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.

CBC Marketplace: Child Booster Seats

... No booster seat law anywhere in Canada There is no law in Canada that requires children to use booster seats when they outgrow their car seats. Transport Canada recommends parents use ...

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CONSUMERS FOR AUTO RELIABLTY AND SAFETY

...sustain a serious injury than those who use booster seats, and 4 times more likely to.....the next 10 years. Child Booster Seats .. CARS joined with other health and safety.....children ...

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Fallon Ambulance Service - The best people working with the best techn

... of the occupants who were ejected from passenger cars were killed. In 1994, fatal crashes ejected 24 ... weighing more than 40 pounds usually use booster seats. When Should Boosters Be ...

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TheHawaiiChannel - Family - Only 1 In 5 Use Booster Seats,...

Only 1 In 5 Use Booster Seats, Government Says. POSTED: 6:16 pm EDT September 23, 2004 ... Auto Recalls Used Lincoln Porsche Cars Honolulu Dating...

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

Built-in forward-facing or booster seats are available in some cars and vans. ... weight and height limits, you can use the seat as a booster by...

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WNDU-TV: News Story: Kernan signs booster seat bill - March 18, 2004

...require children up to age eight to use booster seats in cars.    Others he approved.....Corp. All rights reserved. Unauthorized, use, reproduction, or redistribution of the.....Home ...

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Britax Car Seats and child safety booster seats for all types of cars.

Infant Car Seats.com Infant and Toddler car seats, and child safety booster seats for all type of cars.

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Booster Seats

Information regarding Booster Seats right here. ... At least until we grow up . Booster Seats - DrGreene.com - caring for the next generation ... kids age 4 to 9 years use booster seats in ...

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CanadianDriver: Car dealer association reminds 4-to-8 year olds to...

Auto Tech. Classics. Forums. Web Directory. February 14, 2003 Car dealer association reminds 4-to-8 year olds to use booster seats

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Less than 10 percent of children use booster seats in cars, study find

Essentials. Autos. Business. Metro. Nation/World. Sports. Entertainment. Living. Forums. Weblogs. RSS. Tuesday, April 12, 2005. Less than 10 percent of children use booster seats in cars, ...

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