Car Seats, The Most Important Safety Item You Will Buy!

Every baby is required to have a car seat.  In fact most hospitals today will not let you take the baby home until they see you have a car seat. There are three types of cars seats.  They are infant car seats, convertible car seats and booster car seats.  Today I am going to give you a brief overview of what each is.  My next couple of posts will discuss them individually in more detail.

Infant car seats are for typically used for new babies up until they weigh about 3o pounds or 32 inches in height.  The weight and height will vary slightly by the manufacturer.  They come with a base that stays secure in your car and a carrier that you can snap in and out of the base.  This way you do not have to take the baby out of the seat if he/she is sleeping or if it is just easier to carry them in the carrier.  Infant car seats face the rear of the car.  Babies should not be forward facing until they are at least 1 year old and now it is suggested that they remain rear facing until they are 2 years old.

Convertible car seats are seats that can be used for both rear facing babies and forward facing babies.  They can be used for newborns in the rear facing position  and switched to the forward facing position when your child reaches the height or weight limits for the rear facing position.  Children should remain in a forward facing seat as long as they do not reach the size limits as stated by your manufacturer, it is simply the safest way for a child to travel.

Booster seats are for children who have outgrown their convertible seat, but are not yet tall enough for the seat belt in the car.  Booster seats come with either a back to them or backless.  They simply seat in the seat in your car, and your child uses the cars seat belt as normal.  The seat keeps your child high enough that the car seat strap does not lay across the child’s neck.  Your child should remain in this seat until he or she is about 4 foot 9 inches.  This typically does not happen until they are 8 years old.  You should also check to see what your state requirements are.

My next post will discuss infant seats and my personal preference.