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Child Car Seat |
The Child Car Seat – Making Sense of the Different Types
The term child car seat can be a bit confusing. It is used in a general sense to refer to car
seats for kids ranging from infant to young child. It also is used in a specific sense to refer to a
particular type of car seat suitable only for young children.
There are three major types of car seats for children: infant car seats, toddler car seats, and booster seats.
Infant car seats are designed only to hold babies. They are typically designed for babies
ranging from 5 to 22 pounds and up to 26-inches. The infant car seat is a rear facing child car seat that
almost always double as an infant carrier. It can be lifted in and out of your car while your baby is
strapped into the seat with the built-in harness. Most will snap into a removable base you can leave
installed in your vehicle. According to safety experts the middle of your vehicle’s back seat is the
safest place to install an infant car seat.
The toddler car seat comes in two styles: convertible or forward-facing only. When your
baby is young the convertible child car seat is used rear facing as a non-removable infant car seat.
Later, it can be switched to forward facing after your child’s first birthday. Convertible child car
seats are sometimes called infant-toddler car seats. The forward-facing only car seat cannot be converted.
It is only intended for toddlers. Both the convertible seat and forward-facing only seat have built-in
harnesses.
A child car seat for young children is called a booster seat. It is for children between
30 and 80 pounds. Some convertible car seats can be also be used as a booster. Toddlers are secured using
the built in harness. When your child is older the convertible seat is used as a booster. As a booster
it provides height for your child to wear a standard seat belt safely. Most of these convertible car
seats have guides built in to help position the belt correctly.
Another type of booster car seat has no harness. It is also for children 30 to 80 pounds.
It raises your child up into a safe position in order to use the vehicle seat belts. Some booster car
seats will support children up to 100 pounds.
You can find a child car seat for almost any taste. They come in many styles using
materials such as cotton, denim, leather or plastic. Lots of prints, patterns and colors are available.
Some have accessories such as cushioned harnesses, cup holders, and fixed and removable side pockets.
No matter what type of child car seat you choose, always remember to follow your manufacturer's
directions when installing, and never put a child in the front seat.
Want to Know More?
 | Want to learn more about child car seats?
Click here. |
| Want to learn more about infant car seats?
Click here. |
| For more information about booster seats
Click here. |
| Don't know about LATCH? To learn about it, click here for LATCH information. |
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