Getting The Right Car Seat For Baby
Remember that choosing a car seat suitable for your child is very important. Make sure that you choose something appropriate for his age and weight, so he can be protected while on the road. There are three major types of car seats: infant car seats, convertible car seats, and booster car seats. Written below are some tips to help you find the right car seat for your child.
Children below one year old should ride in rear-facing car seats. You can buy a rear-facing infant car seat suitable for babies that weigh 20 pounds and below. It is perfect for an infant who is only a few months old. It also comes with a handle, so you can carry it easily. If you want something more convenient, choose a travel system. This includes a combination of a stroller and a car seat.
However, infant car seats may be quite expensive for your budget. They cost around $60 to $150 yet they are only good for six months to one year. Once your baby gets bigger or reaches 20 pounds, he will outgrow his infant car seat and will need a convertible car seat.
Then again, if you are like some parents who do not like convertible car seats, you may just want to use an infant car seat and wait until your child gets old enough to use a front-facing car seat. You will still need to choose one of those convertible car seats some time in the future.
The truth is, it does not really matter whether you buy a convertible car seat when your baby's weight reaches 20 pounds or you use an infant car seat at first. Sooner or later, you will have to buy one the convertible car seats to accommodate your child until he grows into a toddler. Most of these convertible car seats are capable of accommodating toddlers who weigh up to 40 pounds. Others can even accommodate children weighing 80 pounds.
Usually, convertible car seats cost $80 to $300. Toddlers who weigh over 40 pounds as well as big kids need to use booster car seats.
Booster car seats are especially made for children 3 years old and up. They can accommodate up to 40 pounds, and they are designed to boost a child into a position that can make him use the seat belt comfortably.
A booster car seat is actually very important because without it, your child can get hurt even if he wears a seat belt. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA recommends that children use booster car seats once they outgrew their convertible car seats, and until they turn 8 years old and become 4 feet 9 inches tall.
There are also some booster seats that provide back support. It's ideal to choose one of these, especially if your car's seats are low or have no head restraint. A backless option is also good as it can also offer head support. A booster car seat usually costs $60 to $200.
Children below one year old should ride in rear-facing car seats. You can buy a rear-facing infant car seat suitable for babies that weigh 20 pounds and below. It is perfect for an infant who is only a few months old. It also comes with a handle, so you can carry it easily. If you want something more convenient, choose a travel system. This includes a combination of a stroller and a car seat.
However, infant car seats may be quite expensive for your budget. They cost around $60 to $150 yet they are only good for six months to one year. Once your baby gets bigger or reaches 20 pounds, he will outgrow his infant car seat and will need a convertible car seat.
Then again, if you are like some parents who do not like convertible car seats, you may just want to use an infant car seat and wait until your child gets old enough to use a front-facing car seat. You will still need to choose one of those convertible car seats some time in the future.
The truth is, it does not really matter whether you buy a convertible car seat when your baby's weight reaches 20 pounds or you use an infant car seat at first. Sooner or later, you will have to buy one the convertible car seats to accommodate your child until he grows into a toddler. Most of these convertible car seats are capable of accommodating toddlers who weigh up to 40 pounds. Others can even accommodate children weighing 80 pounds.
Usually, convertible car seats cost $80 to $300. Toddlers who weigh over 40 pounds as well as big kids need to use booster car seats.
Booster car seats are especially made for children 3 years old and up. They can accommodate up to 40 pounds, and they are designed to boost a child into a position that can make him use the seat belt comfortably.
A booster car seat is actually very important because without it, your child can get hurt even if he wears a seat belt. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA recommends that children use booster car seats once they outgrew their convertible car seats, and until they turn 8 years old and become 4 feet 9 inches tall.
There are also some booster seats that provide back support. It's ideal to choose one of these, especially if your car's seats are low or have no head restraint. A backless option is also good as it can also offer head support. A booster car seat usually costs $60 to $200.
About the Author:
Edmund Muller hails from Eberswalde, a place in Brandenburg, Germany where he also lives with his wife and children. He is fond of land vehicles especially cars. He regularly use Autokindersitz, car seat in German, like Autokindersitz Maxi Cosi for his little child.