Having trouble deciding which car seat or which crib would suite you better. Look no further use our guides below to help make that final decision:
All children younger than 8 years old, unless taller than 4’9”, are required to be in the appropriate child safety seat system wherever they ride in a passenger vehicle. The safety seat system MUST be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Car Seats:
Ages 0-1:
Britax Infant Car Seat- this is the car seat that comes with the base and seperate carrier. The car seat can be easly moved from place to place and used as a travel system with a stroller. Most children out grow close to 12 months of age, depending on height and weight. Use this one if your child is under 25lbs and 32inches tall.
Ages: 0-4
Britax Converitble Car Seat can be used from 5lbs all the way to 70lbs. It can be forward or rear facing. Many people refer to this car seat as a toddler car seat. We use either the Britax Bouvavard Car Seats or the Britax Marathon Car Seats.
Ages: 2.5+
Britax Harness-2-Booster Seat. This car seat is slightly larger and roomier than the convertible car seat. This car seat has a 5 point haress, but can also be used as a high back booster with the seat belt for older children. This car seat is only forward facing and can be used from ages 2.5 as long as the weight is 25lbs. There is slightly less padding than the convertible and no recline feature.
Ages: 4+
Britax Parkway Booster, this is a high back booster than can also be used without the back. This car seat positions the child properly to use the vechile lap and shoulder belt. Child must be atleat 40lbs.
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2013 Child Passenger Safety National Best Practice Recommendations
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Phase 1 |
Rear-Facing Seats |
Infants: Birth – 35+ pounds, 2+ years old. Rear-facing infant or rear-facing convertible safety seat as long as possible, up to the rear-facing height or weight limit of the seat. Properly install according to instructions in owner’s manual, rear-facing in the back seat. |
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Phase 2 |
Forward-facing Seats |
When children outgrow the rear-facing safety seat (2+ years), they should ride in a forward-facing safety seat as long as possible, up to the upper height or weight limit (40 – 80+ pounds) of the harnesses. Usually 4+ years old. Properly installed forward-facing in the back seat. NEVER turn forward-facing before child meets all: AGE/HEIGHT/WEIGHT requirements set by safety seat manufacturer for forward-facing. |
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Phase 3 |
Booster Seats |
After age 4 and 40+ pounds, children can ride in a booster seat with the adult lap and shoulder belt until the adult safety belt will fit them properly (usually when the child is 4'9" tall, 10 – 12 years old). |
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Phase 4 |
Adult Safety Belt |
Once children outgrow their booster seat (usually at 4'9", 10 – 12 years) they can use the adult lap/shoulder safety belt if it fits them properly. |
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Children are better protected the longer they can stay in each phase. Keep children in each seat up to themaximum age/weight/height limits before moving to the next phase. ALL children younger than age 13 years should ride properly restrained in the back seat. |
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Cribs:
Full-size cribs
Full size cribs have interior measurements of 28 5/8 inches wide and 52 3/8 inches long plus or minus 5/8 inches, there is atleast 26 inches from the top of the mattress to the top of the railing. Full size cribs come with mattress ranging from 5-6".
Mini Cribs
Mini Cribsare roughly 24 inches wide and 38 inches long. Mattresses are 3" and there is a weight limit of 35lbs.
Pack-N-Play/Portable Playard
Pack-N-Play/Portable Playards sit closer to the ground and are easy to transport place to place or room to room. The sleeping dimensions are 25.5"x 37.5". They come with a standard .5" mattress. Additional 3" mattresses can be rented.
Toddler Bed:
A toddler bed is lower to the ground than a crib and it uses a standard crib size mattress. Toddler beds are essentially mini versions of twin beds and feature bed rails about 2 inches above the mattress surface. The rails keep the children frm falling off the bed and help them feel safe and secure. Toddler beds have a weight limit of 50lbs.