Car Seats
Choosing the best car seat for your baby can be a complicated decision, but once you know some basics about what types of car seats are available, your choices can be narrowed down a bit. Your baby will need to be transported in a car seat from the moment you leave the hospital until he or she reaches eight years old.
Basic Guidelines
- Choose a car seat that is appropriate for your child's age, weight and height (see the chart below).
- Before using the car seat for the first time, make sure it fits properly in your car and can be buckled in tightly. (The car seat or base shouldn't move more than 1 at the seat belt path). If you can't get the car seat to fit properly, try a different location in your car, or return the car seat and exchange for a different one.
- Have your car seat installation checked by a professional. Check your local Right Start store for car seat seminars, or to arrange for a free child safety seat inspection, call 1-866-732-8243 or visit www.seatcheck.org.
- Remember - if you purchase an infant only seat, you will need to purchase an infant/toddler (convertible) seat when your child is 20-22 lbs. (You cannot put your child in a forward facing car seat until they reach one year old AND weigh more than 20 lbs. If your child weighs more than 20 lbs. and is less than one year old, you must use a rear-facing convertible seat (approved for heavier babies). Many seats allow you to keep your child rear-facing for up to 35 lbs.
- Don't forget - the safest place for kids of all ages is in the back seat. Never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of a passenger air bag.
Car Safety Seat Chart
| INFANTS | TODDLERS | YOUNG CHILDREN | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age/Weight | Birth to one year. 0 to 20 lbs. | Over one year AND over 20 lbs to 40 lbs. The new recommendation is all children 2 years or older, or those younger than 2 years who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit for their car safety seat, should use a forward-facing car safety seat with a harness for as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer. | Ages 4-8, unless 4"9". Over 40 lbs. |
| Type of Seat | Infant only, or rear-facing convertible seat | Forward-facing or rear-facing convertible seat | Belt-positioning booster seat |
| Seat Position | Rear-facing only | Forward-facing | Forward-facing |
| Make Sure | All babies birth to one year and under 20 lbs. must be rear-facing. Harness straps at or below shoulder level. |
Harness straps should be at or above shoulders. Most seats require top slot for forward-facing. |
Belt positioning booster seats must be used with both lap and shoulder belts. Make sure the lap belt fits low and tight across the lap/upper thigh area and the shoulder belt fits snug crossing the chest and shoulder. |
Warning All children age 12 and under should ride in the back seat.
About Infant Car Seats
Children under one year old (no matter how much they weigh) must be in a rear-facing infant seat. Infant seats are designed to support your baby's head, back and neck for infants up to 22 pounds or 26 inches long through up to 35 pounds or 32 inches. Please refer to each car seat's height and weight limits. Infant car seats should be installed in the center back seat, facing the back window of your vehicle.
Restraint Systems:
- 3-Point Harness (secured at the shoulders and between the legs)
- 5-Point Harness (secured at the shoulders, hips and between the legs)
Age/Weight: Newborn babies until they are about 20 lbs.
Advantages of Infant Car Seats
- Most come with a separate stay-in-car base (secured by the vehicle's seat belts) which allows you to install and remove the infant seat easily. This is very convenient when your baby is sleeping, you can remove the seat and easily carry your baby with the built-in handle without waking your baby.
- An infant seat can be placed in certain strollers, allowing you to easily transport your baby from your car to the stroller without distrubing your baby. There are even all-in-one car seat and stroller combinations, known as a travel system
Disadvantages of Infant Car Seats
- You'll have to buy a convertible car seat when your child weighs around 20 lbs.
Infant/Toddler (Convertible) Car Seats
Convertible car seats can be installed in your car either rear facing (newborns to one year) or forward facing (after one year and at least 20 lbs.). These seats are designed to grow with your child through the toddler years. Your baby can use the same seat until he weighs 40 lbs. Some parents choose to use a convertible seat from day one, while others choose to use an infant car seat first, then switch to a convertible seat when their baby reaches about 20 lbs. (about 6 months old or younger).
Age/Weight: Newborn to around age 4 or when your toddler weighs 40 lbs.
Restraint Systems:
- 5-Point Harness (secured at the shoulders, hips and between the legs) Consists of five straps - two at the shoulders, two at the hips, and one between the legs. The harness can be adjusted closer to the baby's body.
- 3-Point Harness with T-Shield (secured at the shoulders and between the legs) Uses a soft, T-shaped center section to draw the shoulder straps over your child. The “T" buckles into the seat shell between your baby's legs. Simple to use, but not for a baby whose head doesn't clear the T-shield. When fastened, the shield harness should be no more than chest high.
- 3-Point Harness with Overhead Shield (secured at the shoulders and between the legs) A padded T-shaped or triangular shield swings down over baby's head, drawing the straps over the shoulders. A third strap buckles the shield to the seat between the baby's legs. Some are adjustable to to fit to your child or allow for bulky clothing. The shield should be at the child's chest level.
