During the month of September I plan to post reviews on products that are crucial to assist with your child’s safety. I know we all remember those first drives in the car with our new infants, people honking behind us as we drove way way below the speed limit. Being that I work in physical rehabilitation with children, to me there is nothing more important than the safety and protection of children.
In honor of National Seat Check Saturday coming up on September 25, 2010, over the past few months I have had the luxury of testing out The True Fit C670 Convertible Car seat by The First Years, which has received 5 stars by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA).
A Five Star Rating by the NHTSA means: “Extremely clear, concise, graphic labeling and instruction manual. Very convenient and simple to use features for securing the child. Excellent features for securing this restraint to the vehicle.” This car seat is side impact tested to international standards, has a 5 point harness for children 5 to 65 lbs., has a removable headrest for rear facing installation, is LATCH system compatible, and includes the Rebound Energy Management system ( the rebound being the “bounce” after initial impact has occurred).
Features about this car seat that have been great for our family include:
1. This is a convertible car seat, meaning that it can be installed rear-facing first and when your child reaches one year AND at least 20 lbs., you can rotate the car seat into a forward facing position
2. It has removable padding that makes this car seat appear far more comfy, cushy and supportive for younger infants than others we have utilized
3. We have a 4 door sedan, and since it was recommended to be installed in the middle rather than on the sides by our police station when rear facing, because the headrest is removable, it fit much easier in our smaller vehicle than other brands
4. When your child grows the harness does not need to be re-threaded and easily moves up and down the back. Many people purchase car seats for grandparents, friends and nannies, so I think this is a great car seat to purchase for other people who may also be driving your child. This car seat is very easy to install in and out of the car, and fabulous for those people who do not want or need a car seat installed 24/7
5. Since it’s easy to adjust the straps without rethreading them, it can easily be used for children that may be different age ranges (hence why I think every grandparent should get this particular model!)
6. There is an actual level on the carseat that assists when installing it so there is NO guessing whether it’s in the right position or not!
Remember: For the best possible protection keep infants in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat. At a minimum, keep infants rear-facing until a minimum of age 1 AND at least 20 pounds. When children outgrow their rear-facing seats (at a minimum age 1 and at least 20 pounds) they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats, in the back seat, until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the particular seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds).
Click here to locate one of the many police stations who have officers that are certified child safety passenger technicians who will install and/or inspect your carseat for FREE! Contact the NHTSA.gov for more information
This car seat is available for purchase at Amazon.com and at The First Years
The First Years is part of Learning Curve Brands, Inc. This car seat was provided free for the purpose of review by Learning Curve Brands, Inc. The opinions in this post are purely the bloggers own.