Car Seat Safety

Let me start by saying that I was a certified technicianinstall all types of aftermarket items in the seat. They
for child restraint systems for six years. During thatare really unnecessary and can dramatically reduce
time I personally inspected approximately six thousandthe safe functioning of the seat. In this case, less is
car seats. I've inspected everything from infant carriersmore.
to booster units for bigger kids. I guess you could sayThe next stage would be your convertible seat. That
that qualifies me as an expert.means it faces both rear and forward. This transition
Every one of those seats came with a parent.to the larger seat is another area that many fall prey
Parents are people and as we all know, some peopleto. Never just face the baby forward even though
will do it right and read the instructions. They eventhey may be 20 pounds but only 8 months old. This is
seek out professionals to inspect and teach them.a huge mistake. When forward facing, the child should
Then there are parents that look at a seat and thinkbe at least 1 year of age AND 20 pounds. The reason
how hard can this be; it's just a car seat, and in it goes.for that is that the body must have the strength to
They will even invent ways to secure it. Believe me,take the G forces created in a crash. This can only
they can get very imaginative.happen with time for the body to mature and be
You should purchase your seat at least one monthstronger. The two models that I like for this stage are -
ahead of the birth. See a professional certifiedthe Roundabout and the Marathon by Britax. These
technician and learn to use your equipment so everytwo offer the parent great features and benefits plus
ride is a safe ride.ease of use that is unsurpassed.
Every seat meets a federal standard, so have no fearNext they will be moving to booster seats. This is still a
when you buy your seat. The thing you need to looknecessity to improve the results in safety if there
for is a seat that is user friendly.were a crash. When you're done with your convertible
If you can easily install it in a vehicle and apply theseat, move to a booster seat. I recommend the
straps to your little one, you will no doubt be moreCompass B-500. It's an excellent seat made from
confident when you use the equipment. Some seatspolystyrene and is comfortable and user friendly.
are so poorly designed that nobody can manage theI have heard parents say they felt it was just a waste
straps. They don't fit in the car well and are veryof money to keep buying seats until the age of at
difficult to get tight in a car.least 8 years old and 80 pounds, but if you want to
Remember every seat is safe. No matter what yougive your child a reasonable chance of surviving an
chose, you have a tested safety apparatus. But allaccident and reducing the chance of being severely
seats are not created equal.injured, a booster is a must.
To start your child safety choices, I recommend theUse child safety restraints, use them correctly and
Snug Ride infant car seat by Graco. I recommend thislearn how to use them from a professional certified
seat because it is easy to install and easy to use. Thetechnician.
straps work nicely and have very little drag. Do notMake every ride for your children the ride of their lives.