Getting The Right Baby Car Seat
13th June 2011 by Babies No CommentsKeeping your child safe is obviously the most important thing, and this includes having the right baby car seats installed in your vehicle. The only problem is; most parents don’t have any extensive knowledge in this area except to find the cheapest price. Well, the most inexpensive price from a quality product. After all, your first goal should be figuring out whether or not the baby seat for cars is going to protect your child.
When you first start doing your research we recommend addressing the basic safety issues. You need a baby car seat that can connect the seat belt securely. The right choice will come with a LATCH system or Lower Anchor and Tether for Children. This is the system that fastens the car seat to your car. Without it your child won’t be as stable as you might think, even if the regular seat belt is being used.
Another good safety feature in your next car seat should also be the Versa Tether Energy Absorbing system. This helps keep your child’s car seat securely in place in case you have to make a sudden stop. A perfect example would be Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat. This prevents the seat from moving unexpectedly forward by up to six inches. This is also an integrated part of the LATCH system.
EPS foam is another safety measure for your baby’s car seat. You can also find this in bicycle helmets. If an accident occurs, the foam diverts the forces of the crash away from the baby. The idea is to put an extremely forgiving barrier between them and any type of hard surface. There is also a HUGS harness that is build to prevent movement. This is helpful for even a side car crash or a little fender-bender.
However, all this is great, but one of the most important safety aspects of a car seat is the safety harness. A child seat safety harness should be a five point system, completely securing you child in the seat, and form fitting so they have a range of motion, but are not able to get out of it on their own. Graco Nautilus has a good review on this. It should also securely latch down to the seat itself, with the latch out of their reach.
Comfort for your baby is also something to consider, so the car seat should have plenty of cushioning such as the Graco Nautilus Car Seat. We recommend finding something that can be detached in case it gets dirty. Therefore it should be allowed to be placed in the washer for a proper cleaning. During this time we recommend wiping down the body of the seat and using anti-bacterial wipes to get rid of any germs. A good choice is the 3-in-1 seats. They can change from rear-facing to front-facing, and basically complement your child as he or she grows. Eventually you can transform your baby car seat into a booster seat and still get the same support in the process.
We understand the cost will come into play, but don’t ever skimp on quality and safety for the overall price. We’re talking about the safety of your child, so forget about those second hand store opportunities. Used car seats have already been through a lot, and they may not have the same structural integrity as a brand new option. So how much do they cost? If you want plenty of quality in your baby’s car seat then expect to pay one hundred to two hundred dollars.
