Choosing A Car Seat

Choosing the right car seat can be a difficult challenge in some cases, however the most important consideration is the weight of the child. There are three different types of seats available and many are very versatile. The seat can be re-adjusted as the child ages and gains weight. Others are very specific to a certain weight or age range. Below is a simple guide to help in choosing the right type of seat.

Infant car seats are “rear facing” and made to accommodate very young children up to twenty pounds give or take a little depending on the manufacturer of the seat. Age of the child would be up to one year. This type of seat is small and in most cases will have a carrying handle. Most of these seats come with a base which the seat snaps or locks into so that the seat does not need to be installed each time it is used. Additional bases can be purchased if more than one vehicle is used. This type of seat should be used until the child exceeds the weight or size limits of the seat.

Convertible Car Seats are the most common in my experience. These are used in a ‘rear facing” configuration for infants up to twenty pounds or “front facing” for babies over twenty pounds. Some convertible car seats do not have the ability to be used in “rear facing” configuration. These are not portable and do not serve as a carrier. Most of these seats do not have a base that can be detached from the seat. As a result installation is a bit more difficult. These seats are also bigger; hence infants often need additional padding to keep them centered in the seat for the first year.

Booster seats are used for toddlers with a minimum weight of twenty to thirty pounds. These are fine for children up to approximately eighty pounds depending on the manufacturer and model. This type of seat often has its own harness system that can be adjusted to fit the child. They also can be used with the vehicles seat belts system.

Choosing the correct type of seat is critical for safety reasons. Most states have laws pertaining to what type of car seat should be used. It is also important not to place a car seat in the front of the vehicle if there is a passenger side air bag.

By: Dave631

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