Baby Car Seat

When you have a child, especially a new baby, you must have the correct car seat!

With your new baby, it is really important to have the right baby car seat. This needs to be installed correctly in order to provide maximum protection for your baby, in the event of having a car accident. Most hospitals won’t discharge a mom and new baby until they see the car seat. 

There are many kinds of infant car seats as guidance the following is a rough guide.

Car seat, facing front or back?

Car seats facing back, for small babies!

The easiest kind to use is one that has a base that is buckled securely into the existing car seat and this seat itself can be simply lifted off and carried around by the seat handle.  This is very convenient because the baby, when small particularly, can be carried to and from the house, or to wherever one is going while still securely strapped into the seat. These infant seats usually will only be safe for transporting small babies facing backward, to the direction of travel of the car, until the age of about one year.

Car seats facing forward!

When the babies weight is 18 pounds, and at it is at least one year old, it is time for a change to the forward-facing, baby car seat. This also because, by the time the baby is that old, and weighs in at around 18 pounds, he or she, will almost certainly be too heavy to ‘lug around’, that way!  You will then want to get the baby out of the baby car seat, and carry him, or even better he may even be walking by then!

Convertible car seat!

The next kind of car baby seat is called a ‘convertible car seat’.  Many of these baby car seats can also be placed in the backward-facing position because  when babies grow out of their infant seats, but are still not yet old enough, or at a heavy enough weight to sit facing in a forward direction. This can then be changed and the convertible baby car seat can be turned to face forward, and will then seat the youngster until the baby is 40 pounds or more.  These convertible baby car seats have a 5-point ‘harness’ that is securely buckled at the bottom and the chest.

Car booster seats for kids!

Once the baby reaches 40 pounds, he or she will move up to a ‘booster seat’.  This seat consists of a small base that keeps the child secure and will have the effect of increasing the youngsters height, while also allowing him or her to use the regular car seat belt. The child can use this seat until he weighs 80 pounds! 

Babies car seats - ALWAYS in the back!

Regardless of what kind of baby car seat or booster seat you are using, the place for babies and children under 12 years of age is always, but always, in the BACK SEAT of the car.  The center of the back seat is the safest place to sit.

Beware of Airbags!

Airbags in the front can injure a small child, so NEVER EVER seat a child under the age of 12, in the front seat of the car.

Baby car seats conclusion!

In conclusion, the way your baby travels, when in your care and in your car, is a way which YOU will arrange to make it as safe as possible! Selection of the right type of baby car seat is absolutely vital!. To have peace of mind and give your loved one the best possible protection get as much advice as there is available!