Online Parent

Having a car safety seat for your baby is a must, and some features are more important than others. Like most parents, you simply want to keep your child safe and healthy. So purchasing a high-quality car seat is essential. But with so many models, styles and brands on the market, it can be difficult to decide which one’s right for your family. And if you don’t understand the features that are most important, the task is even more difficult. It’s a good idea to focus on the safety features that matter most when shopping for a child safety seat.

One of the most important things to consider is the harness or attachment of the child safety seat. You can have a 3-point harness or a 5-point harness. As you can guess, the 5-point harness has extra attachments that serve to keep the child safe in the seat in case of an accident. The 3-point harness is sufficient, but if you want added peace of mind, the 5-point harness may be worth it.

While it is easy to understand that small children belong in car safety seats, it can become a little confusing when one begins to look around at all of the options and consider weight limits. There are several models and brands of car safety seats available on the market today, each slightly different. The basic models are rear-facing, combination, front-facing and booster seats.

There are also seats for older children of around 60 pounds. A small child will be that weight around 9 years of age. Some models of car seats for younger children are for children of 20-25 pounds, while others can accommodate riders up to 10 pounds heavier.

The safest type of car seat to use for babies is rear facing. When selecting one for your baby, you should choose one with the higher weight limit for longer use. If your child is over 40 pounds, you may want to consider purchasing a seat that is a booster only. It is just as important to properly install an older child’s seat as it is to install a seat for a younger child.

Here are some guidelines: For a booster-seat type of restraint, the lap belt must fit around the child’s hips. The shoulder belt should come across the shoulder and chest - not over the neck. You’ll want to use a high-back model of child safety seat if you have no headrests or low seats in your car. It’s possible to purchase a child safety seat with adjustable head supports and additional padding.

All car seats for babies and small children are examined and tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Car seats are tested on a number of features, including the ease and readability of the instructions. The government’s suggestions from these tests are carefully considered by car seat manufacturers, and they work hard to update and enhance the design of their products. More information can be found on NHTSA’s web site.

If you want to find a model that got straight A’s, you can definitely find the one that’s right for you. eBay and Froogle are two good sources of information to start your search. When you find the car seat that fits your needs, make sure it received an acceptable safety rating from the NHTSA.