Advantages of Infant/Toddler Convertible Seats
- This seat can be used from day one until your baby reaches age 4 or 40 lbs.
- No need to buy another seat when your baby is one year and ready to face forward - simply turn the seat around!
Disadvantages of Infant/Toddler Convertible Seats
- These car seats seem quite large at first, with a newborn in them. It's a good idea to buy a headrest or use rolled up towels or blankets to support the baby's head until he grows into it.
- Unlike infant seats, convertible seats do not come with a built-in carrying handle or separate base. So, when you reach your destination, you will need to unbuckle your baby and leave the car seat in the car.
About Booster Seats
Booster seats are designed to lift your child up into a position that makes it safe to use your car's existing lap and shoulder belts. When your child has outgrown his or her car seat (4 years old and 40 lbs.) they are ready for a booster seat. In the event of a crash, a child who is less than 8 years old and shorter than 4 foot 9 inches can actually be injured by adult seat belts alone. If the lap belt rests on your child's tummy, he or she can have serious injuries to the stomach, liver or spleen. If the shoulder belt rests on your child's neck, he or she may try to move it under the arm, where it could crack ribs and damage internal organs. Or your child may move it to his or her back, where there would be no protection at all in the event of a crash.
Age/Weight: Ages 4 to 8, 40 lbs. and up. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that all children who've outgrown their car seats continue to ride in booster seats until they are at least 8 years old and 4 feet 9 inches tall.
Types of Booster Seats:
Belt Positioning Booster: Children who weigh 40 to 80 lbs.
- Available in high-backed and backless models
- Uses the vehicle lap and shoulder belts for restraint.
High-Backed Booster with 5-Point Harness: Forward facing car seat for children 20 to 40 lbs, converts to a belt-positioning booster seat when child reaches 40 lbs.
- Attached to the vehicle with either the LATCH system's lower anchorages or the vehicle's belt system and tether.
- 5-point harness provides full body protection until child reaches 40 lbs.
- After 40 lbs., converts to a belt-positioning booster seat using the vehicle's lap and shoulder belts.
Shield Booster with 5-Point Harness: Forward facing car seat for children 20 to 40 lbs, or more.
- Attached to the vehicle with either the LATCH system's lower anchorages or the vehicle's belt system and tether.
- 5-point harness provides full body protection until child reaches 40 lbs.
- On some booster seats, the shield can be removed, and it converts to a belt-positioning booster seat using the vehicle's lap and shoulder belts for restraint. Never allow a child to sit in the booster seat without the shield using only the vehicle's lap belt.
The New LATCH System
LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. Why is it so secure? Earlier car seats were secured with a seatbelt. The system could be confusing, and incorrect installation was often the result. LATCH seats are fastened into anchors or bars that are part of your car's back seat. It's a simpler, more secure, safer ride. As of September 1, 2002, all new car seats are required to have the LATCH system, and all new automobiles must be equipped with one upper (tether) and two lower anchorage points. The upper (tether) anchorage is a ringlike object permanently attached to the vehicle on either the rear filler panel or on the cargo floor, depending on the vehicle. The two lower anchorages are a set of two small bars in the rear seat of the vehicle, generally located where the seat cushion meats the seat back. LATCH-equipped car seats attach to the vehicle seat via these anchorages instead of being held by the vehicle's seat belts.
Tips for Keeping Kids Safe in Vehicles
Here is a list of tips taken from the www.seatcheck.org website:
- Infants must always be placed in rear-facing seats until they are at least one year old and 20-22 lbs.
- If less than a year old and more than 20-22 lbs.,be sure they ride in a seat approved for heavier babies and continue to ride rear-facing until at least one year old. Children may ride rear-facing in many seats up to 35 lbs.
- Remember: Never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of a passenger air bag.
- Once children are forward-facing, they should ride in a forward-facing seat (toddler seat) until they reach approximately 40 lbs.
- All children who have outgrown child safety seats should be properly restrained in booster seats until at least 8 years old, unless they are 4'9" tall.
- Old/used child safety seats should not be used unless you are certain they have never been in a crash and you have all the parts (including instructions). Seats six years old or older should be discarded and never used. To check if your safety seat has been recalled, log on to www.seatcheck.org.
- Always read both the vehicle owner's manual and the instructions that come with the child safety seat.
- Kids of all ages are safest when properly restrained in the back seat.
- It's important to remember that the "best" child safety seat is the one that correctly fits the child, the vehicle, and is used correctly every time.
- Get your child safety seats checked!
Common Mistakes When Installing Car Seats:
- Safety seat not tightly secured in vehicle (moves more than 1 inch at seat belt path)
- Harness Straps too loose
- Safety seat facing the wrong direction in vehicle
- Seat belt not properly locked with locking clip, seat belt retractor or locking latchplate
- Safety seat recalled or involved in a crash
- Child not appropriate size and/or age for the safety seat
- Infant seat in the path of an airbag
- Child moved into seat belt instead of a booster seat
- Retainer clip not at armpit level
