All you need to know about buying a baby car seat

There are many choices available when purchasing baby car seats. A large number of companies and models are available covering the child’s life cycle.

In 2001 the Federal Government began requiring new car seats and most new cars to support LATCH, or Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. When both the seat and the vehicle support LATCH, there is no need to use the seatbelt. On the other hand, there are complaints that LATCH is difficult to attach and Consumer Reports says that some perform worse than seatbelt-attached seats in crash tests. However, most people using seatbelt installation do so incorrectly. All new cars, minivans and trucks manufactured since September 2000 are required to come with a tether attachment point, which allows a strap to connect the top of the baby seat to the top of the vehicle, improving protection in a crash. The attachment point for a tether is something to note on a baby seat, and if not present this should be considered as well.

There are many factors to consider before the purchase. What is the growth range the seat supports? This should be expressed as weight and height. Will it fit the car? Factors to consider include snugly fitting the seat bottom to the car seat, whether the attachment arrangement fits the LATCH or car seat belt arrangements in the car, whether the car seat will physically fit, especially for a rear facing seat and is there leg room for children as they grow large enough to extend past the seat.

Other considerations are how easy the car seat is to move when it isn’t in place and whether it has a European style puzzle lock, which requires two pieces to fit together to secure the child. This is a safety measure, but can be disconcerting to encounter for the first time and is something you should warn others about before they try to buckle a child into the seat.

In addition, exposed metal parts that can get hot in the sun should be covered by something to prevent burning the baby. A latch which can be quickly opened, but which isn’t possible for the baby to manage is important. Are the straps placed so they will be uncomfortable in use? Is the seat well cushioned? This can hardly be overstated, especially for long periods of time in the car.

Babies need rear facing seats. These normally are rated for babies up to 20 or 30 pounds, depending on the model and manufacturer. Some models are equipped with a swiveling handle for removal from the car and use with a stroller or as a baby basket. Some models have bases, which remain in the cars when the seats are removed to facilitate easy re-installation. Some of these are marketed as travel systems and also fit into strollers that are bundled in the purchase. The correct angle, 45 degrees, is important, so some models have built in angle measurers and adjustments to protect the baby. For those who travel, the FAA recommends use of car safety seats in aircraft for children up to four years of age, so if a flight which includes the baby is planned, this should be considered when purchasing the seat. In this case, flight attendants should be able to help attach and adjust the baby seat into the aircraft seat.

Click here for Convertible Car Seat Brand names like Britax, Cosco, Evenflo, Graco

The American Academy of Pediatrics says the child should remain in a rear-facing seat until one year old and at the maximum height or weight allowed by the seat manufacturer, which is in the manual. The usual range is 28-32 inches in height and a maximum of 22-30 pounds, depending on the exact model and manufacturer. Note that an infant larger than this, but still less than a year old should remain in a rear facing seat as the neck is not yet ready for a forward facing seat.

The simplest test to use to pick a care seat is to assume that price equals quality. This is a mistake. All baby seats manufactured or sold in the US must meet stringent standards. Instead, check the seat by putting the infant in it and seeing how the straps fit, and placing it in the car to ensure the attachments are actually compatible. Carefully read the manual, as even pictures and displays of the seat may not show it used correctly. Remember, most parents incorrectly use seat belt attachments, and for best results they must be used as the engineers who designed the system intended. It is also a bad idea to buy a used baby car seat, as some baby car seats have been recalled and it is difficult to tell if a model purchased used is one of those without checking with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. You need seats that have manuals, all of their parts, a label with a date of manufacture, manufacturer and model number.

There are products on the market that extend or modify the seat belts to improve the fit. These are a bad idea. There is no federal standard and the US Government and manufacturers recommend not using these products.

Once you have installed the seat, you need to check and ensure it is indeed correctly installed. Pull out the manual and check against the instructions to ensure all is as it should be. If you can move the seat freely, you may need to install a locking clip. Place the infant in the seat and ensure the head lies back instead of flopping forward to ensure correct angle. With the infant in place, check the harness to ensure the straps are in the correct places and are flat and snug. Consider the weather, and if the baby will be in thick clothes due to cold or not, as the straps may need changing to adjust. Place blankets or other padding after the child is securely buckled to prevent the excess cloth from getting in the way. Consider having someone else check the belts against the manual for correct usage.

Infant only seats are available for prices ranging from $40 to $899.