Children’s Car Seat Buying Guide

You must have your child’s car seat installed before the hospital will release your baby to you to take home. The selection from infant car seats to child booster seats varies to fit all ages, although it may seem a bit overwhelming to, just choose one. They come in a wide assortment of designs and colors. You want to ensure the safety of your child by learning about safety features of children’s car seats, before buying one.

One essential thing to keep in mind while comparison-shopping for an infant seat or child booster seat is to never buy pre-owned car seats! It is essential that the integrity of the car seat be intact. You also need to know if there is a recall, especially for any known safety issues. Shopping thrift stores and consignment shops are fine for everything else baby related, however, this is not true of car seats.

You need to start shopping for car seats months before your delivery date. Remember however, that pretty pink and blue patterns may be pleasing to the eye yet cannot do anything to keep your child safe.

The design of infant seats is especially for infants. They are rear-facing seats. You need to leave them in rear facing positions for as long as you can. You need to read and follow the manufacturers details for the seat. Most of them can safely hold 20 pounds or at least up to a one-year-old child. Petite children should stay in a rear facing position until the baby grows to become one inch below the head of the car seat.

Generally, rear-facing car seats are convertible and when the child is bigger and older, you place the seat in a forward facing position. You want to ensure that your seat is suitable for the age and weight of your child. Convertible seats can hold up to 40 pounds. You will need to buy a suitable car seat for your child if you do not have a convertible seat. Keep in mind that many states have a requirement for elementary age children to ride in a child booster seat for safety.

You need to look for a car seat that will properly fit in your vehicle. Therefore, measure from the seat to the ceiling as well as the horizontal area in the backseat. This will be of assistance while selecting a car seat, since regardless of the safety features you do not want the child to touch the car ceiling. Make sure that your child is not isolated from the lack of space in the backseat. You will need to be able to reach around to soothe the child when needed.

Do some research to learn about the car seat safety features for any model that you are interested in buying. Check to make sure there are no complaints or recalls listed.

You need to make sure that the car seat is properly installed. The seat should not move more than about an inch either way. If you are concerned that your child’s car seat is not properly installed, check with the hospital or police department to have someone show you how to properly install the seat.

Having a car seat that fits you, your baby and your car, and making sure it’s installed correctly, will give you one less thing to be worried about as you leave the hospital with your armful of wonderful new responsibilities.