Is There A Car Seat That Is The Safest?
You need to know that there are numerous many variables involved in answering this question. The following information includes some guidelines to help enable you make a decision.
Car seats for children come in three different styles. The three configurations are rear-facing, forward-facing and convertible all are equally safe products, simply different applications. A good example of a convertable car seat is the Britax Boulevard.
The rear-facing seat is best for infants that weight less then 20 pounds and 1 year old. However , if your infant reaches 20 pounds before their birthday it is still best for them to remain in the rear-facing seat until they are at least one year old. A good rule of thumb is to use the seat up to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Rear-facing seats are not to be used in the front seat of a vehicle with air an air bag on the passenger side.
The forward facing seats are for children after exceeding the manufacturer’s recommendations on the rear-facing seat. When shopping for forward-facing safety seats, the best choice is to have several harness points allowing the child to grow without being forced to buy another car seat.
A great illustration of a very safe infant seat is the Britax Companion seat.
Is There Room In Your Vehicle?
Not all children’s car seat can be correctly installed in all seating location in all vehicles. Be sure to read both the child safety seat and vehicle instructions. In general, a correctly installed child safety seat must not move more than 1 inch side to side or forward.
Will You Install the Seat Correctly? What About Proper Instilation?
Different child safety seats vary in design and features. It is important to choose one that both you and your child are pleased with, and that you can install properly and adjust correctly every time you drive.
The safest child safety seat is the one that fits in your automobile , is the right size for your child and is used correctly each time. All safety seats manufactured in the U.S. must meet with the same strict safety standards. Be aware that the Britax Companion is rather bulky and may not fit in all automobiles.
Be Careful Buying Used Car Seats
A child safety seat that has been in car crash may have been damaged structurally that is not easily visible. Seats involved in a crash should be replaced. Auto insurance company may cover the cost of a new child car seat.
It is always the best policy to use a new safety seat for your child. That is the only way to guarantee you have a safe seat.However, if considering a second-hand seat, it is important to request a full history of the car seat from the previous owner(s). Other important questions are: Have any recalls been issued regarding this seat, are all the parts here, how old is the car seat and has it been involved in a car accident?
Use these guidelines to ensure that you get the safest child seat for your precious one.
