Baby Makes Three: A Guide to Choosing the Right Car Seat 

Preparing for a new baby? Getting the right car seat is an important step. Here’s a list of the main types of car seats to help you decide.

Injuries sustained from road accidents are the leading cause of death in children who are 5 years or older.

Car accidents are unpredictable and occur in the blink of an eye. If you have children on board you need to secure them with an appropriate car seat to protect them during such a situation.

Car seats for children are designed for just this purpose. With many types of car seats in the market, it might be daunting to choose the right one. However, be guided by your child’s weight, height, and age.

You should also factor in how easy or not you want it to be to remove the car seat. Most of all, ensure that you do not compromise on quality.

Here is a baby car seats guide to help you select the perfect one for your child.

Infant Car Seat

An infant car seat is for babies between zero and two years old. It is made to be used facing the rear.

An infant car seat is designed to carry between 22 to 55 pounds and will last you up to between six to 24 months. However, some children tend to outgrow this type of car seat quickly.

While it can also act like a baby carrier, you shouldn’t use it in a shopping cart. Even if it clicks, you should resist the temptation as it can be dangerous for your baby. Instead, think of using another type of carrier.

Convertible Car Seat

A convertible car seat is one that you can use from birth until when your child no longer needs to use a car seat.

When your child is less than three years old, you should use it in a rear-facing position. You can then turn the seat into a forward-facing position when they hit three years and above.

Although convertible seats serve you for longer, they can’t double up as a baby carrier. They are hard to switch in between cars and do not have a base.

When used in a rear-facing position convertible seats are designed to carry up to 40 pounds. In a forward-facing position, they can support a maximum of 70 pounds.

Belt-Positioning Booster Seat

When your young one outgrows a convertible car seat the next stop is a belt-positioning model.

Also known as a booster seat, a convertible car seat is designed for use only in a forward-facing position. The minimum weight it can carry will vary with the model but generally speaking it ranges between 30 to 40 pounds.

Unlike the other types of car seats, it can come with its own set of buckles or harness. Alternatively, you can use it with the seat belt your car uses.

When you are choosing a booster car seat, try to test it out with your child first. Due to the varying models in this collection of car seats, your child’s height will determine which one is the most comfortable for them.

There are Many Types of Car Seats for Your Children

The safety of your children when you are driving them around is paramount. As outlined in this article, there are many types of car seats to suit every child and for every preference. 

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