by Christa Abernathy

Created on: January 08, 2007   Last Updated: April 28, 2007

With the latest report that infant car seats may not be safe, choosing the best one is even more difficult that before. The bases that were supposed to be even more secure for your child and therefore safer in crashes, are proving to be scarily insecure in higher speed collisions.

So, what's a parent to do?

Take a look at the pros and cons of the different seats. Remember that infants under 1 year old need to be rear-facing and in a semi-reclined position. Also remember that a base-locked car seat is still safer than no car seat, by far.

However, there are other options than just the newborn sized car seats. The convertible car seat that's both rear and front facing holds babies 5 lbs to around 40 lbs, depending on the seat. I know that with my daughter, she prefers this kind anyways. Babies can recline in these seats or, for those with better neck and trunk control, sit up.

When buying a car seat, look for one that holds up to 20 lbs. Otherwise, you'll be buying a new one before you know it. Look for one that receives at least 4 stars in safety. Make sure that you can install it properly in your car. I bought a car seat once that I could not install properly without the latch because my seat belt didn't reach as far as the seat needed it to.

Make sure that there is enough length in the straps that it will grow with tall babies as well as short ones. While my daughter was preemie sized at birth, by 4 months she was long in the trunk and legs and by 5 months she'd outgrown the infant seats because the straps no longer safely crossed her shoulders.

Don't think that price = quality. Some of the less expensive models are actually better seats.

Also look for something that allows room for other passengers in your car. This is especially important if you have more than one child. A lot of car seats these days have cup holders, bottle holders, etc. These are great but when you've got a baby and a toddler and a school aged child all in booster seats or car seats, then you need simplistic.

As much as you might want to use a second hand car seat, I don't suggest it. Every year, car seats improve in safety and comfort. Most car seats even have an "expiration date"; mine says not to use after December 2008.

As your child gets older, remember that he's still a child and needs more protection than an adult. The U.S. government now recommends that children under 4 foot 9 remain in a booster seat. While it may be tempting to allow your older child to sit in the seat like a big kid, they are safer higher up and secured in a better seatbelt position. Best of luck in your hunt.

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