All About Infant Carseat Safety

By Simon Burke

Infant carseat safety has come a long way in a few decades. Many of us grew up in a time where Sundays were meant for long drives and when it came time to buckle up the kids, well, that just didn't happen. Kids were allowed to jump all over the car, hang out the window, and ride in the back of pickup trucks. All quite legally, too. Even infants didn't need special restraints. Mom could hold a baby in her arms, or even place him on a seat cushion. No problem! It's a wonder we survived.

Early versions of the carseat allowed it to be placed anywhere, and there were no laws mandating its use. Fast forward to today and parents are fined and ticketed if they are caught with infants and children in the car without proper restraints. No trip is too short to get a ticket if you don't have your child in a safe carseat. These new models take comfort and body design into account, alleviating all possibility of whiplash and other injuries in even severe crashes.

These seats must be placed in the back seat, facing backwards, so that the driver of the car has fast and easy access to the baby in case of an emergency. This will help prevent neck injuries and whiplash in the event of a collision.

Carseats grow as an infant grows. There are car seats designed for newborns, who aren't even allowed to get into a car to go home until a nurse has seen the car seat and checked to make sure it has been properly installed.

As infants grow, so do carseats. Usually around six months parents will need to purchase a newer one, more suitable for growing legs. This one will have a more defined head rest as well as larger straps to accommodate a growing body. These larger ones are designed to provide a snug but comfy fit for the baby.

Some of the more expensive styles can convert to serve other purposes. They have optional attachments that can turn them into strollers, rocking chairs, and carryalls. The attachments can be added later on, instead, if that's more budget friendly. - 29956

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