The Best Infant Carseats for Your Family
Infant carseat safety has come a long way in a few decades. Many of us grew up in a time where Sundays were meant for long drives and when it came time to buckle up the kids, well, that just didn't happen. Kids were allowed to jump all over the car, hang out the window, and ride in the back of pickup trucks. All quite legally, too. Even infants didn't need special restraints. Mom could hold a baby in her arms, or even place him on a seat cushion. No problem! It's a wonder we survived.
Nowadays, if you even think of putting a five month old in the car for a drive down the street for a gallon milk you'd better have a government approved safety seat with the appropriate crash test ratings.
These seats must be placed in the back seat, facing backwards, so that the driver of the car has fast and easy access to the baby in case of an emergency. This will help prevent neck injuries and whiplash in the event of a collision.
Infant carseats grow as an infant grows. There are car seats designed for newborns, who aren't even allowed to get into a car to go home until a nurse has seen the car seat and checked to make sure it has been properly installed.
As an infant grows, they probably need a larger carseat to accommodate longer legs and have a more comfortable tilt for the head and neck. Securing straps are a bit longer as well, enabling the infant to be snugly placed into the carrier.
Most carseats have multiple purposes nowadays. No longer relegated to being stuck in the back seat, they now can be turned into strollers, and carried with a handle. Others also double as rockers and come with an optional easily installed curved rocker bottom.
