Car Seat Safety Tips

Just be sure the vehicle seat is moved as far back away from the dashboard as possible. Move the harness shoulder straps to the slots or position that is at or just above your child’s shoulders. Check the graco booster seat instructions that came with the seat to be sure you are positioning the shoulder straps correctly. The Maxi-Cosi Coral XP Infant Car Seat ($399.99) is a super innovative seat and the first of its kind.

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For those who frequently take taxis, the Pipa is a breeze to install in any car without the base. We test, evaluate, and compare the latest graco travel system car seat models so you and your family can have peace of mind. Gone are the days of young ‘uns loaded in the back of the station wagon .

Children should use a car seat or booster seat until adult seatbelts fit them properly. The majority of kids won’t be able to use an adult seatbelt safely until they are about 10 or 11 years old. Infant-only safety seats are convenient because they’re designed to double as carriers, chairs, or rockers when not used in the car. Many models detach right from the base, letting you leave the base installed in the car. If your baby is in the infant safety seat outside of the car, never put the seat on a high surface like a kitchen counter, a dresser, or changing. Infant-only seats are designed to protect babies from birth until they reach up to 35 pounds , depending on the model.

Car Seats

Toddler booster seats are similar to convertible car seats in that they transition with your child from one stage to the next. They come equipped with a five-point harness for smaller children to wear in the forward-facing position but also work with the car’s own seat belt system once the child reaches the appropriate weight. Typical weight limits for toddler booster seats are 30 pounds to 120 pounds. As the name suggests, the all-in-one car seat covers all of your child’s car seat needs, and it can install in both rear- and forward-facing positions. It transitions from infant car seat to forward-facing toddler car seat to booster seat. In the rear-facing position, an all-in-one car seat safely holds babies as small as 4 pounds.

Follow these important steps to choose the right seat, install it correctly and keep your child safe. The headrest and harness can be adjusted together while your child is in the seat, making getting just the right fit much less of a struggle than with other similar car seats. If your baby will be riding in multiple vehicles, transferring an infant car seat is also much easier than uninstalling and reinstalling a convertible seat. Just be sure to purchase an additional car seat base so you can quickly click the infant car seat into the backseat base and go.

Read your vehicle owner’s manual for more information about the airbags in your vehicle. Read your car safety seat instructions and the vehicle owner’s manual for guidance on placing the seat next to a side airbag. Can be used rear facing and, later, “converted” to forward facing for older children when they outgrow either the weight limit or the length limit for rear facing. Convertible seats are bulkier than infant seats, however, and they do not come with carrying handles or separate bases and are designed to stay in the car. Once you get your infant car seat, be sure to test it out in your car right away before removing the tags or throwing away the box. You’ll want to make sure it’s a good fit in your vehicle, that you can get a safe, proper installation and that it lives up to your expectations.

One of its most prominent features is the chest clip, which sits at armpit level across the baby’s chest. Proper position is important to keep your baby safe and to reduce injuries. Infant car seats are designed for babies who weigh between 4 and 40 pounds. These seats are installed in a rear-facing position in a car’s back seat to keep your baby safe and comfortable. These car seats often come with a base and a carrier to make it easier to get the child and the seat in and out while also making it easier to transport your child as you run errands.