How to Choose the Right Car Seat for Your Precious Cargo

When you are shopping for your baby’s first car seat, there is always a lot of pressure. They are precious cargo and you want to offer them the best protection that fits in your budget. With the millions of options available on the market, how do you know which baby car seat will be right for your little one? Take the following list of questions with you the next time you go shopping and you may just find the ideal car seat for your little one.

Does it Fit Your Baby?

There are several different categories that car seats are divided into. The most important categories to recognize include infant car seats, convertible car seats, all-in-one car seats and booster seats. If your baby is a newborn, you have several options of rear-facing car seats. The first, which most parents opt for, is an infant seat. This seat is designed specifically for use with infants only and is always used rear-facing in the car. This type of car seat is lightweight and has a carrying handle so you'll find you can transport your baby from one place to another without disturbing their sleep.

Another choice of car seat for an infant is a convertible car seat, which is used in the rear-facing position for infants, then converts to the forward-facing position for toddlers. Although convertible seats lack most of the convenience features common to infant seats, they're an economical way to provide protection, as one seat can generally accommodate your child up to 65 pounds.

Also, available are all-in-one car seats that offer protection for newborns up to 100 lbs. By converting from rear-facing restraint to a forward facing restraint using the internal five-point harness and then transitioning to a belt-positioning booster for children 40 pounds and up.

Read the specifications on car seats you’re interested in to see which is best to accommodate your little one. 

Does it Fit Your Vehicle?

Not every car seat will fit every vehicle, particularly if you have several car seats you need to fit into your vehicle. To make purchasing a car seat easier, many stores will allow parents to check that the car seat fits in their vehicle prior to purchase. It is important when you are checking the fit of the car seat in your vehicle that you take into consideration the needs of all the passengers.

Is it Easy to Use?

The best car seat is one that fits your child, fits your vehicle and that you will use correctly every time. When browsing the product specifications on a car seat you’re interested in, make sure you look for features that make installation easier for you. New advances in technology have made installation easier through the use of Lower Anchors and Tethers (LATCH), multiple adjustment harnesses, upfront recline and angle indicators.

While installation can seem complicated, if you choose a car seat from a company that offers installation videos, the process doesn’t have to be intimidating.

Your local fire department will even inspect your newly installed car seat to ensure it will offer your child the protection it was designed to offer.



ref: evenflo.com

Top 10 Toddler Car Seats from Amazon.com (August 2012)

Top Rated in Forward Facing Child Safety Car Seats

 

These are top 10 toddler car seats rated in amazon.com by august 2012.

1.Evenflo Symphony 65 E3 All in One Car Seat, Cicero

by Evenflo

 

2.Maxi-Cosi Pria 70 Convertible Car Seat, Intense Red

by Maxi-Cosi

 

3.Maxi-Cosi Pria 70 Convertible Car Seat, Total Black

by Maxi-Cosi

 

4.Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat, Matrix

by Graco Baby

 

5.Kiddy Cruiserfix Pro Car Seat, Lavendar

by Kiddy

 

6.Kiddy Cruiserfix Pro Car Seat, Walnut

by Kiddy

 

7.Kiddy Cruiserfix Pro Car Seat, Rumba

by Kiddy

 

8.Kiddy Cruiserfix Pro Car Seat, Phantom

by Kiddy

 

9.Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 Car Seat, Valerie

by Graco

 

10.Cybex Aton Car Seat in Eclipse

by Cybex 

ref: amazon.com

Top 10 Convertible Car Seats Best Sellers (August 2012)

Best Sellers in Convertible Car Seats (August 2012)

 

1.Britax Marathon 70-G3 Convertible Car Seat, Onyx

by Britax

 

 

 

2.Evenflo Tribute 5 Convertible Car Seat, Saturn

by Evenflo

 

 

 

 

3.Diono RadianR100 Convertible Car Seat, Stone

by Diono

 

 

 

 

4.Britax Boulevard 70-G3 Convertible Car Seat, Onyx

by Britax

 

 

 

 

