Car seat safety is a top priority for parents and to better protect your child, it is very important that you know and understand the car seat laws in your state.
From the day you leave the hospital with your new baby, he or she must be placed in a car safety seat. Infants must ride in a rear-facing seat until they reach the weight and/or height as outlined in your state’s car seat laws.
In many states, babies may ride in front-facing car seats after their first birthday, providing they are twenty pounds or over. They will ride in a front-facing car seat until they weigh approximately forty pounds or their ears reach the top of the car seat. Once a child is over forty pounds, they must ride in a seat belt positioned booster seat.
Children under the age of eight should not use seat belts unless they reach a height of four feet, nine inches. Until then they must be kept in a booster seat. When the shoulder strap of the seat belt fits across the shoulder and not the neck, and the lap belt fits across the hips and not the stomach, your child will be ready to use seat belts.
Follow the manufacturer’s directions exactly when you are installing your baby car seats. If you do not have the directions, contact the manufacturer and ask for a copy. You will find the manufacturer’s contact information on the label of the car seat. The label will also have other important information about the car seat should you need to purchase replacement parts. If the seat does not have a label, do not purchase it.
There are many types of baby car seats on the market and if expense is a concern, you may want to consider a convertible travel system. These systems have a base that remains in the car and can be installed so that the car seat is rear-facing or front-facing. The seat itself is removable and can be attached to a stroller frame or can be used to carry your baby without having to remove him or her from the seat.
It’s important to know what type of car seat you can use in your vehicle. If you are unsure, check your car’s owner’s manual or contact the dealer to find out what type of car seat is compatible with the vehicle you own. If you purchase a car seat that does not fit properly in your vehicle, return it and purchase another one that does.
The best time to begin researching about car seats for infants and finding positive car seat reviews is you when first find out you are expecting. You should, however, wait until about a month before your baby is due to actually purchase your car seat. From the time they are manufactured, car seats start to lose their life and the longer they sit unused, the shorter their lifespan.
Before you purchase your car seat, check the car seat safety ratings to ensure that the product you are considering meets safety standards and is safe for your baby.