Child car seats are widely recognized for their value in helping to keep children safe and comfortable while traveling,
and are one of the most important purchases that can be made for your child’s safety. However, a study by the U.S. Government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration** found that, of nearly 3500 car seats observed, more than SEVEN in every TEN child restraint systems were misused in a way that “could be expected to increase a child’s risk of injury during a crash”.
It is not only important that you obtain the right car seat in the first place, but also that the car seat be used properly at all times. **Per the U.S. Government’s Department of Health and Human Service’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ‘Child Passenger Safety Fact Sheet’ (see the ‘Risk Factors’ section)There are three basic types of child car seats, with each type being suitable for a child within a certain age and weight range. ‘Infant’ car seats are designed for newborns up to about six months of age. These are rear facing car seats with a harness to keep the child securely in place, with the child riding in a lying down position. There are also ‘convertible’ infant/toddler child car seats available. These car seats can be used for children from infancy into their toddler years, until they are ready for a booster seat. At about six months of age most children are ready to start using a ‘toddler’ car seat, unt