: How to Choose a Car Safety Seat for a Baby
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(489 Words)
A car safety seat is going to be one of the most important purchases you ever make for your baby. You want to make sure that you get one that is safe. Consider the following tips.
Decide the type of car safety seat that you want
There are several different types of seats that you can get for your baby. One common one is to get a seat that is also a carrier. These usually will fit right into a stroller. There are very convenient because you can just take the carrier out of the car without unlatching the child (and possible waking him or her up). The problem is that these are only usually good for a very small baby so you will have to switch after not too long. There are other types of car seats that are meant to last much longer. They stay in your car and cannot be carried out. Of course, you should always get a rear facing seat for any child that is less than a year old or under twenty pounds (and they should stay rear facing for as long as possible). The car safety seats will specifically list the age and weight range for the children so many sure that this is right for your child.
Read reviews/ratings
There are both professional and customer reviews on these. You may want to look at Consumer Reports. They will give information about the car seats. Make sure that it has been tested as safe by the government. Also you can look for customer reviews at places like www.amazon.com. You can also talk to people you know to see if they have any recommendations.
Look at the brands
There are many companies that offer car safety seats such as Britax, Graco, Eddie Bauer and more. You may prefer a particular type. Also, you can look at the history of recalls by certain companies. Obviously don’t buy one that is in a current recall (usually these are pulled from the shelves but you still want to do your own research). You may want to be wary of a company that has had many recalls.
Look at the features
Different car safety seats have different features. For instance, some have better side impact protection. Don’t just trust the advertising claims, but see if you can research to find your own information.
Look at the car safety seats
You might want to go to the store and actually look at them. Some might be more plush or might be easier for you to latch together. Also, some are easier than others to clean, which may be important to you.
It is not recommended to get a used car seat. Car seats do expire. Some of them have a specific expiration date, and approximately four years is the general rule. Also make sure to have your car safety seat properly installed, either by you or a professional.
Updated On: 09/21/2010 Published On: 09/21/2010
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Updated On: 09/22/2010 Published On: 09/22/2010
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