Most parents understand the importance of using the car seat belts on themselves and on their children. Parents are responsible for their kids’ safety while they are driving and it is there sole responsibility to ensure that the kids have their safety belts on and well secured. Statistics show that each and every year thousands of children get injured or lose their lives in car crashes. If the safety belts are used well then the kids become safer. There are very many types of car seat safety belts and it is very easy for the parent to be overwhelmed. But if one take the time to keenly learn what they need then they will have an easier time selecting.

There are seat belts for the infants and rear-facing convertible seats. It is a rule that infants should ride rear-facing up to the age of one and should weigh at least 20 pounds. Toddlers have convertible seats and the same rule about facing rear while riding applies. This usually prevents or reduces damage in case of an accident. There are booster seats for older kids who have outgrown their forward facing car seats. The booster seat is used because the can not fit in the adult seats well. Usually they are meant to use them till they are about 4.9 inches and are between 8 and 12 years of age. The older children should use the normal car seats.

There are a few things one should consider when shopping for car safety seat. There are no seats which are safer than others. The safety level depends on how well the child fits in the seat, it should be correctly installed. The seat should fit well in the car and it is easy to use every time one is driving. It is advisable to decide on the car safety seat by the price alone because most people tend to think that the more expensive something is the more efficient or the quality is better.

When selecting a safety seat, it is good to avoid used or old seats especially if the history of the seat is not available. Seats that are too old should be avoided because they might not be at optimum state. One should look at the label for the date of manufacture and find out how long it is recommended to use it. It should not have any visible cracks on it. If the seat does not have a label with the date of manufacture and the model number then one cannot know if it is in a batch that was recalled.

A seat should come with instructions and guide lines because they help one know how to use the seat properly. The safety should not be missing some parts because they are all very necessary; there are reasons why the seat has those parts. This includes the spare parts because in case of damaging then it can be repaired. It is advisable to use these safety belts for the safety of the children and even the driver.

Never use a hand-me-down or used car seat. Safety standards change and technology continually improves. Though it might be tempting to save a little money, your child’s safety isn’t worth the risk. Accept those clothing hand-me-downs, and purchase new car seat.

Find the right seat for your child’s age and weight. There are several kinds of car seats on the market. Infant car seats or “carriers” often come with a detachable base. The base is fastened securely into the car with the seatbelt, and the carrier portion lifts out so you can take baby into the house or store. You can also purchase infant seats that clip right onto your stroller. Baby seats, for children over 20 lbs and one-year-old are larger and stay fastened into the car all the time. Booster seats can be used by children who are 4′9″ and taller.

If you travel often, make sure the car seat is FAA approved for air travel. Your child is much safer in his car seat when traveling on the airplane – if you experience turbulence, he’ll be safely buckled in.

Install the seat correctly. Infants up to 20 lbs, or under one year of age should always ride facing the rear. Make sure to follow the directions carefully for installation – many parents think they have their car seat installed properly, but haven’t followed all directions. Check out the American Academy of Pediatrics website for proper installation instructions, along with other tips: http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm

Check to see if your car seat has been recalled. You can call the Auto Safety Hotline at 888/DASH-2-DOT (888/327-4236) or visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/childseat.cfm.

Consider purchasing more than one car seat for your child. Properly installing a child seat can take time. If you have more than one car, or the child will be traveling often with grandparents or caregivers, purchase seats for each car. This will save you lots of time and ensure that each seat is installed correctly.

Replace car seats that have been involved in an auto accident. A moderate collision can compromise the safety of your child seat. The NHTSA considers a crash minor if all the following are true:

a. The vehicle could be driven away from the crash.

b. The vehicle door closest to the car safety seat was not damaged.

c. No one in the vehicle was injured.

d. The air bags did not go off.

e. You can’t see any damage to the car safety seat.

