Baby Care and Parenting Tips

The invention of the automobile caused great strides and significant advances in the realm of human societal development. This extremely momentous technological breakthrough created and provided tremendous strides for the development of human life and the standards by which we live. These advances, while great and no doubt helpful in their own right, must be applied and used as carefully and as certainly as possible, as these may be dangerous if applied with no regard for safety and care. The automobile is no exception to this concept. The use of Britax car seats is one such step to providing safety to rein in such a technological marvel as the automobile.

The use of reliable car seats is the best method of providing for the safety and wellbeing of children, bar none. Before the invention of these car seats, children were either left unrestrained inside the automobile or were strapped in with adult seat restraints. Due to this severe lack of awareness as regards child safety, the death rate of children and infants in automobile related mishaps is overwhelming. Statistics show that over 2,100 children or infants die in automobile accidents every year, while an even greater number, numbering around 300,000, are otherwise injured. The sad fact, however, is this: the mishaps and accidents are by no means unavoidable. Most occur due to the lack of awareness on the part of the supervising adult as regards the true matter of their children’s safety in the car. Most, if not all, the accidents are due to the child being left unrestrained. Adult restraints like the seat belt just won’t cut it for our children. The use of child safety seats is a non-negotiable truth for the proper transportation of children and infants in automobiles. Britax car seats guarantee children’s safety everywhere.

How do you compare Britax car seats? Let us first work under this assumed fact: by no means are car seats made by inferior brands on the same level as those made by Britax. Generally, child safety seats have been classified according to the age group they were designed for. The three normal types in this form of classification are: Infant Seats, Convertible Seats, and Booster Seats. Britax sar seats follow this same convention, with the addition or modification of the classic Convertible Seats and Booster Seats.

Infant Seats: These seats are obviously designed for infant’s use. These seats are designed to be rear-facing, in accordance with studies that show such a design provides more safety for users. Britax provides two choices, the Chaperone and the Chaperone Base. Convertible Seats: Britax has two types of this kind of car seat, the Next-Generation Convertible Car Seats and their Classic Convertible. The only difference is that the former can manage to install a five-point harness for use all throughout the toddler years. They are so named because one can convert them from rear-facing to forward-facing use. Booster Seats: Britax again provides two distinct choices for this type, the Combination Harness 2 Booster and the Belt-Positioning Booster Seats. These car seats are designed for the simultaneous use of the car’s own restraints. The choice of what seat is proper lies in the age of the child concerned.

Your doctor will stress that your child should always ride in a safety car seat, but what’s best for my child. Well all situation are different and not every car seat will work for every child. So here are some tips and facts about the different types of car seats that might help you in buying the best car seat. Once your child is at least 1 year old and weighs at least 20 pounds, she can ride forward facing in her car seat. Although, studies show that it is still safer for her to ride rear facing for as long as she can comfortably do so.

There are 5 types of car safety seats that can be used forward facing.

1. Convertible seats are ones that can be used rear facing or forward facing.

2. Forward facing toddler seats can only be used forward facing with a harness. These are for children who weigh up to 80 pound. You must check the specifications on each model, because some can only be used up to 40 pounds.

3. There are car seats that can be used forward facing or as a booster. These are called a combination forward facing/booster seat. These car seats can be used forward facing for children weighing up to 40 to 65 pounds, depending on the model. They can be used as a booster car seat without the harness for children weighing up to 80 to 100 pounds.

4. Some vehicles are made with forward facing car seats built right in. Read your vehicle owner’s manual to find out the weight and height limits for your particular vehicle. They will vary.

5. Travel vests are a pretty new product on the market. They are a safe alternative for forward facing child car seats. Travel vests can be useful when you have a vehicle with only lap seat belts in the back seat. They are great to move from vehicle to vehicle, so you do not have to take your car seat in and out. If you have a small car, they don’t take up much room. Travel vests are used for large toddlers who can no longer fit in a traditional car safety seat or for children who just simply will not stay in their car seat. They can be used for children between 20 pounds all the way up to 168 pounds.

Installation tips for forward-facing seats

1. The car safety seat must be installed tightly in the car. The harness should fit snug against your child.

2. When rear facing, the shoulder straps must be in the slot at or below your child’s shoulders. To switch a convertible seat to forward facing, you must move the shoulder straps to the slots at or above your child’s shoulders.

3. With some car seats you may have to adjust the angle of the seat to recline.

4. Vehicles made after 2002 should come with the LATCH system. This is used to secure car safety seats. If you have this, it should be used. It keeps the car seat more secure than an ordinary seat belt. Check your owners manual for your vehicle to find out where your tether anchors are located in your car. Use your manual for you particular safety car seat to learn how to use this system with your car seat.

Always use your manual and your car seats specification when using and installing it. Remember, even though you think your little one is big enough to ride with just a seat belt, statistics show they are not. Even children from the age of 4 to 8 years should be in a booster seat. So keep your child safe and use a safety seat.