Baby Car Seats: Buying Guide 2019 - 'JADa's Buying Guide'

Hello and Welcome to JADa’s Buying Guide,

Before I start, I just want to mention that here at JADa’s Buying Guide we source our product and thoroughly research them before presenting them here for you.

Here today we have Chicco Car Seats from new-born, toddler and older children.

I have also written an article on the background to the Chicco Brand which you can find here.

Before I get started in showing you some of the top rated, best buys in car seats, I will get back to basics and explain the different styles and the correct way to install.

How to Install a Car Seat

With safety being the upmost priority especially when it comes to riding in the car. It is important to show and help parents and caregivers the ins and outs of proper car seat safety.

Chicco KeyFit 30 Car Seat – Base installation with Vehicle Belt – Video

Rear Facing: Why and How long

The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) recommends that children ride rear facing in their car seats as long as possible.

Because rear facing is the safest option for growing children whose skeletal systems are still developing, be sure to maximise the height or weight limited of the seat.

According to the AAP, “this will include virtually all children under 2 years old and most children up to the age of 4”

It is good to note that children are flexible and what may appear to be cramped to you is not necessarily uncomfortable for a toddler.

Since children’s bones and joints aren’t fully developed yet, they are much more flexible than an adults. Riding rear facing for a longer may require the child to cross or prop up their legs, these seating positions are no big deal to a flexible toddler and allow for crucial protection of the head, neck and spine.

Chicco MyFit Harness and Booster – Installing with Latch Video

Chicco MyFit Harness and Booster – Installing with a Seat belt -Video

When to Make the Change and Transition to the Next Seat

You do not need to rush from a rear facing to a forward facing car seat or from a five-point harness to a belt positioning booster.

Keep your little one in their current car seat as long as possible until they reach the maximum weight or height allowance from the manufacturer, whichever comes first.

Maturity Matters

When making the move to a belt-position booster, it is important to know that age and maturity are just as important as height and weight.

An important note with regards to belt positioning boosters and that is that they rely on the vehicle seat belt for restraint and not the 5 point harness, so your child must be able to sit still and keep the seat belt in the proper position on their body throughout every car ride.

Graduating from a Booster Car Seat

Children are normally ready to move from their booster car seat directly into the vehicle seat anywhere from 8 years old to 12 years old.

A good way to check this is to buckle your child into the vehicle seat and check that their back and bottom are pushed all the back against the backrest.

If their knees are bent naturally at the edge of the seat, the vehicle lap belt fits across their upper thighs or low on the hips and the shoulder belt fits across their shoulder and chest, then this is good and your child will no longer need their booster seat.

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