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How to choose the best car seat for your child
A car seat is the best way to protect your baby when they're in your car. Car crashes can prove fatal for children. A car seat could save their lives. You must not only get a car seat but also learn how to properly use it. Your car must be able to accommodate your child's weight, size, and age.
The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) must be met by the car seat. This information will be displayed on a label. Before your child can ride on their first car ride, it is important to learn how to properly install and use the harness. You should also know when to change a booster car seat from 5-point harness to booster.
You should ensure that the car seat was not damaged in a crash. You shouldn't use a car seat that has broken parts, isn't accompanied with instructions, or that doesn't date back to when it was made.
You should not buy a seat if you don't know the history or it shows signs of wear, such as cracks. To find out how safe the seat can be used, you can call the manufacturer. If the seat has been recall, the manufacturer will be able to offer a replacement or a new model. The car seat that your baby is using for the first time must be rear-facing or convertible. As your baby grows, you'll be able to switch to a forward-facing and finally to a booster car seat.
Before you choose a car seat, it is important to understand the differences between car seats.
What are the Different Types of Car Seats?
Car seats for infants (birth to 22-35 lbs)
These seats can be used for infants and newborns. You will need to replace the car seat when your baby is older. These seats can protect your baby up to 16 kg. These seats should be mounted facing the rear of your vehicle. Rear-facing seats are less likely to cause injury or death for a newborn or small child. The back of the seat will protect the neck, head and torso in case of a crash. Experts will advise you to switch from rear-facing to front-facing seats based on your child's age and not their size. Typically, however, rear-facing seats are used by children until they reach the age of 3-4.
They can be used as car seats, carriers, chairs, or rockers, even when they aren't in use. Many models can be removed from the base and left in place. Some models can be inserted into a stroller, and you can move about with it. The baby should not be seated in the car seat while it is being used. The car seat may be easy to use, but that doesn't mean your child should spend too much time in it. Because the car seat is limited in movement and offers little stimulation, it can hinder your child's motor and sensory skills. Elitecarseat has the best car seats for 1-year-olds.
Convertible car seat
Convertible seats can protect your child from birth to age 18 while facing rearwards and up to 30 when facing forwards. These seats can be either rear-facing, or forward-facing depending on the size and age of your child.
The rear-facing position of the seat is required until the baby is the right size and age to be able to turn it to face forward. The seat can then be turned around to become a forward-facing one. Some models can be converted from rear-facing to forward-facing positions by taking off the harness.
Convertible seats are very heavy and not easy to transport. They are not recommended for use outside the vehicle. They are cheaper than buying three seats in one. These seats can be used for babies who have outgrown the infant-only, but must still be in a rear-facing position.
Convertible seats should be adjusted to fit the child. If you're putting your newborn in a convertible seat, avoid using one with a tray shield. The shield is too high and can cause baby to get their face in it during a car accident.
Booster car seat (for 20-80 pounds)
These seats are designed to protect children weighing between 20 and 80 pounds (10 and 36 kilograms). You must change to forward-facing seating with a full harness when the child is outgrowing the rear-facing one. You should not change to a booster seat until your child is the right height and weight. Some models can be converted to a belt-positioning booster chair.
Some thoughts about airbags
Safety belts and airbags offer the best protection against injury and death in a car accident. Even though the airbags can open while a child is in the front seat, it's possible for them to get hurt or even kill them. Airbags are designed to protect adults and open with a lot of force. While this force can be used to protect an adult, it can cause serious injuries to the neck and head of a small child.
You should never place a rear-facing car seat in your front seat. Instead, place the child with his/her car seat in back of the vehicle. If you absolutely must put the child in the front seat, ensure that the passenger seat is as far back as possible.
Children under 13 years old should ride in the rear seat. They must also buckle their seatbelts, just as all other passengers. A manual cut-off switch can be installed to temporarily disable the passenger's side Airbag. This will allow you to place your child’s booster seat in front. It is important to turn it back on after the child has moved out of the seat.
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