Choosing a car seat for your newborn is one of the most important things you’ll do before your baby arrives. By law, you will need to have a properly installed car seat in your car before you can take your baby home. There are many brands and types of car seats available, and it will take time and effort to decide which is suitable for your child.
What should I look for in a child car seat?
You should look for a car seat that best fits your child. To determine this, you should test the seat to make sure it fits your baby and your vehicle properly. To ensure that you are properly installing the car seat, read the instructions carefully.
Cost should not be your only guide in choosing a seat. A more expensive car seat usually has extra features, but this doesn’t necessarily make it easier to use. The car seat that you choose should be based on the height and weight of your child, according to the recommendations of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Car seat safety regulations change every year, so you should not buy a used car seat if at all possible.
Child car seats have both harness straps and a harness clip. Car seats come with more than one harness slot to give your baby some growing room. The harness straps fit over your child’s head and lie over your child’s shoulders, and the harness clip holds the harness straps in place. The harness straps should fit snugly on your child, and the harness clip should be placed at armpit level.
What types of car seats are available?
There are four types of child car seats: infant-only, convertible, combination, and booster .
Infant-only seat
Infant-only seats, also known as rear-facing seats, are placed in the back seat of the car. Your child should use an infant-only seat from birth until he or she is 1 year old and weighs 20 pounds. The car seat must recline at a 45-degree angle and should not be placed in front of an air bag.
Some infant-only seats come with a detachable base so that you can remove the car seat with your baby seated in it.
Convertible seat
Convertible seats are essentially two car seats in one. They are placed in the back seat and face the back of the car until your child is 1 year old and weighs 20 pounds. Following that, the seats are placed to face the front of the car.
Combination seat
Combination seats face the front of the car and are intended for children who are 1 year and older and weigh approximately 20 to 40 pounds. These seats can also convert into a belt-positioning booster seat when your child weighs 40 pounds or more.
Booster seat
Booster seats are intended for children who are 4 to 8 years old and weigh between 40 and 80 pounds. Your child should start using a booster seat when he or she grows out of his or her car seat (when his or her ears are higher than the back of the car seat, and his or her shoulders are higher than the top strap slots), or when the weight limit for the seat is reached. Booster seats are usually used until your child reaches 80 pounds and is then ready to use a regular seat belt.
While many states’ laws do not require children over 4 years of age to ride in a child restraint system, your child is unprotected from serious injury when unrestrained or if restrained in a car seat belt when he or she is still too small.
Seat belts
A child is ready for the standard car seat belt when the weight limit is exceeded on the booster seat (approximately 80 lbs.) and the child can sit with his or her back against the seatback, and the legs can bend at the knee at the front of the seat.
Is my child buckled in properly?
Infant (rear-facing) car seats should recline at about a 45-degree angle. All car seat harness straps should be at or above shoulder level and fit snugly on your child, and the harness clip should be at armpit level. It is important to consult the manufacturer’s specific instructions about the seat to assure proper installation.
You should not buy or use a car seat that:
- Has been in a car crash
- Is damaged in any way (cracks, loose parts, etc.)
- Is missing any parts, including the manufacturer’s label with the model number
- Is more than 10 years old (In fact, most manufacturers suggest using a car seat for no more than five years.)
- Doesn’t have instructions for installation and use
If this describes your child’s car seat, it is unsafe to use, and you need to buy a new car seat. Remember to always check if your car seat has been recalled. You can get this information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 5/31/2005...#9690
