Keeping our your infant and toddler safe in your vehicle is something any parent places on the scale of prime importance. Most parents never hear the grim statistics with car seats. For example, 7 out of 10 car seats are being installed incorrectly across the country. Finding a good car seat that is easy to install correctly and that boasts excellent safety ratings should motivate parents to do their research versus buying an inexpensive car seat to satisfy state laws. This article will examine some of the car seats that are available on the market while addressing some related considerations for the parent’s benefit.
What makes one better than another?
For starters, check Consumer Reports. New parents in particular will be shocked to learn that car seats, as simple as they sound, are as complex as brain surgery for many people. A study was conducted that reveals the need for car seat developers to simplify their products. The article states that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration evaluated car seat installations by participants with varying levels of experience and described what they found in their report titled ‘Drivers’ Mistakes When Installing Child Seats’. Although participants thought they installed the car seat correctly, most failed. People new to car seats installed them incorrectly between 95 and 100 percent of the time. Many reported that the manuals were too vague and overly complicated. Despite having a manual, participants failed to correctly use the LATCH connector system and failed to set the seatbelts in the correct positions. The article continues to report that of the parents and caregivers who already owned child seats, mistakes were less frequent. However, 47-65 percent of the time numerous errors were still made by veterans.
Parents need to go online and look for safety classes that can teach them how to correctly install car seats. Also, manufacturers need to get realistic and make the product easier to install. One shouldn’t have to have an engineering degree from Berkley in order to successfully install a car seat for their baby.
With all of this in mind, read what consumers say about car seats and look for models that are easy to install and that have advanced features for ensuring that your infant or toddler fits into the seat with glove-like precision.
One for your consideration
I went online and spent 5 minutes researching various car seats (you will want to spend more time than this) and already I found one that appears to have addressed the issues that haunt the car seat industry. The Summer Infant Prodigy seat appears to have taken the complexity out of car seat design. This product is guided by the visual aid of smart screen technology and offers a revolutionary belt fitting system that informs the parent whether or not the seat is installed properly when a smile appears on the display. The Summer Company has eliminated the need to re-thread straps, and the car seat is designed to automatically conform to the infant’s body for a perfect fit each time. This car seat makes finding a better one a major challenge, as it eliminates guesswork, and ensures a proper, safe fit each time thanks to its heightened technology features.
Don’t forget insurance
Having a baby demands you call your insurance company to make sure they get the best coverage possible. You will also want to ask your agent if having a car seat with advanced safety features will get you some additional savings. If you are shopping for an auto insurance company then be sure you put your child first and look for one that focuses on child safety. For example, there is a 21st Century Insurance Contest that offers prizes and cash to the person who can re-design the iconic yellow diamond baby on board sign. This is a clear testimony that 21st focuses on bringing awareness to child safety, and is therefore a good choice for any parent with a little one.
