Every single time you strap your child into their car seat, you should have complete peace of mind that the single device will protect them in the event that there is an accident. In order to feel confident that your car seat if as safe as possible, it is important to use the following checklist when purchasing a new car seat. Don’t settle for the cheapest model or for the first one you see. Instead, be thorough to guarantee that your child is safe no matter what happens.

1. The Size of Your Child: If you are buying a brand new car seat for a newborn, your needs will be very different than if you are purchasing an upgrade for your toddler. Remember that different car seats work best for different sized babies, so keep that in mind. Every baby and the majority of smaller toddlers should be facing the rear of the car when in their car seat. Older children can begin to sit facing the front once they are large enough. While there are some car seats that can be convertible and adjust for your growing child, many parents prefer to stick with a rear facing car seat that won’t move around or have the possibility to closing or adjusting at all. [Read more...]