Infant carriers can prevent serious injuries to your child in the event of an accident. By law, all children under the age of 12 must sit in the back seat. This is especially true if you have airbags in the front.
From the time you bring your baby home from the hospital, they should be placed in an appropriate car safety seat. Infants must remain in a rear-facing infant seat or appropriate convertible seat until they weigh twenty pounds or turn one year old. After twenty pounds and after their first birthday, toddlers can use a forward-facing seat until they reach about forty pounds or their ears reach the top of the car seat.
A child over forty pounds must be seated in a booster seat with a seat belt.
Your car seat belts should not be used by children under the age of eight unless they are four feet tall. Until then, a booster seat should be used. There are many different types of booster seats.
Your child should be properly buckled up at all times. Your child will not be ready to use regular seat belts until the shoulder belt fits over the shoulder and not the neck. The lap belt must fit over the hips and not over the abdomen.
When installing car seats, the manufacturer’s instructions must be followed exactly. If you don’t have them, call the company for a replacement. The car seat has a label with the manufacturer, address and phone number. The name of the car seat is also displayed. You will need this information to get a replacement. If there is no tag on the seat, don’t buy it. It could be a seat that was damaged in a car accident.
If you buy the car seat used, check it thoroughly. Check all straps for fraying, all fasteners for tears, and the seat upholstery to make sure it is not torn or torn. Always check if there is a label on the seat. It contains the information you need when no manual is available. Ask questions like: Has this seat been in an accident?
If so, don’t buy it. It may look good, but its security may have been compromised. There could be misalignment of the frame, which could affect your child’s safety.
Regardless of what type of seat you buy, and there are many, consider how much you can afford to spend. If cost is an issue, maybe a convertible travel system is in order. A rear-facing car seat can be used as a forward-facing car seat up to the appropriate age. There is a base that remains in the car. The baby/toddler car seat can then be attached to a stroller frame and later re-attached to the base in the car. Review your options and consider what is best in terms of cost. Do your research and decide what is best for you and your child. The first concern should always be your baby’s safety from day one.
It is important to know what type of seat your vehicle can accommodate.
Check your car’s owner’s manual or contact a dealer to find out what’s compatible with your vehicle. It’s an overwhelming decision, but start looking for a car seat when you realize you’re expecting it. A well-informed choice protects your baby.