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.

[DMCForum] Re: Wrong-headed laws: Was: Child Car Seats In A Delorean

[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index] [DMCForum] Re: Wrong-headed laws: Was: Child Car Seats In A Delorean From: "ryanpwright" ...

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Safe Ride News

Bi-monthly child passenger safety newsletter. Articles, fact sheets, tether manual, back issues.

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

Booster seats are designed to raise your child so that the lap/shoulder belt fits properly. This means the lap belt lies low across your child's...

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Child, Infant, Booster Car Seats and Travel System Strollers

...say that most parents install their child's car seats incorrectly. If you'd like to know.....Station.. Be sure to know your local State Laws on Child Restraint Use.. Toll-Free.....seats, ...

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Car Seat Laws for Canada

Visit the link for details.

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Illinois Child Safety Seat

...Links .. Links Child Passenger Safety and Car Seats ... Seat Page. Florida Child.....state_laws/restrain2.htm" IIHS-HLDI | State laws: Child restraint, belt laws .. Three.....appropriate ...

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Baby Car Seat - Child Car Seat Laws In Texas

Child Car Seat Laws In Texas. Free Market Foundation. Works to limit government and to promote free enterprise and Judeo-Christian values. Includes press releases, and weekly issues alerts. ...

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TheCarolinaChannel.com - News - New Laws: Child Car Seats, Organ Infor

... Shopping Automotive Weddings Community « HOME| News Email This Story Print This Story New Laws: Child Car Seats, Organ Information Access POSTED: 8:20 am EST January 3, 2005 UPDATED: ...

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Child Passenger Safety

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National SAFE KIDS Campaign: Promoting child safety to prevent...

Promoting child safety to prevent unintentional injury.

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