| It is very important to use the correct type of baby | | | | The next kind of baby car seat is called a convertible |
| seat when you have an infant on board. Most people | | | | car seat. Many of these baby car seats can be |
| do not know how to install a baby car seat safely. Do | | | | placed in the backward-facing position for when |
| you know that some hospitals won't discharge a mom | | | | babies grow out of their infant seats, but are not yet |
| and new baby until they see the car seat? Fortunately, | | | | old enough, or at a heavy enough weight to sit facing |
| many kinds of infant car seats exist in the market. | | | | forward. Then, the convertible baby car seat can be |
| The easiest baby car seat to utilize is the kind that has | | | | turned to face forward, and will seat the baby until the |
| a base that is buckled securely to the seat. This car | | | | baby is 40 pounds or more. These have a 5-point |
| seat itself can be lifted off and carried around by the | | | | harness that is buckled at the bottom and the chest. |
| handle. This is will be convenient to you because the | | | | Once the baby reaches 40 pounds, he will move to a |
| baby can be carried to and from the house or | | | | booster seat. This seat is a small base that keeps the |
| wherever the child is going while strapped into the | | | | child secure, while allowing him to use the regular seat |
| seat. These infant seats usually will only be safe for | | | | belt. The child can usually sit in this type of car seat |
| transporting babies facing backward, until the age of | | | | until he weighs 80 pounds! |
| one year. When the baby is 18 pounds, and at least | | | | As a rule of thumb, babies and children below the age |
| one year old, it is time for a forward-facing baby car | | | | of twelve are supposed to be seated behind, not in the |
| seat. Plus, by the time the baby is that old, and weighs | | | | front seat. The safest place is the center of the back |
| 18 pounds, he will be too heavy to lug around that way! | | | | seat. This is because studies show that air bags in the |
| You will want to get the baby out of the baby seat, | | | | front seat may cause injuries to children. So if possible, |
| and carry him, or he may even be walking by then! | | | | never allow a child to be seated in front. |