5.Britax Boulevard 70-G3 Convertible Car Seat, Silver Birch

by Britax

 

 

 

 

6.Evenflo Tribute Sport Convertible Car Seat, Daisy Doodle

by Evenflo

 

 

 

 

7.Britax Marathon 70-G3 Convertible Car Seat, Cowmooflage

by Britax

 

 

 

 

8.Britax Marathon 70-G3 Convertible Car Seat, Waverly

by Britax

 

 

 

 

9.Britax Roundabout 55 Convertible Car Seat, Onyx

by Britax

 

 

 

10.Britax Marathon 70-G3 Convertible Car Seat, Azalea

by Britax

 

 

ref: amazon.com 

 

Get a free Car Seat from Britax

Britax Registry Rewards Program

Through April 2, 2013 you can get a free Britax Boulevard 70 car seat from Britax when you send in the UPC barcodes from five qualifying items, one from each category listed below. To take advantage of this great offer, please print out and complete the Britax Registry Rewards rebate form and then mail it and the UPCs to the address provided on the form. See all rules and details here.

For an even greater value, take advantage of FREE Super Saver Shipping (restrictions apply) and Amazon Prime (restrictions apply).


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Top 10 infant car seats 2012

Top 10 infant car seats 2012 from diapers.com

Britax B-Safe / Click for more detail 

1. Britax B-Safe Infant Car Seat

It’s an infant car seat that’s easy on baby and parents. It has an ergonomically designed handle for easy carrying to and from the car or stroller. And baby will be comfy too with an extra large canopy, comfort pad, harness pads and energy-absorbing foam liner. It also fits all Britax B-series strollers. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat

Chicco KeyFit 30 / Click for more detail

It’s not only functional, 

it’s downright stylish too 

— and also an ever popular option 

for travel systems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graco SnugRide 22 / Click for more detail

 

3. Graco SnugRide 22 Infant Car Seat

Style and comfort make it a classic times two! 

Compared to the Graco SnugRide 30 and 35, 

this model accommodates baby up to 22 pounds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Graco SnugRide 30 Infant Car Seat

Graco SnugRide 30 / Click for more detail

Baby is in for a safe and snug ride 

with the classic Graco SnugRide 30. 

It's easy on parents too with an 

easy-to-install and easy-to-carry design. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Britax Chaperone / Click for more detail

 

 

 

 

5. Britax Chaperone Infant Car Seat

From the famous manufacturer of convertible car seats, this infant carrier can be used with the new Britax strollers. It’s also certified for aircraft travel so baby can take off in comfort.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Maxi-Cosi Mico Infant Car Seat

Maxi-Cosi Mico / Click for more detail

This European-designed carrier is light on your arms and back at just under 8.5 pounds. Plus, we hear that in Europe, "Maxi-Cosi" is used as a generic name for an infant car seat — it’s that much of a classic! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graco SnugRide 35 / Click for more detail

 

 

 

 

7. Graco SnugRide 35 Infant Car Seat

It’s a favorite that's classic in every way! And the 35-pound weight capacity is a sweet bonus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Evenflo Discovery Infant Car Seat

Evenflo Discovery / Click for more detail

The Z-shaped handle makes this car seat easy to carry wherever you go. Other innovative features include a pivoting canopy for ultimate shade. And at such a great price, you might want to get a backup one for a second car!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peg Perego Primo Viaggio / Click for more detail

9. Peg Perego Primo Viaggio

The headrest and padding are made of microfiber cloth that stays dry and allows proper ventilation. It has also been a mom favorite for many years and is consistently high-ranked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Baby Trend Flex Loc Infant Car Seat

Baby Trend Flex Loc / Click for more detail

True to its name, this car seat is all about flexibility. The base has flexible "Flex-Loc" latch straps, plus a 4-position, push-button height adjustable base. And the no-scratch carry handle makes carrying baby easy as can be. 

 ref: diapers.com

Which car seats suit to my baby?

Baby Car Seats Classifications

How can you choose the right kind of car seats to suit to your baby in this age?
Here are groups of car seats by age and weight of your baby.

