Looking For A Car Seat?

I had some questions about the laws with respect to when a child can sit in the front seat of the car and decided that maybe taking a look at the different kinds of car seats in addition to the laws about them was a good idea.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has a great guide you can refer to about car seats. The one I linked to is for 2008 and I am unsure as to whether or not they update it every year, but since "2008" is in the title, I would imagine that they do.

So, let's talk about car seats. There are several different types ranging from infant seats to booster seats. But, how do you know which is the right one for you and your family? Well, hopefully I can help.

An Infant Only seat is generally small with a handle for carrying it around. This is the seat that your infant will live in at the beginning of their life. They have a 5-point harness and fit on the top of strollers and shopping carts pretty nicely and most of them snap into a base that resides full time in your car. (The great thing about the base is you can buy more than one so you don't have to worry about switching it between cars. Depending on the model they are made for babies up to anywhere from 22-30 pounds.

Next, we have the Rear-Facing Convertible. The term "convertible" means this seat can be used a lot longer since they generally "convert" from rear-facing to forward-facing when your child is over 1 year old and over 20 pounds. They typically have a five-point harness, like an infant seat. The down side to this seat is that it doesn't have a nifty handle to carry it around. It's pretty much made to stay in the car and not be taken in and out. It does NOT have the option of the base either meaning unless your child can hold their head up you can have trouble with shopping carts.

The Forward-Facing Convertible/Toddler Seat is what your child should reside in for a goodly amount of time. There are actually five kinds of seats that are made for toddlers and pre-schoolers. They are:

1. Convertible seats - seats that "convert" from rear-facing to forward-facing seats.


2. Forward-facing toddler seats - these seats can be used forward-facing with a harness for children who weigh up to 40 to 80 pounds (depending on the model).


3. Combination forward-facing/booster seats - these seats can be used forward-facing with a harness for children who weigh up to 40 to 65 pounds (depending on the model) or without the harness as a booster (up to 80 to 100 pounds).


4. Built-in seats - some vehicles come with forward-facing seats built in. Weight and height limits vary. Read your vehicle owner's manual or contact the manufacturer for details about how to use these seats.


5. Travel vests - these can be worn by children between 20 and 168 pounds and can be an alternative to traditional forward-facing seats. They are also useful for when a vehicle has lap-only seat belts in the rear.

When they are tall enough and weigh enough, your child will graduate to a Booster Seat. This is a safety aid that is designed to raise your child up high enough for the adult seat belt to be safely used. This does not have a harness since the restraint is the same seat belt that you use!! This is what you buy when your child has outgrown the weight and or height restrictions for the Convertible/Toddler seat they are residing in.

Lastly, when they are old enough (and time really does fly here people) your child will use a plain old Seat Belt, just like you do. The time for this typically comes around when your child is over 4 feet 9 inches tall and between 8-12 years of age.

Here are some tips from the AAP about car seat shopping:

1. No one seat is the "best" or "safest." The best seat is the one that fits your child's age and size, is correctly installed, fits well in your vehicle, and can be used properly every time you drive.


2. Don't decide by price alone. A higher price does not mean the seat is safer or easier to use.


3. Avoid used seats if you don't know the seat's history. Never use a car seat that
   


• Is too old. Look on the label for the date it was made. Check with the manufacturer to find out how long they recommend using the seat.


• Has any visible cracks on it.


• Does not have a label with the date of manufacture and model number. Without these, you cannot check to see if the seat has been recalled.


• Does not come with instructions. You need them to know how to use the seat.


• Is missing parts. Used car safety seats often come without important parts. Check with the manufacturer to make sure you can get the right parts.


• Was recalled. You can find out by calling the manufacturer or by contacting the Auto Safety Hotline at 888/DASH-2-DOT (888/327-4236) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).


4. Do not use seats that have been in a moderate or severe crash. Seats that were in a minor crash may still be safe to use. The NHTSA considers a crash minor if all of the following are true:
   


• The vehicle could be driven away from the crash.


• The vehicle door closest to the car safety seat was not damaged.


• No one in the vehicle was injured.


• The air bags did not go off.


• You can't see any damage to the car safety seat.

So, now you know a little bit more about when you should be using a particular type of car seat. But what about the laws regarding using them in your state? Well, I found the Child Restraint Laws as published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

According to the IIHS, there are mandatory safety belt laws in 49 states and the District of Columbia. In most states, these laws cover front-seat occupants only, although belt laws in 19 states and the District of Columbia cover all rear seat occupants, too.

And believe it or not, some children are not covered by safety belt or child restraint laws. But, if you're interested in knowing what the law is in your state, please check it out here! They even list the possible fine you can get for violating the law.

I couldn't really find anything with respect to children riding in the front seat. At least there was no list that summarized it for each state since the safety belt laws and rules vary depending on where you live. I guess common sense should prevail. Unfortunately people throw that out the window if they are in a hurry. I just hope that those of you reading this are not one of those.

I also hope this has helped you!!