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Make Sure You Use Car Seats Correctly.
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Every place in North America requires that babies and young children ride buckled into a car seat. Without this precaution a child is in serious danger if there is a traffic accident. Even though there are many car seat manufacturers, not all are safe; you need to make sure that the one that you choose for your child's safety meets all safety standards. Both child and infant car seats have car seat regulations that must be met according to the child's age, height, and weight. Specific car seat safety ratings can be found online, or from your local retailer.
Car seats for babies can only be used rear-facing, and are for babies who weigh no more than 22 pounds (depending on the model), and come with a 3 or 5 point harness. (An infant should never use a car seat with a T-shield or an overhead shield, as a small baby's face can hit these shields in a crash.) A few options available for infant car seats are detachable bases, adjustable harness slots, and comfortable carrying handles for ease of use. Some top rated car seats include the Costco Arriva car seat, the Costco TLC, the Baby Trend Latch-Loc, the Evenflo Discovery, and the COMBI Tyro Infant Car Seat. There are other excellent choices too: Graco car seat models, Peg Perego models, and Baby Trend models. Removable and washable car seat covers are available on many models.
All car seats for children under 1 year must be rear-facing, but there are other requirements and options for older babies and toddler's car seats. Convertible seats can be used either forward-facing or rear-facing, and can hold children up to 50 pounds. They usually have more adjustable belts and harnesses, and use either 5 or 6 point harnesses, a T-shield, or an overhead shield. Forward-facing car seats cannot be used rear-facing, and are for children who are at least one year of age and who weigh over 20 pounds. These can be used with a lap only belt or a lap/shoulder belt. Combination seats can also only be used forward-facing, and are for children at least one year of age and over 20 pounds. These can convert to belt-positioning boosters for children who have exceeded the height and weight limits of the seat.
When your child has outgrown his or her car seat, it is time for a booster car seat. These seats are to be used until your child can sit comfortably using your car's lap/shoulder belt. Boosters are forward-facing, and come as belt-positioning or shield boosters. Shield boosters are not for use by children who weigh more than 40 pounds.
Make sure that you use your child's car seat correctly. Buckle him or her in properly by making sure the correct harness slots are used, the straps are flat, and the harnesses are snug.
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