Buy a Car Seat
Your child's car seat is critically important to safety, and shopping for a car seat is a task that many new parents and guardians take seriously. All car seats available for new purchase have been tested and deemed safe for use when installed and used correctly. Parents who are ready to buy a car seat should consider their own safety standards, ease of installation and convenience as they shop.
Contents
Steps
- Decide if you will start with an infant seat or go straight to a convertible seat.
- Infant seats hold newborns and infants up to about 23 to 30 lbs. (10 to 14 kg), depending on the manufacturer. These seats are designed to be rear-facing only, and many can be easily snapped in and out of a base installed in the car, making it convenient to move your baby without waking her. Some are sold with matching strollers the seat can snap onto.
- The advantage of going right to a convertible seat is that you will not need to buy another seat for a long time. Some models of convertible seats transform into booster seats and can hold your child until reaching a limit of 100 lbs. (45 kg). The disadvantage is that your baby will always need to be taken in and out of the seat, even when sleeping.
- Read installation instructions, and make sure you understand how to install the seat you select. Learn whether it is compatible with either the LATCH system or seat belts in your car.
- Check the rear-facing weight limits on convertible seats. If you prefer to have your child rear-facing for an extended period of time, make sure to select a seat with a high rear-facing weight limit.
- Rear-facing laws and recommendations are in the process of changing in many areas, and they are not always consistent. Many local laws only require that your child sit rear-facing until the age of 1 year. Some organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend that children sit rear-facing until the age of 2 years and have exceeded their car seat's rear-facing weight limit. Based on data indicating toddlers are safer in rear-facing seats, many parents seek out seats with rear-facing weight limits up to 35 lbs. (16 kg) so they can keep their children rear-facing as long as possible.
- Read reviews and consumer feedback about some of the seats you are considering. You can also ask other parents and professionals which seats they recommend.
- Sources you can consult include online review sites, parenting websites and message boards, review comments posted on online shops, your pediatrician, and local car seat inspectors who typically work for public health, fire or police departments.
- Look for a seat with a washable cover that detaches easily, since you will likely need to frequently wash it.
Warnings
- Avoid used car seats since they may not have up-to-date safety features and harness systems. They also may have been in accidents, which can impair their ability to perform adequately in the event of another accident.
Related Articles
- Buy a Convertible Car Seat
- Buy an Infant Car Seat
- Use an Automatic Seat Belt
- Install a Car Seat
- Anchor a Child Safety Seat
- Make a Car Seat Cover
