Sunday, December 25, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Features That Every Baby Car Seat Should Have
While it used to be enough just have any kind of baby car seat, there now are specific features that every car seat should have. After all, the most important thing in many people's lives is their baby. So why not keep them as safe as possible? When shopping for a baby car seat, you will find hundreds of thousands of models and brands to choose from. It can be complicated and almost discouraging shopping for one without knowing what to look for. Luckily, there are some specific features that can help you make the right decision.
The first feature to look for is a 5-point harness. Within the market you will find two different kinds of seats, a 3-point harness and a 5-point harness. A 5-point harness is an upgrade and will secure your baby a little better than the 3-point harness. Not only will it secure your baby better, but it will provide more of a protection against ejection.
The next feature that is a must is some kind of head protection. All baby car seats should have some kind of head protection today, but the amount of protection provided depends on the seat. Increased impact will help provide extra safety when it comes to side-impact crashes. One of the better kinds of head protection you will find on the market today is a layer of EPS foam or something similar.
You will see that most car seats have a metal locking clip on them. The reason for this is to ensure that the seatbelt holding the seat in place does not loosen during the car ride. The problem is that many parents do not know how to properly use this clip. If you can find a car seat with a built-in locking clip, it is much easier to use and will provide a tight grip keeping your child safe. Speaking of clips, a two-piece chest clip is much safer than a one-piece clip that is found on most generic baby car seats. A two-piece will help minimize the possibility of ejection during a crash when it is used properly. Having a two-piece clip also makes it harder for the baby to reach their chest, thus eliminating the chance of them loosening it.
The last thing you will want to look at prior to purchasing your car seat is what kind of seatbelt system your car has. Some car seats have several different seatbelt installation options while others have just what your car has to offer. Therefore, know what system your car has so that you can look for a car seat that is compatible with that system.
