by L.E. Duncan

Created on: May 29, 2009   Last Updated: June 03, 2009

As a parent, one of the most important responsibilities we have is to keep our children safe. Thousands of children are killed every year because they were not properly secure inside their car. Selecting the proper car seat or other restraint system for your child could save their life in the event of an accident.

Your choices can be overwhelming. There are hundreds of products on the market for you to choose from. If we simplify the decision-making process, there are essentially three stages your child will grow through and each stage will require a different restraint system.

Rear-Facing Infant Car Seat

The rear facing car seat is for your child's first year. It is designed for children to sit in the backseat of a car, facing rearward, for children up to 20 pounds and one year old. Your child should ride home from the hospital in a rear-facing car seat and continue to use this car seat for the first year of their life at a minimum. If your newborn is too small for the seat and slouches when riding, use a rolled up baby blanket or other padding around the child for a more comfortable and secure fit.

Convertible Car Seats and Forward-Facing Car Seats

Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible. Once your child does exceed the manufacturer's recommended height/weight allowances, its time to move up to a forward-facing car seat. These car seats are equipped with a five-point harness installed which includes shoulder, waist and crotch restraints, make sure you are using all five restraints. These are typically used for children that weigh up to 40 to 65 pounds, depending upon the manufacturer's recommendations.

During installation of a forward-facing car seat, ensure that you properly secure the seat with the tether strap to avoid the seat flipping over during an accident. This strap is in addition to being secured with the vehicle's seat belt. The tether strap is attached to the top/back of the car seat and is secured to a tether strap anchor in your vehicle. Check with your vehicle's manufacturer to identify the tether anchors in your vehicle.

Booster Seats

Booster seats are for children that have outgrown the manufacturers recommend height/weight of their forward-facing car seat. Typically these are children that are over 4'9 tall. These seats are usually secured with the vehicle's seat belt, securing the child and the booster seat simultaneously. There are no additional straps attached to the booster seat. Ensure your

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