Choosing the right car seat for your child

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By: Taranjit | Last Updated: July 27, 2020

It is important to make sure that you are putting your child or infant in the appropriate car seat or booster. After all, it is a matter of their safety and decreasing their risk of getting hurt when traveling in a car. In 2017, 37% of the children who died in a car crash were killed because they were not buckled up in their seat. The wrong car seat is one of the reasons for the leading cause of death of children (between the ages 1-13) during a car crash. This is why it is extremely important to use the right sized car seat or booster for your child.

What is the process for getting a car seat?

1. Find the right car seat

Every child is different and that is why it makes it even more important to select the right car seat for your child in order to provide them the most protection as possible while in your car.

There are 4 main types of car seats out there:

Rear-facing car seat

This is the car seat that is typically used for when your child is really young. It has the ability to move with your child in order to provide the best support to their neck and them in general.

Most outgrow this type of seat before their first birthday, but try to keep your child facing the rear for as long as possible (of course, don’t force them to fit in a seat they have outgrown. That is not safe at all.). Some may outgrow this type of seat faster than others, and this is why it is important to take your child’s growth into consideration when deciding the appropriate type of seat to use.

Front-facing car seat

As the name applies, this is the seat that faces towards the front of the car and it has a seat belt harness that keeps your child against their seat, and prevents them from flying forward when you hit the brakes a little too hard or are involved in a crash.

Typically, the type of car seat used for 1-4 years old, but it can be used for up to age 7 depending on the height and weight limits of your car seat.

Booster seat

The booster seat is typically designed to allow the child to sit a little higher in the seat in order to allow for the car’s seatbelt to fit correctly.

This type of seat is typically used for children between the ages of 4-7, but can be used for up to age 12. Again this depends on the limits of the seat and your child’s growth.

Adult seat

The moment when your child has grown up and is now able to graduate to the adult seat can be exciting and nerve-wracking. You child is ready for the adult seat when they are able to fit in the regular seat of a car with the seatbelt properly going across the stronger parts of their body (i.e. over their chest and across their lap).

Bonus: Convertible seat

These car seats are able to change from a rear-facing to a forward-facing to a booster seat, allowing it to adjust and grow with your child. Worth looking into if you don’t want to have to keep buying an upgraded car seat.

2. Correctly install the car seat

Did you know that about 59% of the time car seats are used incorrectly?

The proper installation method varies depending on the type of car seat that you have bought and your individual car. Make sure to read the instructions that came with the car seat and your car’s manual in order to choose the right seat for your car and install it properly.

3. Register it to stay up to date on safety recalls

Don’t forget to register the car seat after purchase. This will help in keeping you up to date on any recalls or safety defects of the product, and allow you to keep your child safe.

Final Thoughts:

I am by no means a car seat experts (nor do I have a child at the moment), but I hope that these tips were helpful in your car seat use journey. Please do all the necessary research and read all the accompanying manuals when choosing and installing car seats. And remember, the best way to keep your child safe in your car is to use the appropriate type of car seat for your child and to always buckle up.