Group 0

Group 0 baby seats, or infant carriers, keep the baby locked up in a rear-facing position and are secured in place by a standard adult seat belt and/or an ISOFIX fitting.
Group 0 carrycots hold the baby laying on its back.
Carrycots are secured by both seat belts in the rear seat of the car. Both types have handles to allow them to be easily moved into and out of the car.

• Position: Laying (in carrycots), rear facing (in infant carriers), no airbag (with the exception of curtain airbags).
• Recommended weight: Birth to 10 kg (22 lb)
• Approximate age: Birth to 12 month

Group 0+

Group O+ car seats commonly have a chassis permanently fixed into the car by an adult seat belt and can be placed into a pushchair using the integral handle if it is the specific model. Rear-facing child seats are inherently safer than forward-facing child seats because they provide more support for the child's head in the event of a sudden deceleration.  Although some parents are eager to switch to a forward-facing child seat because it seems more "grown up," various countries and car seat manufacturers recommend that children continue to use a rear-facing child seat for as long as physically possible.

• Position: Sitting, rear facing, no airbag(with the exception of curtain airbags).
• Recommended weight: Birth (2–3 kg) to 13 kg (29 lb).
• Approximate age: Birth to 15 months

Convertible seats

Convertible seats can be used throughout many stages. Many convertible seats will transition from a rear-facing seat, to a forward-facing seat, and some then can be used as a booster seat. Many convertible seats allow for 5-35 lb. rear-facing, allowing children to be in the safer rear-facing position up to a weight of 35 pounds.
Convertible safety seats can be installed as either rear-facing or forward-facing. There is a large selection available to choose from and weight limits, height limits, and extra features vary from seat to seat and by manufacturer. Seats with a 5-point harness are considered safer than those with an overhead shield
Convertibles aren't considered the best choice for a newborn because the bottom harness slots are often above the shoulders of most newborns. A seat with low bottom harness slots can be used if it is desired to use a convertible from birth.
Rear-facing weight limits range from 20 to 35 lb (9.1 to 16 kg) depending on the manufacturer and country of origin. Forward-facing limits range from 17.6 to 65 lb (8.0 to 29 kg) depending on the seat model and the manufacturer and country of origin.
Most convertible seats in the U.S. have at least a 30 lb rear-facing weight limit, most now to go to 35 lbs, some 40 lbs, and a few 45. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children remain rear-facing until they outgrow their convertible seat, regardless of how old they are. Children can remain in a rear-facing seat until they have either outgrown the weight limit for their seat, or the top of their head is within an inch of the top of the shell of the car seat.

Group 1

A permanent fixture in the car using an adult seat belt to hold it in place and a five-point baby harness to hold the infant.

• Position: Sitting, recommended rear facing but forward facing is legal, no airbag (with the exception of curtain airbags).
• Recommended weight: 9 to 18 kg (20 to 40 lb)
• Approximate age: 9 months to 4 years (Although older children can fit too sometimes)

It is recommended that children sit rear-facing for as long as possible. In Scandinavian countries, for example, children sit rear-facing until around 4-years-old. Rear-facing car seats are significantly safer in frontal collisions, which are the most likely to cause severe injury and death. Rear facing group 1 car seats are becoming more widespread but are still difficult to source in many countries.

 

Group 2

A larger seat than the Group 1 design. These seats use an adult seat belt to hold the child in place.

• Position: Sitting, forward-facing or rear-facing (make sure the seat is certified for up to 25 kg)
• Recommended weight: 15 kg to 25 kg (33 lb to 55 lb)
• Approximate age: 4 to 6 years (Although older children can sometimes fit)

 

 

 

Group 3

Also known as booster seats, these position the child so that the adult seat belt is held in the correct position for safety and comfort.

• Position: Sitting, forward-facing
• Recommended weight: 22 kg to 36 kg (48 lb to 76 lb)
• Approximate age: 4 to 10, and above if the child is not 36 kg yet

ref: wikipedia.org