Subscribe To
This Site
Car Seats
Car seats should be high on your to-buy list. You'll need one to bring your baby home from the hospital and for every car trip with your baby thereafter. In fact, hospitals and birthing centers won't let you leave by car with your newborn if you don't have one. Every state requires that kids up to 4 years of age ride in a car seat; most require booster seats for older children. It is important to make sure the seat you are purchasing is compatible with your car. Check the fit of any models you're considering in your own car. Even before that, though, place similar-looking models side by side in the store to compare features. Place your child in the seat to get a sense of the ease of buckling and unbuckling. Then, if possible, bring the floor model to your car for a mock installation. Be aware that some vehicle seats are too short, indented, or excessively sloped to allow a good fit of a child car seat. If you can take the seat out to your car, try the floor model of a convertible seat in both the rear- and front-facing positions. Check out the harness release button in the rear-facing position; in some models it may be too low to reach comfortably.
Pay close attention to the height and weight limits of the seat you buy. It is recommended to start out with an infant seat because that is the most secure seat for very young babies. Next, use a convertible seat in the rear-facing orientation up to the seat's limits in that mode, then switch the convertible seat around, and use it front-facing until your toddler reaches the next height and weight limits. After that, use a booster seat until your child is tall enough to use the car's safety belts, typically at least 57 inches and between 8 and 12 years old. Even with a seat belt, all children under the age of 13 should ride in the back seat.
 To return Home, click here!
|
