A baby car seat is mandatory and the first priority for a baby. If you’re close to being a replacement parent then buying a baby/infant seat should get on your to try to list. A seat is going to be required to bring your new baby home from the hospital than for the other time that your precious one takes a car trip.
Every state requires that children up to 4 years old are securely strapped in a car seat while riding in a car. In addition, most states require that older children ride in a booster seat.
Baby car seats come with many different features; some for safety and some for convenience. And, some are just plain frills. Here are some features that you should consider before you buy:
Reclining Positions
Some of the convertible car seats come with as many as 5 reclining positions. When your child naps in the car and is forward-facing then the multiple adjustments can keep smaller children correctly inclined. When rear-facing the seat should be adjusted to a proper angle in order to keep your baby’s airway clear.
Basic: A single “foot”. A car seat with the simplest of recline feature allows a rear-facing seat to be adjusted to a single angle and is usually used to just change the seat between the rear and forward-facing orientations.
Better: A car seat with multiple recline adjustments help you to get the correct rear-facing angle and can be used to make your child more comfortable when forward-facing.
Reclining Level Indicators
If you want the best then chose one where the indicator is easy to read and appears on both sides of the car seat. The indicators show you when the seat is sufficiently reclined while in a rear-facing position. Getting this angle correct is so important because it allows an infant’s airway to be open. In addition, it keeps a sleeping child’s head from falling forward while traveling. Of course, when using these indicators you need to be sure that your car is parked on level ground.
Basic: A basic recline indicator is a line or other indicator on the car seat that is positioned level to the ground which indicates the seat is in the correct recline position. This type of indicator may not be that precise.
Better: A better type indicator is a ball or bubble-type indicator. This type indicator provides an easier-to-read indication of when the seat is properly reclined. Even better is when you can get the indicators on both sides of the seat.
Harnesses
With harnesses, you’ve got the three-point harness that has two shoulder straps that close at a buckle within the shell or a crotch strap. Your other choice is the five-point harness systems that have two straps over the shoulders, two for the thighs and a crotch strap. The five-point harness system is more secure than a three-point system because the extra straps spread the forces of a crash more evenly across your child’s body. The additional thigh and crotch straps help prevent the child from sliding out of the harness when a crash occurs.