Features of a Great Child Safety Seat

Every parent's ultimate concern is baby safety. The most important part of that plan is to choose the best seat for the particular car. Here are a few things to look for when trying to find that perfect model.

The first considerations are age and weight. Infants under age one should be provided with a safety seat specifically tailored to their size. It should also be rear facing and not intended for use by older babies.

Those older than one but less than four will weigh on average between 20-40 lbs. Of course, they're also taller than small babies, and they keep increasing in height as they get older. This introduces the possibility for a car seat that faces forward, making things more convenient for the parents. It should still be installed in the back seat, though.

Convenience doesn't have to be sacrificed for any of these goals, of course. Some styles can be converted. This means that they can be switched from facing backward to facing forward with just a few moves. But don't forget about the specifications concerning weight and age.

It's essential that the car seat you use meets some minimum standards. A 5-point harness attachment design is key. This allows parents to use the car's safety restraining belt to attach the car seat at the hips, shoulders and between the legs. This gives a more secure and stable base.

It's helpful to have an overhead shield, too. These are padded covers that rotate down over the child. AT-shield is another option; this is a padded attachment for the should straps, in the shape of a T of course.

Choose a style that has a tether on top that attaches to a properly installed anchor in the car. This provides additional safety. LATCH is a system featured in some models, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. Therefore, there's no need to use the safety belts in the car which are really intended for adults and older children. The car seat attaches, instead, entirely to the anchors.

Extra safety and comfort is provided by baby car safety seats that safely allow for adding or subtracting padding or blankets. As well, parents don't have to spend as much time making adjustments to the seat for a good fit. That's a situation in which no-one loses. There are even those with an integrated travel vest to buckle around your child.

The twin concerns of convenience and safety are once again addressed by models that simplify the process of inserting and adjusting the restraining belts. Parents are busy people and it's all too easy to take an occasional shortcut. However, nobody wishes to skimp on safety. A design that requires only a few seconds to install or move the seat satisfies all those needs.