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Car Seats For Babies

Buy It Right. The Facts About Car Seats For Babies

So you have or are expecting a new bundle of joy and you are looking at car seats for babies. Where do you start and what should you take into consideration?

Let’s start with an obvious concern, size and portability of the seat. Unlike toddler or child car seats, baby seats can be removed and used as a child carrier or even installed in a baby stroller. Taking baby and the seat out of the car and putting them back in the car is going to become a common event and you want to make it as easy as possible.

Many seats come with a base platform that can be left in the car making removal and installation a snap. This is a huge time and frustration saver. If you go with that type of seat find out how many bases come with the unit, or if they are extra, how much they cost. Also make certain that the seat can be installed in a car without the base. Be aware however, that seats designed for bases that are installed without the base tend to be too loose and can represent a safety hazard. Keep this in mind if you travel and end up using the seat in a rental or some other vehicle.

Be sure to check out the capacity of the seat both for weight and height. Most car seats for babies are rated up to 20 pounds but some go slightly higher. If you can find one that is greater than 20 pounds you might be able to extend the amount of time you can use the seat before having to buy a new one. Height is another factor to watch. When the top of baby’s head is within one inch of the top of the seat, baby has outgrown the carrier.

Almost all seats now come with a 5 point harness which is the best protection particularly for side impact accidents. However, this harness is going to need adjustment depending on what baby is wearing and to accommodate growth. Because adjustments can be a frequent activity, check out where the harness adjustment is on the seat and make sure you can get to it easily.

A word about convertible car seats. Normally this would be the second car seat that you would buy when your baby outgrows the first seat. Convertibles can be installed backward facing for babies, or forward facing for older children. They have a weight capacity of 5 to 70 or 80 pounds so they could be the only car seat you need. The big disadvantage is that they are not portable like the baby seat and can not be used as a carrier outside the car.

Looking for car seats for babies can become confusing with all the different features available. Take the time to investigate the options and pick the seat that’s going to serve you and your baby best.