Shopping CartFAQs
These are the most Frequently Asked Question within our Baby Stores. If you can't find your question (and answer) within this list, please contact us.
What is Side Impact Protection?
In order to meet US Federal Safety standards, every car seat on the market
must pass specific crash test standards. The most common types of car
crashes are front-end collisions. This is what dictates the Federal crash
test standards as being a simulated front-end collision. Because car seats
had to pass these tests, they've performed very well in these types of
collisions, which then lead to the fact that most child injuries were
being caused by side-collisions. Car seat manufacturers have since become
focused on providing ultimate safety by incorporating side-impact-protection.
There are currently no Federally sponsored Side Impact crash tests done
on car seats in the US, so manufacturers are able to dictate their own
definition of what Side Impact Protection actually is. Because of this,
there are also no benchmarks set in order to know how well side wings
or torso protection actually work during a side collision.
What type of car seat do I need?
Newborns will start out in either an Infant car seat or a Convertible car seat. Both types of seats normally have a minimum weight requirement of 5 lbs. in the rear-facing position and maximum weight limit will be around the 20 - 30 lb. mark.
(Low Birth Weight Babies may need to start out in an Infant car bed if they weigh less than 5 lbs.)
From an Infant car seat, your child will either move into a Convertible or a Youth/Toddler seat.
* Convertible seats normally have a minimum rear-facing weight requirement
of 5 lbs. and a minimum forward-facing weight requirement of 20 lbs. Maximum
weight limits range from 40 - 65 lbs.
* Youth/Toddler seats cannot be used rear-facing and normally have a minimum forward-facing weight requirement of 20 lbs. Forward-facing, these car seats can generally be used up to 40 lbs. with the 5-point harness or without the 5- point harness as a belt-positioning booster up to about 80 - 100 lbs.
From a Convertible seat, your child will either move into a Youth/Toddler seat or a Booster seat.
* Youth/Toddler seats are forward-facing only seats with a minimum weight
requirement of about 20 lbs. Forward-facing, these car seat can generally
be used up to 40 lbs. with the 5-point harness or without the 5-point
harness as a belt-positioning booster up to about 80 - 100 lbs.
* Booster seats have minimum forward-facing weight requirements starting around 30 or 40 lbs and can be used with a child up to 80 - 100 lbs.
From a Youth/Toddler seat, your child will move into a Booster seat.
* Booster seats have minimum forward-facing weight requirementss starting around 30 or 40 lbs and can be used with a child up to 80 - 100 lbs.
Is my child ready for a Booster seat?
This is usually a dificult transition for both parent and child. Kids
want to move out of their 'baby seat' but parents have a hard time saying
goodbye to the 5-point harness and 'installed' car seat. It is always
safest to keep your child in a 5-point harness as long as possible but
when the time comes, make sure that your child meets the following criteria:
* Your child exceeds the maximum weight or height limits of his or her
current harnessed seat OR your child's ears reach the top of the back
of the harnessed seat even though he or she doesn't meet or exceed the
maximum weight and height requirements.
* Your child's shoulders are above the topmost shoulder harness slot.
* Make sure that you are following your State Laws governing Booster
seat use where you live.
* Normally, we recommend that your child be at least 4 years old and weigh at least 40 pounds before moving him or her into a Booster. With this said, there are Booster seats on the market with minimum weight requirements lower than 40 pounds because as we all know, each child grows differently. This however should not be a reason to put a child younger than 4 in a Booster seat.
Ultimately, the most important thing is to use a Booster seat. Many parents skip this step if their antiquated state's laws don't require children to stay in a child restraint past the age of 4 or 40 pounds. The NHTSA (National Highway Tranportation Safety Administration) recommends all children use a child restraint of some kind until they reach at least 4'9"
Can a Booster seat be used with just a vehicle's lap belt?
The short answer is No. Belt-positioning Booster seats are meant to boost
children up so that your vehicle's lap and shoulder belts can be positioned
properly across your growing child's body. All will require a lap AND
shoulder belt for proper use. However, there are alternatives on the market
in case you only have a seat with a lap belt available. Take a look at
a Forward-Facing or Youth/Toddler seat with a higher maximum weight limit
like the Britax Regent.
How long does my child need to stay Rear-Facing?
It is recommended that all children remain in the rear-facing position
until they reach 20 pounds and 1 year. This is even incorporated into
most state car seat use laws. However, it is safest for your child to
stay rear-facing as long as a car seat will allow. Look for seats with
higher rear-facing maximum weight limits.
What is the safest car seat for my child?
There are a lot of car seats out there. Many tout having extra features
to increase safety. Ultimately, however, the safest car seat for your
child is the one that best:
* Fits your child
* Fits your vehicle
* And is a seat that you will be able to use consistently and correctly
How do I know if the car seat I'm interested in will fit in my
vehicle?
We admit that there's a slight disadvantage in purchasing your car seat
online since you're not able to 'try before you buy'. However, we have
the detailed specifications for each seat on our website. Also, there's
a great resource website called www.CarSeatData.org
that has an online database of car seat and vehicle compatibility. The
information is compiled by Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians.
Where is the safest place to install a car seat in my vehicle?
The middle of the back seat is considered the safest position for a child
in a car. This position is furthest from any possible point of impact.
What is FMVSS?
FMVSS stands for Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. These are the
standards put into place by the NHTSA (National Highway Transportation
Safety Administration). The NHTSA is an agency within the U.S. Department
of Transportation. All car seat manufacturers must test their car seats
to ensure they meet FMVSS for safety.
What is EPS foam?
EPS foam, or Expanded Polystyrene Foam, is a material that is used in
bicycle helmets and car seats, among other things. This material 'cushions'
the blow upon impact.
What is ASTM Certification?
When you see an ASTM Certified* product, you know that it meets the most
rigorous standards set by the jogging stroller industry. Undergoing ASTM
testing and meeting the set standards is voluntary, done so at the expense
of the company, and not required by any government or commercial body.
Because ASTM standards are the highest anywhere, any product that meets
or exceeds them is certifiable as an item of the highest possible quality.
