Toddler Car Seats And
All The Facts You Should Know

Toddler Car seats are in my opinion, the best investment for your child’s safety. This is one area where I will not try and save a dollar and buy used. There are so many factors to determine when purchasing a new seat. After they grow out of the infant seats you want to find a good safe seat. * I strongly suggest that you do research on any seat before you purchase it.*

When my son was ready for a toddler seat, I wanted him to be comfortable and safe at the same time. You also will want to decide what features you are going to want on the seat. I wanted a cup holder and a pillow. Again you will decide which is best for you and your family. So having said that before you start looking there may be a few questions you may want to ask yourself.

What to look for when buying a car seat:

• What features does the seat to have?

Ex. Cup Holders, Pillows, Leather or suede, the material the seat is made of.

• What is the Price range?

You can really get into a big expense. I by no means am saying go cheap. This is very important. Toddler Car Seats can get expensive. However, you can look and find items on sale. DO NOT BY A USED SEAT!!! see below

• What company brand do I prefer?

Graco, Evenflo. There are an endless amount of companies. What is the best? Do your research parents!!

• How easy is the seat going to be to use?

Is it easy to buckle them in and out? How difficult is it to adjust the straps?

• Is the seat washable?

Trust me, you will need to wash the seat more times then you can count. Make sure you buy a seat with a detachable washable cover. We know how our toddlers can be……

• Is the seat comfortable?

You really want your toddler to be comfortable. My little boy’s seat looked like a lazy boy recliner. He loved it. You get the idea, we want them to feel good in the seat.

When you have asked and answered those questions then let’s get ready to break down some facts about toddler car seats.

* Facts you should know:

Children over the age of 1, who weigh at least 20 lbs. should face forward in a convertible seat. Most toddlers are not big enough or old enough for a booster seat. They need a full harness to give protection for the upper body and to hold them in their seats. A full harness should be used to about 40 lbs.It is better to try and keep the car seat facing the rear as long as possible, until your baby is about one year old and weighs at least 20 pounds.

Some convertible toddler car seats have rear facing weight limits to 30 lbs. Be sure you check the specs on your infant seat. Use the upright position when it is facing forward for children over 1 year and at least 20 lbs. The harness straps must be at or above your child's shoulders. Most seats require use of the top-most slots for the forward-facing position. The top slots are reinforced to prevent the harness from failing in a crash. A few allow use of the center slots; check weight limits in the instructions. Use the correct belt path for forward- facing installation.

What are Harnesses?

There are three kinds. The basic 5-point harness has shoulder, hip, and crotch straps. The T-shield or tray-shield takes the place of hip straps to hold the lower body in the seat. Most seats come with a plastic harness retainer clip that holds the two shoulder straps together. Keep it at armpit level on your child to hold the harness straps on the shoulders. Special features of harnesses follow:

5-Point Harness

A 5-point harness is preferred by many safety experts because the lap part of the harness fits over the child’s strong hip bones. This kind of harness can be adjusted to fit snugly on both very small infants and larger children. *Special Note:* The straps may twist and tangle. Keep the straps flat for maximum protection.

T-Shield

The shoulder straps are attached to a flat pad. The shield reduces twisting of shoulder straps. It can be buckled quickly with one hand. Some have straps that adjust automatically to fit properly.

** Other Important Facts: **

Used Seats:

DO NOT buy used car seats. You do not know the history of that seat. A seat should not be used after 5 years and after an accident. You do not want to save money here parents. Buy a New seat for your child. It will be the best purchase you will make!!!

Tethers:

Most front-facing toddler car seats manufactured since September 1999 come equipped with a tether strap attached to the top of the seat. This tether essentially hooks into a bolt in the car, adding even more stability and reducing head movement in the event of a crash. Furthermore, beginning September 2002, all new child safety seats and vehicles must be compatible with the LATCH system, short for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (combining the previously existing top tethers with two lower anchors, built into the rear of the car). This system is designed to make installation of a car seat easier and safer by attaching it directly to the vehicle instead of using the seat belt to secure it. Although only front-facing infant and toddler seats will be required to have both the upper and lower attachments, all child safety seats (including rear-facing infant car seats and belt-positioning booster seats) will be required to have the lower anchors. This is an added insurance for your toddler’s safety. Look into this feature when buying toddler car seats.

There it is, some important information pertaining to our toddlers. We want our children to be safe, at all times especially in our vehicles. I can’t stress this enough parents be smart when you purchase your safety seat. Don’t you love your child that much?

*I am not a Doctor or Licensed Professional in the field of toddler car seats and safety. I am a stay at home Mom passing on tips, advice and information that are based on my opinions. Always remember to consult your pediatrician or a professional with serious questions concerning your child and their safety.*

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