Toddler Car Seat

When Should I Move My Baby Out of His Infant Seat?

Once an infant reaches twenty pounds, he should be moved out of an infant-only car seat. If he has reached one year of age, he may also be turned to face forward, although many parents prefer to keep their children facing to the rear for a few months longer. If your child is under a year old but weighs more than twenty pounds, you'll need to place him in a convertible car seat that can be faced both towards the front and the rear, but you should keep the seat faced to the rear until he has his first birthday.

What About Booster Seats?

Booster seats are designed for children who weight at least forty pounds. Until your child has grown considerably, you should not place her in a booster seat. These seats will not provide adequate safety measures to protect your toddler. They do not offer the full harness protection that car seats offer.

How Do I Make Sure the Toddler Car Seat Fits Properly?

Not only must you choose the correct toddler car seat, but you must make sure it fits your child properly. You need to pay attention to the position of the harness straps. These straps should fit snuggly at your child's shoulders or above them. If the slots that the straps fit into are below the top of your toddler's shoulders, you'll need to adjust them. Be sure and read the manual from cover to cover regarding your particular car seat. Some manuals require that all front facing children be placed in car seats using the uppermost slot for the harness straps.

What Should I Look For When Purchasing a Car Seat?

There are several factors you should consider before you buy a car seat for your toddler. While almost all car seats are similarly designed, some do offer different features from others.

1. Easy installation-Take a look at how the seat is designed. Is it easy to install? This is especially important if you will be moving the seat from one vehicle to another quite often.
2. Five-point harness-This has become preferred over many of the other designs. Experts feel that a five-point harness offers the most protection.
3. Belt adjustment-You should be able to easily access the belt for tightening and loosening of the harness.
4. Detachable cover-Babies are messy, and your car seat will look better longer if you can remove the cover and wash it.
5. Padding-Of course you want your little one to be as comfy as possible, so look for a seat with extra padding.
6. Cup holder-Many car seats now offer a side cup holder that is perfect for your little one to place his bottle or cup into.

How Much Will I Have to Pay for a Toddler Car Seat?

There is actually quite a large range of price for toddler car seats. Some of the price differences are due to the brand names, and some of the differences relate to the various options available on the seat. You can expect to pay anywhere from $70 to $300.