Infant car seats should be purchased for any baby who weighs
less than 20 pounds. It can be more cost efficient to
purchase an infant-toddler car seat that can be converted
when the baby weighs more than 20 pounds. But all experts
will agree that babies are safer in infant car seat because
they are designed for the smaller baby to give support in
all the necessary places. Your baby should be comfortable.
You should get a car seat that has lots of cushioning and
plenty of head support. The Graco infant car seat is one of
the most popular car seats for infants and range in price
from $80 to $170.These are some things to look for when
you are shopping for a car seat for your infant.
It should be easy to install. It is very important that
the car seat is installed properly and according to the
manufacturer’s specifications. When buying a car seat,
remember that simpler is better. If a car seat looks like it
will be difficult to install, it probably is.
A smaller baby needs more adequate restraints to hold him
in the seat. Look for infant seats that have a five point
harness. These will have one strap for each of the baby’s
shoulders, one strap for each of his thighs, and one between
his legs. These straps are safer for an infant since they
are more adjustable than plastic shields or T-bar
restraints.
Avoid car seats that require you to fasten the seatbelt
in the rear of the seat. The seatbelt adjustment should be
easy to reach.
It must have the right anchors. Starting in September
2002, all new infant safety seats had to be compatible with
the LATCH system (LATCH is short for Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children). Rather than using a seatbelt to hold
the infant seat in place, this system uses two anchors for
the bottom of the seat and a one tether for the top of the
seat. This makes installation of the seat easier and safer
because the seat is attached directly to the car.
Babies are always a mess. Consider purchasing a seat with
a removable infant car seat cover so that you can keep the
car seat clean. It may be tough to find this feature because
many car seats do not come with removable infant car seat
covers. Be sure to check the car seat you are purchasing to
see if the car seat cover can be removed.
The most important thing to consider what buying a car
seat for your infant is safety. Remember, the car seat
should be easy to install, have adequate restraints, and
have the correct anchors for attaching it to the car.
