What qualities should I look for in a child safety seat?

What qualities should I look for in a child safety seat?

Stephanie Tombrello (Child Passenger Safety Educator & Executive Director, SafetyBeltSafe USA) gives expert video advice on: What qualities should I look for in a child safety seat?; Is it safe to use an old or second-hand child safety seat?; Can I still use a child safety seat after an accident? and more...

The most important thing about a child safety seat is that it fits the child, it fits well in the vehicle, and that you'll use it properly. It's important that it fits with the kind of lifestyle you have and your preferences and that you know how to adjust it and work with it. So, those are the big broad categories. Of course you want a crash-tested safety seat. Any safety seat sold in the United States is supposed to be certified to meet the federal standard for crash worthiness. So, as long as you're buying a new seat from a reputable place you shouldn't have a problem about that. The next thing you want to look at is what you are trying to do with this seat. Are you trying to transport a newborn? Do you have an older child who weighs more than 40 lbs, but you want a seat with a full harness? Then, you want to try the seat that you like best in your vehicle. Make sure you can get it in there tightly, and that you can adjust the harness on the child easily. Children grow, or sometimes they're wearing clothing that's a little bit different, so we always want the harness on the child to be as snug as we want your safety belt to be on you when you're travelling in a vehicle.