When traveling in a vehicle with a newborn, the law states that one must use a specially designed car seat. An infant seat is designed for babies under 20 pounds and is contoured to provide specific support for the infant's weak neck and back muscles. The seat also doubles as a carrier, feeding chair and rocker. An infant seat is lightweight, making it easy to transport the baby from one location to another. It also does not require re-buckling in order to transfer the baby to a stroller, eliminating the need to wake him or her up, as is often the case with an infant-toddler seat. As a safety seat, the rear-facing infant seat has been praised as the model that best supports the baby during sudden stops. The seat should always be placed in the rear of a vehicle, preferably in the middle position, which provides space around the baby. In the event of a side collision, the infant will be better protected from the crash as well as from the possibility of broken glass. Make sure that, when positioning an infant seat, you do not place it in a seat that has airbags.
What to Look for
According to travel safety standards, your infant seat must be compatible with the LATCH system (lower anchors and tethers for children). This makes the installation of the seat easier and safer by attaching it to your vehicle, instead of securing it with a seat belt. All you need to do is put your infant seat in the base, buckle up your baby and go. For rear-facing infant car seats, you are required to have lower anchors only. On those seats that can face to the front or the rear, you are required to have both upper and lower attachments. A proper infant seat should have a 5-point safety harness with adjustable straps for each shoulder, each thigh and 1 between the legs. Look for a well padded seat with appropriate head support. The infant seat should be selected according to the height and weight of your baby. Another important consideration is to buy an infant seat that comes with removable pad covers for easy washing.
Common Pitfalls
Avoid buying an infant seat that requires adjustments each time it is placed in a vehicle. Buckles that are adjustable from the back of the seat rather than from the front are also inconvenient. Straps should have raised belt slots for easy buckling. Carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions for installation. If you are using a rear-facing infant seat, don't feel a rush to graduate your baby to the front-facing model, since he or she is much safer in a rear model if there is a crash. You don't need to spend a lot of money on a quality infant seat. Some hospitals will even rent infant seats at a reasonable cost.
