Is There A Car Seat That Is The Safest?
There are numerous variables that will affect the outcome to this answer none the less here are some guidelines.
Car seats for children come in three different styles. The forward-facing, rear-facing, and convertible all are equally safe products, simply different applications. A good illustration of a convertable car seat is the Britax Boulevard.
Rear-facing seats are safest but are usually used for infants that weight less then 20 pounds and not more then one year of age. Now, if your baby weights 20 pounds before his/her birthday it is still best for them to remain in the rear-facing car seat until they are at least one year old. A good rule of thumb is to use the seat up to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Rear-facing seats are not to be used in the front seat of a vehicle with air an air bag on the passenger side.
The forward facing seats are for children after exceeding the manufacturer’s recommendations on the rear-facing seat. When shopping for forward-facing car seats for your child , the best choice is to have several harness points allowing the child to grow without needing to replace the seat.
An example of a very safe car seat is the Britax Companion car seat.
Does it fit your vehicle?
Not all children’s car seat can be properly installed in all seating positions in every automobile. Be sure to read both the child safety seat and vehicle instructions. In general, a properly installed child safety seat must not move more than one inch to either side or forward.
Will You Install the Seat Correctly? What About Proper Instilation?
Different child safety seats vary in design and features. It is important to choose one that both you and your child are comfortable with, and one that you will correctly install and adjust for every ride.
The safest child safety seat is the one that best fits in your automobile , is the proper size for your young one and is used correctly each time. All safety seats manufactured in the U.S. must comply with the same strict safety standards. Not all car seats are the same size, the Britax Companion is rather bulky and may not fit in all automobiles.
You Should Avoid Used Child Safety Seats
A car seat that has been involved in car crash may have been damaged structurally that is not easy to see. Seats involved in a crash should be replaced. Auto insurance company may cover the cost of replacing your damaged car seat.
It is always the best policy to use a new safety seat for your child. That is the only way to guarantee you have a safe seat.However, if considering a second-hand seat, it is important to get a full history of the seat from the previous owner(s). Other critical questions to ask are: Has the seat been involved in a crash? Has a recall been issued for the seat? Is the seat too old (more than 6 years)? Does the seat have all the necessary parts?
You can use these guidelines to help ensure that you get the safest seat possible fory you child.