Tips for selecting the appropriate car seat for your child
When we found out that I was expecting, one of the first purchases that I knew we would automatically have to make was a car seat. At the time, however, I knew little about car seats and what different options were available to us. Since then, I have learned a great deal about choosing the right car seat for your baby. Below are some tips to help you choose the right car seat to fit your needs.
Convertible or not?
I quickly learned that there are such things as convertible car seats. Convertible car seats are seats that accommodate your child as she grows older, serving her needs both as an infant and as an older baby and toddler. Although the benefit of a convertible car seat is that you only have to pay for one seat, there is also at least one disadvantage.
When your baby is just an infant, it is helpful if the car seat can double as an infant seat. If you purchase a convertible car seat, you will find it is much less portable than one of the smaller seats designed specifically for an infant. In our case, we decided that an infant car seat, which would be good for our daughter up until 25 pounds or one year, best suited our needs. When not in use as a safety device, we are able to quickly remove her seat from the car and use it as an infant seat wherever we go.
Travel Systems
These days, you can also purchase a car seat as a part of an infant travel system. Often, these systems include an infant car seat that clips into a stroller, allowing you to seamlessly move from car to stroller should you be out and about and your little one has fallen asleep. These are a good option if you expect to do a lot of walking with your baby, and don't mind the bulkiness of a large travel system.
Toddler sized seats
When your baby reaches the one-year mark, or approximately 25 pounds, it is time to move him into a forward-facing car seat (all infant car seats should be rear facing). If you originally purchased a convertible seat, all that you need to do is follow the instructions with the seat to prepare it for your older child. If, however, you originally purchased an infant car seat, you will need to buy a seat designed for an older child.
Do you need a base?
One of the things that confused me a little when first looking into car seats was whether or not the base was necessary. Most car seats that you buy will come with a base that the seat clips into. This is handy if you want to be able to quickly remove the seat from the car without having to unclip the seatbelt that secures the car seat. However, if you often switch vehicles, it is possible to secure the car seat without the base. Be sure to follow the instructions that cam with your seat to do this properly.
Safety first
Above all else, you should be purchasing a seat that has met safety standards. All new car seats sold in North America are required to meet these regulations, so purchasing a new car seat will guarantee you these safety features. In fact, a car seat is one item that you should not be obtaining second-hand, first because you do not know the history of the seat, and second, because there is no guarantee that the car seat meets currently enforced safety standards.
Above all else, when purchasing a car seat, do not neglect to make a choice based on how easy you find the seat to work with. It is very important that the seat is installed correctly, and if you can't understand the directions on how to accomplish this task it is probably to find a different seat. Often there are also car seat safety clinics offered by your local police or fire station. Participate in one of these if you are still having problems.
These are just a few tips to help you get pointed in the right direction when making a car seat purchase. Remember to choose the right size seat, pay attention to safety features, and choose the seat that best fits your lifestyle and budget. Once you know that your child is safely secured, you will be a much more comfortable traveler.