by Kim Wilschek

Created on: September 11, 2009   Last Updated: September 12, 2009

Expectant and new parents often ask nurses, doctors, friends, or child passenger safety technicians (CPS technicians) their opinions about specific car seat brands.

"Which car seat do you like?"

"Which car seat is the safest for my baby?"

"Which car seat is the easiet to use?"

The safe, standard response from professional organizations like the National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA) and the

American Academy of Pediatrics goes something like this: The right car seat is the one that fits your car, your baby, and is used properly every time. Helpful? Now do you know which car seat to register for?

Steve Breden, CPS technician and owner of Chicago-based Safety Squad, tells us that "each car seat and vehicle combination is a unique situation."There are a lot of variables that arise from the parents, the car seat, and the vehicle seat and safety belts." Without understanding the "nuances" of your car seat and vehicle combination, below are some helpful tips to guide your purchase:

1. All new seats purchased in the USA from retailers must meet the minimal safety standards. Are these standards suffient? Maybe not; but, right now seats are tested to meet "minimal" standards. They are not tested against each other.

2. Consider purchasing one of the higher weight limit seats. These are the seats that have an upper weight limit of 30 or 32 pounds, instead of 22 pounds. Several manufacturers, including Graco, Peg, Chicco, and Britax all make 30 pound seats. Why is this better? It allows you to keep your baby rear facing longer in the same seat - past the baby's first birthday. Rear facing is 4 X safer than forward facing.

3. Look for features in a car seat that offer maximum flexibility regarding baby weight and size. Newborns arrive in all shapes and sizes. This may be especially important if you are at risk for a smaller baby, such as with twins, a history of preterm labor, or a history of small babies. Things to consider:

What is the lower weight limit of the seat? Most infant seats start at 5 pounds, but some start at 4 pounds. How many harness slots are available on the seat - 2, 3, or 4? How close is the lowest harness slot to the seat bite? The more slots, and the lower they are, the better chance your baby will fit properly. Does this seat come with a headwrap and/or interior padding? These may help maintain proper alignment for newborns and smaller infants. Never use headwraps, padding, sheep skins, or sleep bag type covers that are purchased

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