Always install child seats in the back seat, especially if your car is equipped with air bags. An air bag is deadly to a small child, even if they are in a safety seat. Some vehicles, such as trucks that only have one row of seats, are equipped with an on/off switch for passenger air bags. In this case, turn off the airbag.

Parents always ask which one of the car seats is the best car seats out there. The truth is the best car seat is the one that fits your baby, your budget and your vehicle. Use the following guidelines to determine which car seat is the best choice for your baby.

The Safest Car Seat – All car seats that are sold in the United States must pass the same federal crash tests. Some car seats may have extra features that make them easier to install correctly. Proper installation is the key in car seat safety. Even the cheapest car seat in the store has passed the basic crash tests and is safe for your baby when installed properly.

Car Seats Must Fit the Baby – Use your baby’s height, weight and age to choose the type of car seat to use. Rear-facing infant car seats are used through about 20 lbs. Convertible car seats are used rear-facing until baby is at least 1 year old and weighs at least 20 lbs., and forward-facing through the weight limit listed on the car seat. The baby’s head should be one inch or more below the top of the car seat when rear-facing. For front-facing seats, the tops of baby’s ears should be below the seat top.

Do the Car Seats Fit Your Vehicle – With so many vehicle styles, the seat styles change from vehicle to vehicle so be sure that the car seat fits the vehicle you are driving.  It is essential to find a car seat that can be installed tightly, with the proper angle and less than an inch of side-to-side wiggle, so check with the store to see if you can try it in the vehicle or make sure they have a great return policy so if it does not fit you can return it and find one that does.

Can You Install and Use the Car Seats Easily – The most expensive, feature-rich car seat is not safe for your baby if you don’t take the time to read the directions and install it properly every time it is used. Check the car seat manual to be sure you can install and use the car seat as it is intended. Can you adjust the harness to secure baby in the car seat? Choose a car seat that you will use according to the instructions.

The best way to keep baby safe in the car is to use a car seat with the most crash protection for as long as it fits your baby.

Visit www.BabyAgeOnline.com to see the selection of the best car seats.

When it comes to the safety of your children there is simply no room for errors. All it takes is one issue for something to go horribly wrong. Car seat safety is absolutely essential for the safety of children as you are traveling by car. Car accidents are a leading cause of death for children. It is up to parents to do all that they can to reduce those numbers. Car seats are often in the news for various reasons. Parents do not need any more to worry about than they already have. Take the initiative with car seat safety in your vehicle. 

There are so many different brands and styles of car seat to choose from that it can be overwhelming when standing in the store looking at them all. Try looking up various brands online in order to learn more about them. Once you become familiar with the names and what some of them are offering, you will be able to analyze them for yourself. It is important to choose your child’s car seat based on things like comfort, personal preference and of course, safety. You will also want it to be a good fit for your baby so they are not slumped over or bent in any way. 

Infants must always be placed so that they are rear facing. Usually they should be this way for up to one year. It is much safer for them, especially if there are passenger airbags in the vehicle. Do not place your infant car seat on a seat that has airbags. They can be incredibly dangerous to small children due to the pressure exerted when they deploy. It is essential that you follow the guidelines on your car seat for optimum safety. Neglecting to do so could put your child at risk. 

Read over the instructions that is included with the car seat when you purchase it. It’s very important to make note of all cautions and directions. Do not simply try to install the seat yourself without reading instructions first. You can easily make a mistake that you will overlook because you do not know it’s a mistake. If you’re really not sure about the installation, have a professional help you. Most police stations or health centers will be able to help you with this. 

You may want to do an online search for potential recalls before you make a purchase. Recalls happen quite often for one reason or another. Make sure that a brand or model you are interested in is safe and not under some kind of recall. Consumer review sites can be especially helpful for finding out this type of information. 

Children that are under 12 years of age should always ride in the backseat no matter what. Many parents make the mistake of allowing them in the front seat but that could be deadly if an accident occurred. Child safety is no place to cut corners. Do all you can to make sure your entire family is riding in safe comfort.