baby car seat inspections
Buying The Right Portable Car Seat: Features To Look For
If you’ve just started shopping, the task of choosing a portable car seat may seem confusing. The proper model car seat is essential to keeping an infant safe while traveling. If you are in the market for a car seat, here are a handful of tips on what to look for prior to making your purchase.
For starters, you will need a car seat for baby’s first ride in the car, which will most likely be the trip home from the hospital, so don’t forget to plan ahead. For the best infant car seat, select a rear facing model. Rear facing seats provide the best protection if there is an impact, considering that your baby will be unable to support the weight of her own head yet.
Look for a design that is sturdy, yet light and easy to carry. Because infants sleep a lot, particularly when riding in the car, you want to select a model which is easily detachable. This way your child can continue sleeping when being moved from the car to the house, instead of you needing to wake them up. Most standard car seats have wing-like side protection, so you might also look for this feature in a portable car seat.
After your baby reaches twenty pounds or the top of their head reaches the top edge of the seat, it will be time to change to a forward facing car seat. A forward facing car seat is more upright and the better models are adjustable to allow toddlers a less upright position for a more comfortable sleeping position during those long drives. Look at models with sizes based on height and weight. Be wary of any sizes based on age, as heights and weights of children can vary dramatically
Don’t forget, your toddler must be able to sit up on his own before he’s ready to use a forward facing car seat. The forward facing seats are designed and built for longer term use and your child should be able to ride in this type seat until he is four to six years old.
Is it OK to purchase a second hand car seat?
That depends. A portable car seat helps prevent serious injuries in a car accident, so you need to find out if the seat has ever been in an accident or otherwise damaged. If so, the frame may have gotten bent, which lessens the strength of the car seat and the safety of your child. Avoid any car seat that is more than two years old. Safety features change and improve all the time. Buying a current model seat helps to ensure that your family is protected by the latest advancements.
If you do decide on a second hand seat, only stick with accepting a used seat from family, friends, or someone you trust will give you a full disclosure of any car accidents or possible damage. Also, carefully inspect the belts, padding, and fasteners. Be sure they are all in sound condition. Car seats don’t have a lot of parts but those that they do have are important. If a used seat has any missing or broken parts this can present a danger to your child and is something to be avoided. If the owner’s manual is not available, look for a label on the car seat itself. This may provide information on the proper use of the seat.
If your vehicle has a passenger side airbag, the car seat should go in the back seat, not in the front seat. If there is an accident and the car seat is in the front seat, the inflating airbag may cause serious injuries to your child. To ensure the correct installation of the seat, follow the manufacturer’s instructions precisely.
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Baby Car Seat ’safety blitz’ on Saturday
The Porcupine Health Unit, Child and Family Services of Timmins and District, and the Seizure and Brain Injury Centre are hosting a drop-in “Car Seat Safety Blitz” on Saturday June 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Timmins Garage, 1395 Riverside Dr., Timmins.
