A car seat is the most important purchase you’ll be making for your child—make sure it’s a good one to keep it safe.
Car seats are made for your baby because regular seats are much too big for the seatbelt to have an effect on the safety of your small child. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), vehicle accidents were responsible for the death of approximately 2,000 children under 14, and injured well over 230,000. Having a car seat that’s appropriate for your child’s size and age is essential to best keep it from harm’s way. Here are 3 tips on how to choose the right car seat for your child.
- Read your owner’s manual before you go shopping.
Car seats can be attached using either the seat belt that’s available in the car, or the LATCH system which is only available for newer vehicle models. You can decide before the purchase which kind you want to install, but be sure that your car has the LATCH if you decide to go with that seat.
- Installation is key.
Making sure that you follow the instructions is key to keeping your child as safe as possible. Follow the instructions to have the best possible chance of installing the seat correctly.
A tip for expecting parents: Get the car seat installed before bringing the baby home from the hospital.
- Age, weight, and height all play an important role.
Each car seat’s manual has details on the limits on weight and height for that specific seat. Rear-facing seats are typically for newborns and infants. Forward-facing for children at least 2-years-old. Booster-seats are for children over 40 pounds.
Having the right booster seat is important, so is having the right car insurance policy to cover any medical bills or damages that may occur. In fact, we’re so grateful on a job well-done that we want to help you save on your auto insurance since you’ll be saving lives. For more information about how we can slash the cost of your coverage, contact Lou Aggetta Insurance Agency in Pleasant Hill, California today.