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When you have a new baby, it is important to have the right
baby car seat. It needs to be installed correctly in order to
best protect your baby in the event of a car accident. Most
hospitals won’t discharge a mom and new baby until they see the
car seat. Baby car seat safety is important, so hospitals
usually give you step-by-step instructions which guide baby car
seats into a spot in the back seat for your baby.
The easiest kind of baby car seats are the kind that have a base that gets
buckled securely into the car, and the seat itself can be lifted
off and carried around by the handle. This is very convenient
because the baby can be carried to and from the house or
wherever one is going while strapped into the seat. These infant
seats usually will only be safe for transporting babies facing
backward, until the age of one year. When the baby is 18 pounds,
and at least one year old, it is time for a forward-facing baby
car seat. Plus, by the time the baby is that old, and weighs 18
pounds, he will be too heavy to lug around that way! You will
want to get the baby out of the baby car seat, and carry him, or
he may even be walking by then!
Another kind of baby car seat is called a convertible car seat.
Many of these baby car seats can be placed in the
backward-facing position for when babies grow out of their
infant seats, but are not yet old enough, or at a heavy enough
weight to sit facing forward. Then, the convertible baby car
seat can be turned to face forward, and will seat the baby until
the baby is 40 pounds or more. These have a 5-point harness that
is buckled at the bottom and the chest.
Once the baby reaches 40 pounds, he will move to a booster seat.
This seat is a small base that keeps the child secure, while
allowing him to use the regular seat belt. The child can sit in
this seat until he weighs 80 pounds!
Many kinds of infant car seats are available and it's
overwhelming to decide which guide for baby car seats to follow.
It would be beneficial to read a safety review of baby car seats
just to be sure you get the one that is right for you and your
baby.
Regardless of what kind of baby car seat or booster you are
using, the place for babies and children under 12 years of age
is always in the back seat of the car. The center of the back is
the safest place to sit. Airbags in the front can injure a small
child, so never seat a child under the age of 12 in the front
seat. |
