healthy. So purchasing a high-quality car seat is essential. But with so many models, styles and brands on the market, it can be difficult to decide which one's right for your family. And if you don't understand the features that are most important, the task is even more difficult. It's a good idea to focus on the safety features that matter most when shopping for a child safety seat.

One of the most important things to consider is the harness or attachment of the child safety seat. You can have a 3-point harness or a 5-point harness. As you can guess, the 5-point harness has extra attachments that serve to keep the child safe in the seat in case of an accident. The 3-point harness is sufficient, but if you want added peace of mind, the 5-point harness may be worth it.

While it is easy to understand that small children belong in car safety seats, it can become a little confusing when one begins to look around at all of the options and consider weight limits. There are several models and brands of car safety seats available on the market today, each slightly different. The basic models are rear-facing, combination, front-facing and booster seats.

Even older children are candidates for child safety seats, including children who weigh around 60 pounds. A nine-year-old, for example, might be a candidate for a car safety seat made for an older, larger child. In general, a standard car seat will accommodate a child that weighs 20-25 pounds. If your child is about 10 pounds heavier, you'll probably need to purchase a car seat that is geared for larger children.

Most experts agree that the safest type of car safety seat is the rear-facing seat. It's a good idea to select a car seat with a higher weight limit so that it will last longer as your son or daughter grows. You can also purchase a car safety seat that is "booster only" if your child is closer to 40 pounds. Whatever your child's size, it's vital to properly install any kind of child safety seat.

Your older child's booster should allow for the shoulder belt to cross the center of the shoulder and chest. Avoid crossing it over the neck. The lap belt should ride across the hips. If your car has low seat backs without headrests, use a high-back model. You may be able to find a model with adjustable head supports and extra padding.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) surveys all car seats for infants and children. They are rated on a number of categories from clear instructions to ease of use. The good news is, car seat manufacturers are listening to the government's suggestions, and are constantly improving designs. For current information, visit the NHTSA website.

You can easily find a car seat that has earned all As in every category. If you work with ebay or froogle at the same time, you can also complete some of your comparison shopping online. If you have seen a car seat that you think you like at the store, check out its safety rating.

Article Source: http://www.a1-articledirectory.com

SallyThatcher is an talented writer and discusses baby car seats and best infant car seats on her websites. In her spare time she enjoys kicking back.