| Start looking at baby car seats well before | | | | For newborn babies and babies up to around 15 |
| your baby is born. You dont want to get | | | | months use a rear-facing car safety seat. You |
| caught out if your baby is born preterm. | | | | can get rear-facing seats that are |
| Youll need a baby car seat before you leave | | | | convertible which means you can use them as |
| hospital. | | | | front facing seats once your infant is big |
| | | | enough to travel forward facing safely. |
| Every year thousands of young children loose | | | | Rear-facing seats which are safe up to 22 |
| their lives or sustain serious injuries which | | | | pounds are suitable for babies up to 6-9 |
| could have been prevented if through the | | | | months and rear-facing seats which are safe |
| correct use of car seats and safety belts. | | | | up to 29 pounds are suitable for babies up to |
| | | | 12-15 months. |
| When choosing a baby car seat dont make your | | | | |
| decision based on price alone, all seats | | | | Once your infant has reached 12 months of age |
| available to purchase in the USA meet very | | | | and weighs at least 20 pounds he can safely |
| strict safety standards but added features in | | | | travel in a forward facing seat. If you have |
| higher price baby car seats may make them | | | | a convertible seat you can just switch to |
| easier to use (thus avoiding fitting errors) | | | | using it as a forward facing seat. Otherwise |
| or even safer than the cheaper options. | | | | you can look at a built in, combination or |
| | | | forward facing seats which are usually |
| Always use a car safety seat that is the | | | | suitable for infants up to 40 pounds (4 |
| right size for your baby, infant or child. | | | | years). |
| You will need to change your car safety seat | | | | |
| as they grow. | | | | Many states now have booster seat laws with |
| | | | children between 4 6 or 4 - 8 years |
| The safest place for your baby / child to | | | | (depending on the state) having to use |
| ride is in the back and you must never place | | | | booster seats by law. |
| your baby in a rear facing baby seat in the | | | | |
| front of a vehicle with a passenger air bag. | | | | There are many booster seats available with |
| | | | some suitable for infants weighing just 20 |
| For all car safety seats make sure you follow | | | | pounds (9 months) but are generally geared |
| the manufacturers instructions to the letter. | | | | towards children from 4 years old ( 33 pounds |
| Ensuring your babys safety while traveling is | | | | or more) up to 11 years. |
| an essential part of baby care and it is not | | | | |
| something over which you should become | | | | Booster cushions are suitable for children |
| complacent. | | | | weighing 48 pounds or more (6 11 years of |
| | | | age). |