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.

Child/Infant Car Seat Program

... Points of Car Seat Check include: Checking integrity and age of seat Verifying seat not on a national recall list Sizing child to seat Checking placement of seat for stability Checking ...

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration'S Child Seat...

This page is outdated. Please change your bookmark to: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/probl...

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ODI - Office of Defects Investigation

NHTSA is responsible for reducing deaths, injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. ... infant car seat crash testing at 30mph as required by Federal Motor Vehicle ...

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American Chiropractic Association

... Make sure the car seat is properly secured to the seat of the vehicle ... armpit of the infant or child. Borrowing or purchasing a used car seat can be dangerous ...

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Car Seat Compatibility Listing

Home Best Seat What to Buy ... infant ... convertible ... combo ... Best Seat: Determine what type of seat will give your child the best...

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Personal Health Services: Low Cost Infant/Child Car Seat and Seat Belt

... Program (GHPP) HIV/AIDS Program Immunization Program Lead Poisoning Prevention Low Cost Infant/Child Car Seat Program Perinatal Outreach and Education Program Tobacco Education Program ...

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National SAFE KIDS Campaign: Promoting child safety to prevent uninten

... read more > SAFE KIDS Hails Surgeon Generals - Year of the Healthy Child WASHINGTON, D.C. The National SAFE KIDS Campaign applauds Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona's 2005 agenda ...

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Child Passenger Safety

Usage and installation tips. Booster seat information. Restraint laws. Recalls. Air bags. Training programs.

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Infant car seat safety

Information on infant car seat safetly that will drastically reduce the risk of injury to your child!

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Kozygo

Infant car seat cover, to protect the child from the weather.

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