For many people, car traveling is a very important factor in their everyday lives. People use cars when they go to work, go on a vacation or when doing errands such as grocery shopping or picking up clothes from the laundromat. Car traveling is usually easy, but it can be cumbersome if you’re traveling with an infant. As a result, it’s a must to have baby car seats installed in your vehicle.
Also called a restraint car seat or a child restraint system, an infant car seat is a type of vehicle safety device equipped with restraining safety harnesses that secure a child to an automobile seat. Just imagine what driving would be like without a car seat. Not only will you have difficulty maneuvering the vehicle, you’ll also have to worry about your child moving all over the vehicle. Having a car seat keeps your hands free, but still lets you keep an eye on your child.
A baby car seat not only allows free movement for the parents, but it also prevents injury to the child in case an accident happens. In the event of a car crash, the baby car seat protects the infant, holding him or her intact and secured to the seat. Since baby car seats have been proven safe and effective, these are legally required in many countries around the world.
There are different kinds of baby car seats, varying according to how they are installed, their safety features and the size and weight of the child they can accommodate. There are baby car seats that are ideal for newborns only, while some can hold children up to five years of age. Some baby car seats are forward facing, while some have rear facing positions. There are convertible car seats and baby booster car seats, while some are built-in vehicle installations.
The most important factor to consider when getting a baby car seat is proper installation. No matter how expensive or durable your car seat may be, it can still fail if not installed properly.
Make sure you read the car seat instructions properly. You should also check your car manual. After following the instructions, check and see whether the seat is firmly buckled into the car and that the harness straps are installed properly as well.