Why Baby Car Seat Should Be Your Next Big Obsession
Choosing a Baby Car Seat
A car seat for your baby is among the most important investments you'll make as a new parent. Learn about the types to help you choose the best one for your child.
Many infant car seats convert into stroller frames to make it easy to move between the car and trips around town. This is a must when you plan to use the car seat for Uber or another rideshare service.
Safety
Parents are doing their best to protect their children from illness as well as injuries from bullying and sports. However, one of the most important things they can do is keep them safe in a vehicle during journeys. Car accidents are the number one cause of death among children and infants under 13 and many of these deaths could be avoided by using the child safety seat.
Car seats are designed to support your baby's neck and head to protect them from injury in the event of a crash. They also keep your child's body away from the hot air coming from the engine and keep them from being thrown around inside of your car.
Look for a five-point harness that is attached to the child's shoulders, crotch, and hips. This will give the most protection. Many car seats newborn seats also have side-impact protection, which is an added layer of protection that can help absorb shock and deflect the impact force of a crash.
Before using any seat, read the instructions. If you're not sure, ask for help at an inspection station from a certified child safety technician. They can help you correctly install your seat and ensure that it is in compliance with the safety standards of motor vehicles in the federal government.
Car seats can be costly. If you are unable to pay for a new car seat, talk to your friends and family members with children to give you their suggestions. You might be able to borrow the car seat for a brief period.
If you're planning on buying car seats it is recommended to purchase a brand new. Used car seats could have been involved in accidents, and could have more issues that could put your child's life at risk.
When your child is in the car seat, never leave them alone. Place the seat on a flat surface such as a sofa or a chair, and not on a counter or other elevated surface that could cause them to fall. Hanging toys from the handle of the seat is not recommended. They can explode and cause injury or death to your child in the event of an accident.
Comfort
When choosing the right seat for your baby, it's also important to consider how comfortable your child will feel during car rides. The seat's padding and materials along with your local weather and temperature can affect the level of comfort your child will experience. For instance, a merino wool-filled seat might feel warm to newborns in winter but hot for a more mature infant during summer. While reading reviews can give you a good idea of how comfortable a chair is, it's best to test a few before you decide.
Infants and newborns are especially vulnerable to discomfort when they are in a car seat. They can't hold their heads up during car rides due to their neck muscles aren’t strong enough. Therefore, they tend to snore or slump forward facing infant car seat. It's crucial to ensure that the harness straps are snugly fit over their shoulders, without slack, pinching or sagging anywhere on the body. The chest clip should also be located at the armpit or lower level. Winter coats and other bulky outer layers can also impact the design of the harness. Dress your child in light, thin clothing when needed.
When your child has grown out of their infant seat, they can be moved to a group 1 or 2 seat for safety and ease of use. These seats use the vehicle's seat belt or the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system to secure them in the back seat, as well as a tether strap to keep the seat in a more stable position. These seats can also come with additional features, like head and body support that can be adjusted or integrated inserts for infants dependent on the age of the infant.
If you're selecting an infant car seat or a larger group 1-3 seat, look for features that are simple to use like simple buckles and harness adjustments, a simple grip handles, and a carrier release button that's conveniently located. The easier a seat is to use and use, the more likely parents will use it properly which will help keep your child safe.
Easy Installation
Installing car seats correctly is crucial to your child's safety. In fact, over half of the children killed in accidents aren't properly restrained (FARS: Fatality Analysis Reporting System). To ensure that your child's car seat is as safe as it can be, you must follow the manufacturer's instructions and vehicle manual carefully. If you're not confident installing your car seat, seek help from a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. These experts can provide hands-on assistance and show you how to install and use a baby car seat, as well as other types.
You can avoid lots of stress by knowing more about your car seat before your baby arrives. It will be much easier to remove or install the car seat if you are familiar with its functions and features. The best car seats infant way to familiarize yourself with the car seat is to schedule time prior to your baby's arrival and run a trial run.
If you're installing the seat yourself, be sure to do it on a flat surface. The majority of baby car seats have bubble indicators to indicate if the seat is properly installed. Some seats also have locks to stop the seat from moving as you're driving. It is also important to ensure that the base is secured to the car and all locking mechanisms are secured.
Examine the car seat after it has been put in place to see whether the LATCH attachments or harness straps are twisted. Twists can compromise the integrity of the car seat and be a cause of injuries in the event an accident.
Also, don't wear your child in a coat while being strapped into the car seat. It is easy for the buckle to catch and take the child out of the seat when there is a sudden turn or stop. This is also the case for snowsuits that create an excessive amount of slack in your harness, which can create an unsafe situation in the event of an accident.
Design
The best car seats are designed with high safety ratings and will safeguard your child in the event of an accident occurs. They may also have additional features that are helpful for new parents like an indicator light that signals the moment when the harness is secure and a buckle that can be released quickly. Some infant car seats have a built-in carry handle that allows you to move the baby into and out of the car without disturbing them. Some can be used in conjunction with a travel system, integrating seamlessly with a compatible stroller for convenient transitions between the car and your destination.
The best car seats are made of premium plastics, like polypropylene. This material flexes when under pressure to absorb the impact and keep the child secure. The plastic is shipped in pieces of pebbles to the factory, where it's molded into shells for seats and other parts. Many car seat manufacturers work with companies that specialize in the production of smaller components, like buckle latch plates and belt adjusters. These are usually made of steel. For example, Indiana Mills produces buckle and adjustment mechanisms for the majority of American car seat brands.
The most important aspect of a car seat is a tight fitting, comfortable fit. The seat should be snug enough so that you cannot squeeze more than a finger between the straps when they're tightened. However, it shouldn't feel so tight that your child feels uncomfortable. Always consult the manual for more details regarding how to install a baby car seat.
The number of harness slots is a further design element to consider. A sufficient number of harness slots will ensure that your child is safe and secure in the seat. This can increase the safety of your child. A wide range of baby car seats are available, from simple elementary designs to extremely advanced luxurious options.
Choosing the best car seat infant infant car seat for your family will depend on a number of factors that include your budget as well as the type of car you drive and your baby's requirements. Many families find that an all-in-one seat is the best option because it can accommodate your baby from the time of birth until the booster stage, thereby eliminating the need for multiple car seats.