Safety Seat Styles
Child Safety Seats are available in four basic types: Infant car bed, rear-facing infant seat, forward-facing child seat, and booster seat. Each different type of seat is designed for children at different ages and weights. When buying a Child Safety Seat, you should consider the child's weight, size, age, and what type of vehicle you are putting it into.
Infant Car Bed
An infant car bed, a special bed made for use in a motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designed to restrain or position an infant on a continuous flat surface. Make sure that the infant's head rests toward the center of the vehicle. This type of seat is used for babies born earlier than 37 weeks, that weight less than 5 1/2 pounds and have breathing problems when sitting semi-reclined.
Rear-facing Infant Seat
A rear-facing infant seat is a child restraint system that positions an infant to face in the direction opposite to the normal direction of travel of the motor vehicle. Rear-facing seats are designed for infants of up to about twenty pounds and up to at least one year of age. It is necessary that this restraint face the rear, so the infant's head, neck, and body can have the support they would need in a crash. Some infant seats come in two parts. The base stays secured in the vehicle, and the seat snaps in and out.
Forward-facing Child Seat
A forward-facing child seat is a child restraint system that positions a child upright to face the front of the vehicle. These forward-facing seats are designed to help protect children who are from 20 to 40 pounds or up to around four years of age.
A convertible child seat is a restraint system designed to be used either as a rear-facing infant seat or a forward- facing child seat. There are three types of forward facing child seats:
- 5-point Harness - has two shoulder straps, two hip straps, and a crotch strap.
- T-shield - has two shoulder straps that are attached to a flat pad which rests low against the child's body.
- Tray shield - has a shelf or armrest type shield and straps that are attached to it. The shield swings up or to the side.
Booster Seat
A booster seat is a child restraint designed for use by children who are over 40 pounds and about four to eight years of age. Booster seats are designed to improve the fit of the vehicle's safety belt system. Some booster seats have a shoulder-belt positioner, while others have a high- back and either use a five-point harness or a vehicle's safety belt. A booster seat also can help make an adult seat belt fit better, and help the child see better out the window. Children should stay in a booster seat until they weight at least 80 pounds and are 4'9" in height.
