The Britax Roundabout, a popular convertible car seat.

All About Car Seats

There are three main types of car seats on the market today. First, the infant car seat is designed for the youngest of children, up to 20 or 22 pounds. Most of these seats have two parts, the base which stays strapped in to the vehicle's safety belt system and the carrier which snaps out and allows the baby to be carried without unfastening the infant from the harness (very important if Baby has finally fallen asleep!) The infant car seats are designed to be rear-facing, where the infant faces the rear of the vehicle. It is important for infants to be seated rear facing for the first year of life, until the muscles of the neck are strong enough to withstand the force an accident could impose on them.

A second type of car seat is called the convertible seat, and is designed for newborns through toddlers, or up until 40 pounds. This seat is designed to be used rear-facing for the first year of life, or up until the weight restrictions (usually 30 pounds). After this, the seat can face forward until the child reaches the upper weight limit, usually 40 pounds, although some car seats can be used longer. The most popular type of harness system for infants and toddlers is the five-point system, where the child is clipped by a series of three clips designed to evenly disperse the force of impact. The five-point system is highly recommended, although other systems (such as the three-point or overhead bar) may still be available.

After the child graduates from the convertible seat, it's time for a booster seat. These seats no longer use a separate harness system, the child and seat are both strapped directly into the vehicle's seat belt. The booster is designed to raise the child up in the seat so the vehicle's harness can function correctly. Booster seats should be used until the child is 80 pounds, at which time the child will be ready for the use of the regular seat belt. While some boosters are rated for children as light as 30 pounds, it is important to keep children in the 5-point restraint systems for as long as possible.

Car Seat Laws for Canada

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CarSeatZone.com / Child Car Seat Laws

... com / Child Car Seat Laws Home > Child Car Seat Laws Whats Hot! Whats New! Top Rated Bookmark Add Link Categories Airline Child Car Seats Baby Stroller Car Seats Britax Car Seats Car ...

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CAR SEAT LAWS for United States and Canada

Car Seat Laws for the 50 States and Canada. Safety hints. Actual regulations, and those of your neighbors. Check it out before you travel! ... you heard that the Car Seat Laws are changing ...

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Car Seat State Laws

Most state car seat laws aren't keeping up with recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and other organizations that ...

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Safety Belt Safe USA

Nonprofit organization promotes the correct, consistent use of car seats and safety belts. Provides consultation to parents and businesses.

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Child Passenger Safety

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State Car Seat Laws and What's Safe

...Parenting> Safety> Car Seats> State Car Seat Laws and What's Safe.. Home..Essentials.....aren't tracked as to whether or not a child was wearing a car seat, it is ...

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AAP - Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families - 2005

Is the child buckled into the car safety seat correctly? Are you using the correct harness slots? Are the harnesses snug?

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New York State Child Car Seat Law

Find out about the New York State child car seat laws

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Child Car Seat Laws

...Child Car Seat Laws....Child Car Seat Laws.. Top search.....Liner, and much more. Looking for child car seat laws? Find child car seat laws at Xuppa.....with no obligation. Find child ...

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