Car Seat Buying Guide
A car seat, pushchair, cot, etc. tend to often be the first investments that you will be making for your baby. If it is your first one, you may be confused about where to start. Car seats need to be chosen carefully according to safety laws and guidelines. It is important to know the law present in the place you are in when getting a car seat.
The following is a buying guide that aims to help you get the best car seat for your child:
Categories
You should know the car seat categories present. Car seat group numbers, i.e. group 0, group 1, etc. tend to be listed alongside the car seat category, i.e. forward-facing, etc. When it comes to the groups, these are based upon weight ranges.
The group numbers include:
· Group 0: This will be 0-10kg (birth to nearly 6-9 months)
· Group 0+: This will be 0-13kg (birth to nearly 12-15 months)
· Group 1: This is 9-18 kg (9 months to nearly 4 years)
· Group 2: This is 15-25 kg (around 4-6 years)
· Group 3: This is 22-36 kg (around 6-11 years)
The rear-facing car seats
It is important that all babies are rear-facing till they are around 15 months old. Before this the neck is not strong enough to handle the pressure of some head-on collision when in the forward-facing position. The groups 0 and 0+ need to be rear-facing.
Some of these baby seats are available in a wider travel system with a pram. When they are employed with the right adapters, they can be clicked on the pram chassis. This is handy but remember that car seats should be for travelling and not be used for prolonged naps.
The forward-facing car seats
When the child outgrows a rear-facing seat, look for a Group 1 forward-facing one that has an integral harness. This can be used till the child is four years old or till they are about 18 kgs. The harness may be adjusted as the child gets bigger. Side impact wings are able to give protection for the head as well as body.
The combination car seats
These are able to be adjusted as the child grows. Many are able to be either a forward or rear-facing seat. They may have height-adjustable straps along with multiple recline positions. You should keep safety guidelines concerning weight of the child in mind with these car seats as well.
The booster seats
These are able to be high-backed or backless. The high-backed ones are often the next ones to get when the child outgrows their forward-facing seat. You will still get side wing protection and usually possess adjustable headrests.
You need to know that there is often no integral harness. The high-backed ones that do not have an integral harness raise the kid’s seating position allowing an ordinary seat belt to fit properly and safely through the slots on the seat.
Check out the baby car seats in NZ if you want to get an idea of what is available. Select the best one after you have done your research.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
