November 26th, 2009
admin
It’s important to choose a car seat designed for your child’s age and weight to give him or her the best chance of escaping injury in a crash. There are three main types of car seats — infant car seats, infant/toddler convertible car seats, and booster seats. Below are the facts about car seat options and some tips for making educated purchasing decisions for each car-seat type:
If your baby is less than a year old, he or she must ride in a rear-facing car seat.
One choice is to buy a rear-facing infant car seat (suitable for babies up to 20lbs), that will fit your baby snugly during the first few months and often comes with a handle for easy carrying. And, if you’re looking for the utmost in convenience, select a travel system. Infant travel systems include a ready made car seat and stroller combination.
The downside to the infant car seat is that you’ll spend $60 to $150 on the seat and your child will outgrow it in 6 months to a year. You’ll have to upgrade to a convertible car seat once your baby reaches 20 lbs. If this is a concern for you, you can buy a convertible car seat that will face the rear for your newborn and can turn around to face the front for your baby once he or she reaches 20 lbs.
However, some parents feel that their newborn is “swimming” in a convertible car seat and prefer to use an infant car seat until their baby gets big enough to sit in a front-facing car seat.
No matter what you decide to use for your infant, you’ll eventually need a convertible car seat.
Regardless of the choice you make as to whether to use a convertible car seat from day one or use an infant car seat until your baby weighs 20 lbs, you’ll need to buy a convertible car seat at some point. Convertible car seats are larger than infant-only car seats and are designed to grow with your child through the toddler years. Most convertible car seats fit babies up to 40 lbs (usually around age 4) and some convert to a booster car seat and are safe for children up to 80 lbs.
Convertible car seats range in price from $80 to $300.
For toddlers weighing more than 40 lbs and big kids, you’ll need a booster car seat.
Booster car seats are designed for children age 3 or older who weigh at least 40 lbs. They are designed to use your car’s lap and shoulder seat belts. They literally boost your child into a position that makes it safe to use the car’s seat belt system.
Booster car seats are essential to your child’s safety because using your car’s seat belts on a child without a booster seat can actually cause injury. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that children who’ve outgrown their convertible car seats use a booster car seat until they are 8 years old and 4 feet 9 inches tall.
Some booster seats provide back support and you should choose one of these options if your vehicle seat is low or has no head restraint. A backless option is fine for vehicle seats that offer plenty of support behind the head.
Booster car seats range in price from $60 to $200.
By: Bob Russell
Categories: Travel Baby Tags: Babies, Booster Seats, Convenience, Convertible Car Seats, Crash, Decisions, Downside, Face, Front Facing Car Seat, Infant Car Seat, Infant Car Seats, Infant Toddler, One Choice, Parents, Seat Options, Seat Selection, Seat Type, Selection Tips, Travel System, Travel Systems
Strollers are seen everywhere now a days. Many parents rely for strollers in order to aid them in their daily activities. Without strollers many parents are hampered from enjoying other things in their life with their baby. As time progresses, different brands and styles of strollers have appeared in the store. A lot of features are added from time to time to ensure that the baby and the parents get only the best comfort and safety in using them. In the past, a usual baby stroller is designed for the purpose of having the baby lie flat while the mother or father pushes the wheel. Now strollers are made to suit the needs of a growing baby. Manufacturers have even created strollers with travel system in order to make traveling convenient for the baby and the parent. They have become a must-have for parents due to the convenience and safety it can offer for the baby and his or her parent.
Travel system strollers have become popular to parents nowadays. Most parents opt to buy travel system strollers as compared to the usual stroller. Travel system strollers come in different styles and colors that appeal to stylish parents. These usually come in a set that includes a baby stroller so that the parents can bring their children along when they stroll or during short walks in the park, an infant car seat used as an infant carrier and a car seat base that can be seat-belted into a vehicle. Why has a travel system stroller become a must-have for parents? Well, the travel system eliminates the hassle of waking up a sleeping infant. It provides convenience both for the parent and the baby in different ways.
But just like buying an ordinary stroller, purchasing a travel system stroller must be done carefully, taking into consideration the most important things. Buying a travel system stroller is as complicated as buying a brand new car. There are a lot of things that you have to consider.
The car seat keeps the baby safe in the car. In choosing a travel system stroller make sure you choose a car seat that fit tightly in your car. A car seat must be easy to install and use. A 5-point harness is best for infant car seats. Choose a car seat where your baby can fit and is safe and comfortable. There are cases when a ready-made travel system does not satisfy your style. You can actually design your own travel system with a car seat and a stroller separately. A parent may also choose to buy a universal stroller frame that can be snapped to the car seat bottom instead of buying a full size stroller.
For information you can visit the different reviews available in the internet to ensure that you get only the best quality for your baby’s travel system strollers. Travel system strollers are must have’s that are guaranteed to make your travel worry-free and hassle-free.
By: Michael Lavaglio
Categories: Travel Baby Tags: Baby Parents, Baby Stroller, Baby Strollers, Brand New Car, Colors, Convenience, Different Styles, Different Ways, Hassle, Important Things, Infant Car Seat, Infant Carrier, Parent Travel, Purchasing, Seat Base, Strollers Baby, Taking Into Consideration, Travel System, Walks, Wheel