When choosing a Child Car Seat it is important first to check with the manufacturer which seat fits in your car. Most manufacturers list child car seats that are appropriate. The next important consideration is your child's weight - you will notice I didn't say age - that's right - child and baby car seats are designed for a child or baby from and up to a specific weight - so you have to know this before choosing the right seat. All child car seats come with a classification which tells the parents exactly the age of child the seat is most appropriate for. These are as follows:

Stage 0+ Infant Carriers

These seats are for newborn babies to around 1 year - remember, it is the weight of your baby that determines which seat must be used, nothing to do with baby's leg length, the zero plus seat is suitable for children up to 13 kilograms or 28lbs.

Stage 0+ and 1 Car Seats

These are much larger car seats, designed for babies from newborn to around 4 years - when used for a baby up to 9kgs, the seat is used rearward facing, once the baby has reached 9 kg weight the seat can be turned round and is used forward facing Check that it is compatible with your vehicle when fitted forward and rearward facing.

This style seat is rather bulky and normally remains in the car and you simply lift the baby out.

Stage 1 Child Car Seat

The stage one child car seat will take baby from 9kgs to 18kgs this is from around 1 year (this age is only as a guide baby must weigh 9kgs) to around 4 years in a forward facing position. These will generally need to remain in the car - not every seat fits every car. If you have two cars it might be better to purchase two seats.

Stage 2 Child Car Seat

These seats do not have to be fitted to each car and will generally fit all vehicles without too many problems - those with bucket seats will need to choose a seat with a small base. This seat is for children from 15kgs (33lbs) to 25kgs (55lbs), ages 4 to around 10 depending on the Childs height and build. If your child is over the 25kgs weight but is below 135cm in height it is recommended that the child remain in the seat. Most Stage 2 seats have a height adjustable back for growing children.

Stage 1 & 2 Child Car Seat

For children between 1 year to 12 years (9kgs to 36kgs) there are a number of seats are now available. Seats are often supplied with a harness or a lock off for an adult seat belt for use during the early years of the child after which an adult seat belt 'free running' is used. Adjustable back and sometimes width is available in certain models.

Stage 3 Child Car Seats

This stage is only recommended for children of 22kg or 6 years, it offers no side protection and simply raises the child to a height to allow use of an adult seat belt.

All seats available for sale have passed stringent tests for safety. They all meet or exceed the European standards. So whatever child car seat you choose you can be sure that it is safe for you baby or child. However, the key issue for parents is the fitting of the seat and it is here that many parents go wrong - not knowing that not all baby car seats suit all cars or all children!

Warning: Never buy a second hand car seat, it may have been in an accident and seriously weakened and the damage may not be visible.

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