Infant car seats are a must-have for every baby. Buying and installing a seat for a baby can feel tons like outfitting an automobile. Learn which infant car seat we would like and the way to put in it without driving ourselves crazy.
Choosing The Proper Infant Car Seat
Why does one even need an infant car seat? Because it is an essential part of car safety. Child seats save lives. If a baby is securely strapped on the car seat, their risk of severe injury during a car accident goes down by 71%, consistent with the CDC.
Do Not Get Intimidated
Do not need to buy the foremost expensive safety seat with all the bells and whistles.
Three Things To Consider
- The baby’s age
- The baby’s weight and height
- Whether the seat meets safety standards
CDC Guide On The Way To Choose A Seat Supported Your Child’s Age, Weight, And Height:
Birth to age 2. Use a rear-facing infant car seat
Your child’s weight should be no above allowed on the seat’s weight limit.
Age 2 to 4 AND not quite 40 pounds
Use a forward-facing child safety seat.
Age 4 to eight OR up to 4 feet 9 inches tall
Use a belt-positioning booster seat. Always keep kids within the back seat.
Age 8 or 4 feet 9 inches tall
After age 8 or 4 feet 9 inches tall, seat belts (without a booster seat) are OK. However, your child should keep employing a booster seat until adult seat belts fit correctly. Always check the position of the shoulder belt on your child and the lap belt. The lap belt should get on the upper thighs— not the stomach. The shoulder belt should get on the chest, not on the neck.
Children Younger Than Age 13
The CDC states that all children younger than age 13 should ride within the back seat. That holds if they are during a seat, booster seat, or safety belt. The reason: airbags can hurt or maybe severely injure young children riding within the front.
Evaluating seat Quality
You know which sort of seat you would like, but what about the brand and model? Here are a couple of features to seem for:
Safety label
Confirm the seat features a label stating that it meets or exceeds Federal automobile Safety Standard 213.
Five-point harness
It will protect the baby better than a three-point harness or seat belt.
Ratings
A seat that earned four or five stars will have clear instructions and be easy to use. Check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) rating system.
New Infant car seat
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends buying a replacement seat – unless you recognize a second-hand seat’s accident history.
Car Seat Installation Tips
Now that you have got your seat and are ready to travel, it is time to put it in your car’s seat. The seat must be appropriately secured.
Even if the security seat looks secure, it is going not to be. Three out of 4 parents are driving around with improperly installed child seats. Moreover, that is dangerous for his or her children.
Do Not Stress Out Over Seat Installation
If you have been wrestling with the seat for hours and you continue to cannot figure it out, visit an NHTSA seat inspection station in your area. Often, they are located at a fire station. A licensed technician will show you ways to properly install and use your seat, often free of charge.
Installing A Rear-Facing Or Convertible Car Seat
Read both the seat manufacturer’s installation instructions and your car’s owner’s manual instructions thoroughly. Make sure to know how to use the seat belts or LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system and your seat before starting the installation process.
Only Install The Seat Within The Back Seat
That is where the child is safest until he or she turns 13 or reaches a height of 4 feet 9 inches.
Follow the seat’s instructions exactly as you thread the safety belt through the car seat belt path and tighten it.
Buckle Up And Lock The Safety Belt
Press down on the seat firmly to tighten it. The seat should not move quite 1 inch from side to side or forward and backward once installed.
Check the seat manufacturer’s instructions to form sure the security seat is reclined at the right angle.
Make Sure The Child Is Secured Properly Within The Seat
- The harness straps should be placed through the slots at or below the baby’s shoulders.
- The straps should lie flat against their juvenile body.
- Check the harness if it is snug enough once you cannot pinch any extra material at the shoulders.
- The chest clip should be at your child’s armpit level.
Side Notes
Experts recommend keeping babies under two during a rear-facing seat until they outgrow the seat manufacturer’s height and weight limit. A rear-facing seat will protect your baby’s delicate neck during a crash. A seat’s weight limits correspond to the center itself. However, buying and installing a car seat can seem overwhelming. Once we wander down, momma baby gear has the sheer number and sort of car seats to choose from.
