Features to look out for when deciding which one to buy

A car seat is probably one of the most important things you will ever buy for your baby; not only will it keep her safe but it will provide a comfortable place from which to view the world and keep her entertained, leaving you free to concentrate on your driving. Choosing a car seat for an infant is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly and you should never use a seat that may have been involved in a previous collision as its safety will be compromised.

The current US regulations state that an infant must ride in a rear-facing car seat until they are over one year and over 20 pounds in weight. After that, they may travel in a forward-facing car seat until they are around 40 pounds and tall enough to sit in a booster seat. Despite this, always carry a baby in the rear-facing position for as long as possible even if they exceed the criteria detailed above as this is the position that offers the most protection.

Infant Seats Vs. Convertible Seats

Infant seats offer a very versatile way of transporting a young baby as they can be removed from the car and either be carried inside or attached to a compatible stroller without having to disturb your baby. These seats are designed to be rear facing and typically offer good newborn support and side-impact protection. The downside is that they can only be used for a limited amount of time as they have a weight limit of around 30 pounds.

Convertible car seats can usually accommodate larger babies. They can be fitted in either a rear-facing position while your child is below 20 pounds and under one year, or forward-facing when your baby is bigger and older. A good convertible car seat will also offer newborn support, multi-reclining positions and side impact protection.

Size Matters

Whether you choose an infant car seat or a convertible one, it is important to adhere strictly to the manufacturer’s weight and height limits. Never use a seat if your baby slumps forwards in it or if you cannot get optimum adjustment of the safety harness. Conversely, never use a seat if your baby’s size exceeds the seat’s capacity.

Safety First

All new car seats that are sold in the US have to undergo the same rigorous safety-testing procedures which will determine if they are able to protect your child in the event of a collision. A car seat is only safe if it is correctly fitted so make sure you are absolutely happy with both attaching and releasing the seat. Some seats will be only feature lower attachments whereas other more stable models will offer top tethers to secure the upper part of the seat too.

Other safety features to look out for are a five-point safety harness and side-impact protection to the whole upper body. Higher-end models have energy absorbing foam in their structures which deflects the brunt of force away from your child in the event of an accident.

Consider Comfort

Your baby won’t care how safe a car seat is but they will appreciate being comfortable. A well-padded seat which is upholstered in a plush or breathable fabric should be chosen; this should offer good support for newborns (e.g. a head and neck supporting cushion). Pads on the harness are a good way to stop the straps from digging into your baby’s skin. The seat should have multi-reclining positions (infant car seats generally do not offer this feature). Take care to ensure that the seat does not have any exposed metal parts which may burn your baby’s skin as they heat up under direct sunlight shining into the car.

Fitting Facts

Car seat fitting stations are present in many locations such as hospitals and fire-stations; here experts can check that your seat is properly installed and that your child’s safety is not compromised. It is important to try fitting the car seat in your car before you buy it to make sure it fits and that the fitting process is not too complicated for you. Some infant seats have bases that the seat fixes onto and this allows for easy attachment and removal especially if you need to put the seat in different cars.

The Low-down on LATCH

The LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system increases the safety of car seats by making them easier to install. Both cars and car seats made after September 2002 will be LATCH co-ordinated but many LATCH model car seats can also be anchored using a standard seat-belt; this is good if you need the car seat to work with an older car or if you need to fit it to the middle portion of the rear seat.

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