Once your child reaches 20 pounds it may be time to start thinking about car seats for toddlers rather than using the same seat that you used to bring a newborn infant home from the hospital. With all of the different models available and all of the various features that these models have in addition to all of the various height and weight requirements, picking out the right car seat can be challenging.

All of the newer car seats and the vehicles you'll be putting them in will have the LATCH system which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. This system of tethers and hooks anchor to two lower anchor points and one upper tether. The system was designed to make car seat installation standardized and simpler but too many people neglect to use these tethers. If your car has the anchors for the LATCH system, use them.

Some people may be tempted to buy a car seat at a garage sale to save some money. Times may be tough and it's great to save money wherever you can't but when it comes to the safety of your child it's almost always a better idea to buy a new car seat. A previously used seat may have been involved in an accident which could have weakened the structural integrity of the seat making it far less safe to use.

When you start shopping for a new seat there are a few things you want to keep in mind. The first thing you may wish to do is research some individual products to see if there have been any recalls, formal complaints about any particular brand or model, and get reviews and feedback from customers who have actually used the seat you are considering purchasing. Another thing to look at would be the ease of installation. If installing the new seat is complicated there is a chance that it will not be installed correctly and if this is the case your child will not be as safe as they should be.