Infant Car Seats
One of the most important purchases you can make before going into labor is a Rear Facing Infant Car Seat. In states where it is the law for children to ride in a Car Seat, the hospitals will not let you leave with your baby without one.
- Read More About Rear Facing Infant Car Seats Below -
To keep your baby safe in the automobile, it is recommended that you use a rear facing Car Seat from birth to 22 pounds, or until 12 months old. A good rule is to leave your baby in a rear facing Car Seat until they either outgrow the weight limit or the top of their head is within an inch of the top of the shell of the carseat. Age should not be a factor.
It is best if the Car Seat is put in the middle of the back seat. That is the safest place for your child to be in an automobile. If that is not possible, make sure you do not have passenger side air bags. If you do, the air bag must be turned off.
Convertible Car Seats can be either rear or front facing. Some can also be used as a booster seat. The advantage of Convertible Car Seats is they can be used throughout many stages of your child's life. However, convertibles aren't considered the best choice for a newborn because the bottom harness slots are often above the shoulders of most newborns. If you want to use a Convertible Car Seat from birth, choose one with low bottom harness slots.
