Here is a selection of the best baby gear around.  Items that make great gifts for the parents of your grandchildren or items you could buy for yourself when the little ones visit.  Did you know that car crashes are the number one killer of kids?  80% of kids riding in child safety seats are at risk because they may not be buckled in properly.  Don't take a chance visit Seatcheck.org to find out today if your grandchild is in the right seat!

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Infant | Toddler | Youth | Car Seat Safety Information

Infant (Rear Facing)

SnugRide Infant Carseat with LATCH (by Graco, infants 5 - 20lbs, $89.99)

There are several features our testers liked about this car seat but the main feature they liked was that it is LATCH-equipped.  To find out more about LATCH click here.  They are planning on buying a new car they liked the fact that this seat was designed to work with this new system.  They never felt that their current car seat was in their car securely and that having LATCH meant it wouldn't move.  They also liked the 5-point harness, canopy and 2-piece chest clip.  They found the handle easy to maneuver and carry.  They also commented that "It's really nice to have a 5-point harness, it's awful having to always pull straps over their babies head."  All in all a winner!

Triumph 5 Comfort Touch Car Seat by Evenflo, rear facing 5 - 30lbs and forward facing 20 - 40lbs, $199.99)

"This is a really well thought out, sturdy car seat," said our mother-of-three tester.  She liked the fact that the seat had 5 different positions to recline her child.  She said that this feature was a life saver during long trips.  The two-piece chest clip was easy to undo as was the lower buckle on the 5-point harness.  She liked the padding and the fabric. She also liked the fact this car seat is convertible. She said, "You get some extra time out of it - instead of running to buy the next size!"  A great value for the money.

Toddler (Forward Facing)

Britax Expressway ISOFIX (by Britax USA, toddler 20-40 lbs, $219.00) 

Our mother-of-two tester said, "this car seat is amazing, I just wish I had the LATCH system to take full advantage of this great car seat design."  The Expressway ISOFIX is a car seat designed for toddlers that sit forward facing and weigh between 20 to 40 pounds.   Britax has designed a system "The Rigid ISOFIX™ Attachment System for LATCH" that has a built in connector to make is simple to install, the system clicks into place for a secure installation.  Britax also has a patented tether system the "Versa-Tether" that minimizes movement of the child and the child seat in the event of an impact. The seat is designed with a 5-point harness system. 

Our tester said that this car seat was "simple to install, and that once installed with the tether and seat belt the seat doesn't budge."  She also commented that it's very easy to adjust the tension buy just pulling on the harness strap and really liked the design of the clips used to secure the seat belt. She said "at $219.00 this car seat is not inexpensive, but when a child safety is concerned does price really matter?".  Our tester said she would definitely buy this car seat, it's the best one she's seen.  Note: The Expressway ISOFIX is approved for Aircraft Use.

Youth (40-80lbs)

RightFit Booster (by Evenflo, children 40 - 80 lbs, $29.99)

This is a great little no-back booster for children who need little lift for safety.  The great thing about this booster is that it has a shoulder-belt positioner that adjusts for depending upon the height of the child.  Our tester's 5-year-old daughter liked the fact that the should strap could be positioned perfectly and prevented the strap from digging into her neck.  The mother liked the fact it could be used either side of the car.   It's not babyish and doesn't have any bells or whistles that get in the way of the straps.  It's lightweight and portable too. Note: This booster seat can not be used with just a lap belt.  Make sure you read the manufacturers directions before installing in your car.

Turbo Booster (by Graco, children 30 - 100lbs, $79.99)

Our mother-of-two tester said she thought this was a very good booster seat.  She liked the fact that this seat had the option of being backless.  She said that one of her cars has appropriate head support while the other does not, so the flexibility was good for her.  She used this car seat on her 8-year-old daughter who weighs 75lbs soaking wet.  She liked that fact it was well padded and that the head support was adjustable.  Her daughter liked the fact the back could be removed. She said, she doesn't like showing up at school in what looks like a car seat.  She also said it was comfortable.  

Car Seat Safety Information

Important Safety Articles

LATCH

LATCH is a new standardized child restraint system designed to simplify child safety seat installation and enhance child safety. The result of a new government regulation (FMVSS 225) aimed at reducing the number of car seats that are installed improperly, the goal of the new LATCH system is simple: To increase the effectiveness of car seats by requiring an easy-to-use anchorage system independent of the vehicle seat belts. The LATCH system calls for vehicles to be equipped with one upper (tether) and two lower anchorage points. The upper (tether) anchorage will be a ringlike object permanently attached to the vehicle on either the rear filler panel or on the cargo floor, depending on the vehicle. The two lower anchorages will be a set of two small bars in the rear seat of the vehicle, generally located where the seat cushion meets the seat back. Outfitted with permanently affixed hooks or buckles that are compatible with the anchorages in the vehicle, LATCH-equipped car seats will now attach to the vehicle seat via these anchorages instead of being held by the vehicle's seat belts. By September 1, 2002, the LATCH system will be required in two rear-seating positions in all new cars, minivans, and light trucks. (source Amazon.com)

To find out if your grandchild's car seat is the correct one for their height and weight, please visit http://www.seatcheck.org to find a seat inspection site near you.