Buying baby strollers and car seats for our children is not as easy as it was for our parents. When they were buying these items there wasn’t a large selection as only a few companies manufactured them and they pretty much all resembled each other. With the huge selection that people have today, it can not only be overwhelming but entirely confusing to find the right one. This article will give you some tips for choosing the baby strollers and car seats that are the best for you and your child.
One of the first things that you need to consider is safety. This applies to baby strollers and car seats. There is no doubt that you agree, the safety of your child comes first above everything else. Make sure that the ones you are looking at have been thoroughly and properly tested before even thinking about buying. Every stroller should have an automatic lock that clicks into place when you unfold it so that when you put your child into it it doesn’t fold back up on them. The car seats should be governmental-backed, which means that it should be approved by the government to meet safety and law requirements.
Baby Strollers
You should consider these few things when it comes to strollers. Check the stroller to find out how easy it is fold and unfold. Some of the models on the market allow single handed operation, which is a real plus when you have a child in the other hand and do not wish to put him/her down. The next item is the brakes, make sure that they operate easily. Many of the models on the market have brakes that engage on th back whell with a simple touch of your foot. The nest thing that you should consider is the handle Lots of strollers made thse days have little tray that you can put your items in, like shopping bags, your cell phone, cup holders and a place to hold your purse. Lastly, you need to take into consideration what the stroller is constructed of. Is it going to be strong and durable, or does it seem too flimsy? Strollers that are made from stronger materials like steel and aluminum will fare much better than flimsier materials like plastic.
Car Seats
When it comes to car seats other than the safety of the child the main thing that you need to focus on is what is going to work for you and the child. Manufacturers develop car seats for all of the developmental stages of your childs growth. Seats that are “rear facing”, are made for children that are 20 poounds or less and less than a year old. Forward-facing car seats are for ages one year to four and 20 to 40 pounds. A booster seat is designed for older children in the age group of between 4 and 8 and under 4″9″” tall. After that, your child can sit in the seat with the normal buckle. A car seat that is meant for all of the developmental stages (besides the booster seat) is the convertible car seat.
The baby stroller and car seat that you finally choose should provide your child with comfort and safety while at the same time provide you with simplicity of functionality. You should not have to struggle with baby strollers and car seats.
Now that your child is a preschooler weighing above 40 lbs, it is about time that you check if the car seat that you are using is safe enough. Chances are that your child’s weight has crossed the maximum specifications of the car seat. If your child’s head has become taller than the seat then you also need to consider changing the car seat for a seat that will match the requirements of your child’s age, weight and height.
Using a car seat for the safety of your children is mandatory in all states. A car seat is necessary for your child until the age that the child can use a booster seat. It is only after the age of 13 that your child is able to use regular seat belts without any support.
Make sure that the model you are considering has not been recalled. This information is easily available from the manufacturer’s website and you should look it up to be sure. If you want to buy a second hand car seat, look for a seat that is not older than 5 years. It is always safe to buy a new car seat or buy one that has been sparingly used.
If you are installing a car seat, especially for the first time, then make sure that you read the manual and understand the process, before actually starting to install the seat. There are a number of videos on the manufacturer’s websites that provide a detailed explanation of how to install car seats.
If your child is above the age of 8 and below 12, then you may consider the possibility of using a booster seat. However, switch to a booster seat as late as possible. Try to keep your child in a car seat until the child’s body weight and height exceeds the specs of the car seat.
Take a look at the Britax range of car seats. With the model Britax Regent you cannot go wrong as it has a very high specification in terms of weight and height.
Even if you are spending a little extra for your child’s safety, it is a good feeling to know that your child will be secure and comfortable.
Accidents are not intentional, but take place unexpectedly. A category of accidents is traffic collision. There can be fatalities, injuries and damage to properties resulting from traffic collision. Even in a country reputed to have a higher degree of safety measures and adoption of the most technologically advanced systems in vehicle and traffic management, have a 40,000 annual fatality due to accidents. Safety requirements have been steadily increasing. The accident rates too have been steadily declining. But in terms of pure numbers, the number of deaths and injured too are on the rise. Rising population, increased travel and travelers and more traffic remain the unavoidable causes.
There are two types of safety devices and systems. They are the active and passive safety devices and systems. The active safety devices and systems require the traveler to act. Fastening seat belt is one such action. The passive safety devices and systems operate on their own automatically and independent of any action of the traveler. The inflation of airbags on collision or sudden jerk is an example of this.
Children are more vulnerable to accidents amongst all travelers. Being lighter and smaller than adults, they are more prone to being thrown off or dislodged on impact from collision or sudden jerks. Active seat belts as well as air bags are definitely useful. But special safety measures are required to be adopted for children according to their age, height and weight. Such safety measures are required to be adopted as per regulations in some countries. Child seat and child safety locks are part of such measures. Power window lockouts are useful to prevent the children from interfering with the windows and doors.
Infant seat belts are specifically designed for infants. These are seats that are secured to the automobile. The infant is held firmly to the infant seat belt while traveling and in the event of an accident or sudden jerks. Infant seat belts have become mandatory in some countries as part of the safety regulations. Infant safety seats are available in the market in different models. Britax Frontier Booster Car Seat offers advanced shock-absorption as well as cushioning in side impact collisions. It is easy to set up the seat.
Internationally the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe has set an international standard for baby and child seats called ‘Regulation R44-04’. ISOFIX standard has been developed by the International Organization for Standardization in 1990 for car seats. The United States equivalent of this is the LACTH. Some manufacturers supply ISOFIX standard compliant baby seats.