Buying a car seat is one of the first investments that soon-to-be parents make. But the choice can seem a daunting task when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of your newborn. Here are a few basic tips to make the search a little easier and ensure that you go back home with the right infant car seat.
Car seat categories
By law, all children must be in an appropriately sized car seat until they are 135 cm tall or 12 years old. Therefore, it isn’t just something that you do for the sake of your baby’s safety, but you also have to respect the law. When looking for the best baby car seat, it is useful to know that car seat group numbers will also be listed alongside the overall car seat category. The groups are based on weight ranges, so when you are buying an infant car seat you should either look for Group 0 suitable for 0-10 kg or Group 0+ which is suitable for 0-13 kg.
Rear-facing car seat
Babies should be kept rear-facing until at least 2 years old and even preferably longer. Infant seats are all designed to only be rear-facing to ensure the safety of your baby during the ride. Many of these first-size baby seats can also be used with the correct adapters to be clicked onto the pram chassis. Also, they have a separate base that can be detached for you to use the seat as a baby carrier.
Choose a convertible car seat
Not having to invest in another car seat as your baby is growing will be a blessing. Infants grow and develop really fast in their first two years of their lives, so it is wiser to choose a convertible car seat that will grow with your child. If you are in Australia, you may wish to take a look at car seat brands like Nuna, Premium Car Seats, Pushchairs, and Baby Gear AU, as they have convertible options for both newborn babies and growing children. Convertible car seats for babies can be used rear-facing for infants and then converted to forward-facing as your child grows. The only drawback of choosing a convertible car seat is the fact that it may be too big for very small newborns. That is why many experts usually recommend starting with a rear-facing only infant seat if you purchase it before your baby is born. You can also find out more information about other types of car seats for babies by reading this post on HMHB.
Safety first – Know how to install a car seat
Not every car seat fits well all lifestyles because if you are traveling or commute on a daily basis, you may have to frequently switch your car seat from one vehicle to another. Therefore, you should choose an infant car seat that is lightweight and easy to install. Moreover, no matter how much money you spend on a seat for your child’s safety, if you do not know how to install it properly, you may put your baby in danger. A properly installed infant car seat should not be able to move more than one cm either way when you wiggle it around.
Should you get an infant car seat or skip right to a convertible one? There is no easy answer and what’s right for your baby’s safety depends on their size, weight, and needs.
