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Baby Car Seats Safety Tips
Baby car seats can prevent serious injury to your child in the
event of an accident. It is the law that all children under the
age of twelve should be seated in the back seat. This is
especially true if you have airbags in the front.
From the time you bring your baby home from the hospital, s/he
should be placed in an appropriate car safety seat. Infants must
be in a rear facing infant only seat or an appropriate
convertible seat until s/he weighs twenty pounds or reach the
age of one. After twenty pounds and after the first birthday,
toddlers can use a forward facing seat until they reach
approximately forty pounds or their ears reach the top of the
car seat. Over forty pounds, a child must be in a seatbelt
positioned booster seat.
Your car seat belts should not be used by a child under the age
of eight unless they are four feet nine inches tall. A booster
seat should be used until then. There are many different types
of booster seats are available.
Your child should be appropriately restrained at all times. Your
child will not be ready to use regular seatbelts until the
shoulder trap fits across the shoulder not the neck. The lap
belt must fit across the hips and not his stomach.
When installing car seats the manufacturer¡¯s directions must be
followed exactly. if you don¡¯t have them call the company for a
replacement. The car seat will have a label which will have the
manufacturer, the address, and the phone number. It will also
show the name of the car seat. You must have this information to
get a replacement. If there is no label on the seat do not
purchase it. It could be a seat that was damaged in a car
accident.
If you are purchasing the car seat second hand, inspect it
thoroughly. Check all the belts for fraying, all fasteners for
cracks, and the padding of the seat to be sure it is not ripped
or torn. Always check to see if there is a label on the seat, it
will have the information you need if there is no manual
available. Ask questions such as has this seat been in a crash?
If so, do not purchase it. It may look fine but its safety may
have been compromised. There could be a misalignment of the
frame resulting in your child¡¯s safety being compromised.
No matter what type of seat you purchase, and there are many,
consider how much you can spend. If expense is a concern a
convertible travel system maybe in order. A rear-facing car seat
can be used as a front facing car seat until the appropriate
age. There is a base that remains in the car. The infant/toddler
car seat then can be attached to a stroller frame and later it
can reattach to the base that¡¯s in the car. Check out your
options and consider what will be best as far as expenses are
concerned. Do your research and determine what will be best for
you and your child. Always, the first concern should be the
safety of your baby from day one.
It is important to know what type of seat your vehicle will
accommodate. Your car owner¡¯s manual or a dealer will be able
to tell you what is compatible with the vehicle you own. It is
an overwhelming choice to make but begin looking for a car seat
when you find out you are expecting. A well informed choice will
keep your baby safe.
About the author:
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice
for consumers on purchasing a variety of baby cribs, His
numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of
interesting and relevant information. http://www.1st-babies.com
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