A lady who happened to be a pediatrician was asked what factors went into her decision to purchase a car seat. Her answer: 1st aspect - protection; 2nd factor - safety; 3rd factor - safety. While safety is the number one concern for all parents, there are other factors to consider such as the kid's age and weight. This will ascertain the best baby car seat to consider.

Types of Car Seats

* Rear Facing Car Seat - These seats face to the rear of the vehicle. They are a must for infants one year old or less and weigh 20 pounds or less. The infant is secured with a built in harness and on an incline that provides maximum protection from an accident without interfering with inhalation.

* Convertible Car Seats - These seats are convertible in that they can either face to the rear or to the front. The advantage of these types of seats is that they can be used as the baby becomes older than one year eliminating the need to buy a new seat. When facing towards the front, they can accommodate toddlers up to 40 pounds.

* Child Booster Seats - These seats come with a built in harness and secure the child only in the front facing position. When the child reaches 40 pounds, the harness can be taken off as well as the seat can be used with the vehicles' safety belts. You should use a booster until the child reaches 80 pounds and is at least 57 inches tall - the minimum height for using the car safety belts safely without a booster.

* Belt Positioning Booster Seats - These seats do not have a built in harness and are designed to be utilized only with the car safety belts. The use of these seats is to lift the child so that the car safety belts are positioned properly across the child's shoulders and the lap belt fits across the thighs.

When Can My Child Use Seat Belts?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), children can begin to use seat belts at age 8 and older or taller than 4'9". All kids aged 12 and under must always ride in the back seat.

The Academy of Pediatrics recommends switching to seat belts when the child has outgrown the booster seat and ride in the back seat until age 13.

In all cases, make sure the shoulder belt lies across the shoulder and not the throat. The lap belt should be low across the hips and not the stomach.

As you can see, choosing a safe car seat entails several factors mostly related to age and weight. By following the guidelines above, you should be able to confidently shop for the correct seat for your child.

A final reminder - after you purchase a Car seat, be sure to send in the registration card so that you will be notified in case there is a re-call.

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