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It's Important to Buy the Best Baby Car Seat

by: SallyThatcher
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Having a car safety seat for your baby is a must, and some features are more important than others. Like most parents, you simply want to keep your child safe and healthy. So purchasing a high-quality car seat is essential. But with so many models, styles and brands on the market, it can be difficult to decide which one's right for your family. And if you don't understand the features that are most important, the task is even more difficult. It's a good idea to focus on the safety features that matter most when shopping for a child safety seat.

One of the most important things to consider is the harness or attachment of the child safety seat. You can have a 3-point harness or a 5-point harness. As you can guess, the 5-point harness has extra attachments that serve to keep the child safe in the seat in case of an accident. The 3-point harness is sufficient, but if you want added peace of mind, the 5-point harness may be worth it.

While everyone knows the basic rule that a small child has to be restrained in a car seat, not everyone understands the other features and safety recommendations for child safety seats. In the most basic terms, there are four kinds of seat positions: front-facing, rear-facing, combination and booster seats.

There are also seats for older children of around 60 pounds. A small child will be that weight around 9 years of age. Some models of car seats for younger children are for children of 20-25 pounds, while others can accommodate riders up to 10 pounds heavier.

The safest type of car seat to use for babies is rear facing. When selecting one for your baby, you should choose one with the higher weight limit for longer use. If your child is over 40 pounds, you may want to consider purchasing a seat that is a booster only. It is just as important to properly install an older child's seat as it is to install a seat for a younger child.

Your older child's booster should allow for the shoulder belt to cross the center of the shoulder and chest. Avoid crossing it over the neck. The lap belt should ride across the hips. If your car has low seat backs without headrests, use a high-back model. You may be able to find a model with adjustable head supports and extra padding.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for safety tests on child car seats. They rate all car seats on a series of tests and safety features, including how easy it is to read and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Thankfully, car seat makers are continually updating their products based on suggestions and ratings from the government. NHTSA's web site provides complete information about safety testing and car seat guidelines.

You can easily find a car seat that has earned all As in every category. If you work with ebay or froogle at the same time, you can also complete some of your comparison shopping online. If you have seen a car seat that you think you like at the store, check out its safety rating.