BAY CITY, Mich. - Every parent has (hopefully) gone through the process of researching and purchasing a car seat for their child. It is one of the most important, but also frustrating, choices in the early stages of becoming a parent. There are several types of seats to choose from, from infant to convertible and booster, depending on your child's age and size. Even if you've already found "the one", it is extremely important to know how to install the car seat correctly and also when to transition your child to another type of seat as your child grows bigger. So, we at Graff Bay City, are going to fill you in on how to find the right car seat.
First, there are four types of car seats that are created for different age groups. The best car seat for your young child to use is the rear facing car seat. It has a harness and is able to cradle and move with your child in the event of a crash.
- Types of Rear-Facing Car Seats
- Infant Car Seat: This is a rear-facing seat only and is designed for newborns and small babies (like the one pictured above). Babies usually out-grow these seats by eight-to-nine months. When that happens, Safercar.gov recommends switching to a convertible or all-in-one car seat and use it facing the rear.
- Convertible Seat: As the child grows, this seat can switch from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat with a harness and tether. Since it can be used with children of various sizes, it allows for most children to stay in the rear-facing position for a longer amount of time.
- All-in-One Seat: This seat can also allow children to stay in the rear-facing position longer and can change from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat and to a booster seat as the child grows.
The second type is a forward-facing car seat that limits your child's forward movement during a crash.
- Types of Forward-Facing Seats
- Convertible Seat: As the child grows, this specific seat can change from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat with a harness and tether.
- Combination Seat: As a child grows, this seat transitions from a forward-facing seat into a booster seat.
- All-in-One Seat: This seat can change from a rear-facing seat, to a forward facing seat, to a booster seat as the child grows bigger.
The third type is a booster seat which positions the seat-belt so that it fits properly over the stronger part of your child's body.
- Types of Booster Seats
- Booster Seat with High Back: This type of booster seat is designed to boost that child's height so the seat belt fits properly. It also provides head and neck support and is ideal for vehicles that don't have head rests or high back seats.
- Backless Booster Seat: A backless booster seat is completely designed to boost the child's height so the seat belt fits properly but does not provide head or neck support. It is made for vehicles that have headrests.
The fourth type is made for children that have outgrown the weight and age requirement for car-seats and booster-seats and that is the seatbelt. The belt should lay across the upper thighs and be snug across the shoulder and chest to restrain your child safely in a crash. It should never rest on the stomach area or across the neck.
Whoa, just typing all of that made us pretty concerned about child safety but also a bit confused about which seat would be best for our children. Thankfully, Parents Central came up with a nifty system that will help you on how to find the right car seat. Check it out here. It all depends on your child's age and size as well as the type of vehicle you drive. Once you figure out the best car seat option, you can start shopping, and be confident in your choices!
When choosing a vehicle for your family, safety is definitely the number one concern in most cases. Thanks to Chevy's diligence to offering the best safety features available, we have some exciting family cars coming from Chevrolet in the next few months, including the all-new Malibu! If you would like to take a test drive in any of our family-friendly vehicles, stop by your local St. Charles Area Chevy Dealer today! Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we can help you find the perfect vehicle for your weekend getaway! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.
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