BABY CAR SEAT

UK is one of the first countries that set a rule on car seat, you MUST use car seat for every boys/girls that you have in your car. compulsory for children below 12 yrs old, 12 yrs old using car seat?i cant imagine before i came here,how you are going to fit 12 yrs old kids into car seat,well it's no car seat, it's called booster.it looks like the pic. below:

items above can be purchased here within the range of GBP 20-100, and getting more value for your money?you can buy used items, as you know local people here don't use their items till "lunyai" like ours in Msia, & they dont prefer to keep them also,it takes lot of space.you can get a good condition item like that within rm200-300-depends on luck also-opss shipping cost also included-but might take 1 month,if you are not rushing then go ahead ,popular brand such as graco,chicco,britax,maxi cosi might cost you $$$ in Msia,if you need any assistance to get these items,don't hesitate to contact me via my yahoo dotron99 , i am the right land for those hi quality baby items,

if you are here, u might get crossed-eye-mata juling looking all 101 types of design!!feel free to contact if u want me to propose any of good. cond. car seat/pram..

The most frequently asked question by parents is, "Which is the Safest Child Safety Seat?" The universally accepted principle is that the safest child restraint system is one that fits your child, your vehicle and your budget. The universally accepted principle also adds that the safest car seat is one that you will use correctly every time without fail. This guide attempts to illustrate some features that can make it easier for a parent to fit their child and their vehicle. There are also links to other great websites with specific child restraint recommendations.

Features

There are a number of features which can improve the safety of a carseat. All current carseats meet existing government safety requirements and pass standard crash tests. Some go beyond that. The safest, perfect seat for every child and vehicle simply does not exist. On the other hand, there are some important features to consider on your next purchase. Car seats with few of these features can still be very safe choices, but they may require more time and effort to make sure they fit properly each time.

• 5-point Harness. Experts agree and studies confirm that this type of harness is safest. Newer designs are easier to use. The 5-point harness usually gives the best fit and reduces the chance of ejection.
  
  
• Wide, Twist-free straps. Some harnesses have straps that twist easily. A twisted strap reduces the area that restrains a child in a crash, and this can result in burns or more severe injuries.
  
  
• Two-piece chest clips. These can also reduce strap twisting and are usually easier to use. They are often more difficult for a child to detach.
  
  
• Front harness adjustments. Some seats have a mechanism on the front of the carseat to adjust the tightness of the harness. Experts recommend that the harness be snug, such that you can't pinch any of the strap away from the shoulder. A tight harness can increase ride-down time, reduce the forward movement of the head in a crash and reduce the overall risk of injury. The easier the tightness is to adjust, the more likely it is that you will adjust it properly every time, no matter what clothing the child is wearing (though winter coats and other bulky clothing under the harness straps are not recommended). One new model even allows for the harness height to be adjusted from the front.
  
  
• Built-in locking clips. Many older vehicles will require the use of a metal locking clip to make sure the seatbelt holds the carseat properly and doesn't loosen over time. These clips are easily lost, and often used incorrectly. A few models have built-in locking clips that are much easier to use and often result in a tighter fit.
  
  
• Seat Belt Routing Path. In addition to built-in locking clips, some carseats have seatbelt routing paths which may make for better installations in some vehicles. Some seats also make it easier to actually route the belt from one side to the other with your hands. Vehicles with sloped rear seats or seatbelt buckles that come out from in front of the crease between the cushion and the back of the seat can make for difficult installations. Some carseats simply won't work with such seats. Finally, some seatbelt guides on certain belt-positioning boosters may be prone to misuse, causing excess slack in the seatbelt.
  
  
• Infant Carriers with Bases. Most infant carriers come with bases that can be installed separately. The base is left in the vehicle, and the carrier is easily installed or removed from the base without taking the baby out of the harness. An extra base can usually be purchased separately for another vehicle. Most carriers can be installed by themselves in a vehicle even without the base, but a few models may require the base for installation so check to make sure.
  
  
• Size. Some seats are simply too large to fit in vehicles with small rear seating areas, especially when rear-facing. At least one larger model (Century SmartMove) must remain free to rotate backward in a crash for safety reasons, and in some cases this means it cannot be touching the seat in front of it. For most carseats, this is not an issue, and may even be an advantage in a crash. Finally, it is sometimes necessary to choose a narrower model so that more carseats or passengers can fit side-by-side in the rear seat.
  
  
• Tether strap with easy adjustment. Top Tethers are standard on most new convertible and harnessed front-facing carseats, and can be installed on many older ones. They improve safety in a crash when installed properly. The mechanisms to adjust the length vary from model to model. Some have an easy-to-use push-button mechanism, others have more difficult slider buckles.
  
  
• Rear-facing tethers and Anti-Rebound Bars. These features are found on a few infant and convertible seats. Depending on the model, these features may improve crash performance, reduce the rebound of the rear-facing seat into the vehicle seat and increase the stability of the installation
  
  
• Foot Props. At least one rear-facing model in the USA uses a foot-prop to reduce any possible excessive downward rotation in a crash. This feature is common in other countries, like Australia. It may increase the safety of rear-facing restraints when used with heavier children.
• LATCH. LATCH is a new system that allows a carseat to be installed without seatbelts. It should make it easier to get a proper fit in most vehicles. This feature may be worth considering if you own a vehicle with the system, or may buy one in the future. Most carseats made starting in September, 2002 will have the system, as will almost all model year 2003 vehicles. Retrofit LATCH kits are available for many brands and models of carseats. The carseat attachments vary significantly, some are easy to connect and release, others can be quite difficult.
  
  
• Head Impact Protection. Some carseats have an added layer of EPS foam or special plastic, similar to that used in bicycle helmets and protective gear. This is usually recessed into the plastic shell of the seat around the head, and can improve crash safety in side impacts, rear impacts and rebounds in frontal crashes. Some boosters may be made primarily of EPS grade foam.
  
  
• Increased weight limits. Rear-facing is safest for children, since frontal crashes are more frequent and severe than other crashes. When rear-facing, the child is cradled by the whole seat. Front-facing, all the forces are transferred to the child by the harness straps, and the head is still free to be thrown forward. Most newer convertible seats have 30, 33 or 35 pound rear-facing weight limits, and some infant carriers also go to 22, 30 or 35 pounds. Much emphasis is also being placed on older children in boosters. Newer boosters have 80 or 100 pound limits, and there are harnessed front-facing carseats that go to 60 and 80 pounds. Some models offer protection when only a lapbelt is available.
  
  
• Adequate room for tall children. Some carseats have higher slots than others. When front-facing, a child's shoulders should be at or below the harness slots. Some carseats have higher backs than others. When front facing, the tips of a child's ears should not be above the top of the carseat to allow for whiplash protection. Some seats also have adjustable crotch strap positions for larger children. A proper fit is safer. Seats that accommodate taller children may allow you to use the carseat longer. It should also be noted that many convertible carseats can ONLY use the top set of harness slots when front facing, as the other slots may not be re-inforced on these models.
  
  
• Reinforced Carrying Handles. While installed in a car, most infant carriers must have the handle in the "down" position. Left in the upright position, the handle can break during the rebound in a crash and injure the baby or other passengers. A few models may allow the handle to remain up at all time; please check the manual.
  
  
• "Wings" for sleeping and protection. Some models have wide, padded wings on each side of the head. These are not only helpful to keep a child's head upright while sleeping, but they can also help to keep the child's head from hitting hard objects during a rebound in a side or rear impact.
  
  
• Recline. Some seats have built-in recline adjustments. This may help get the necessary 45-degree recline for newborns, without the use of rolled-up towels or swim noodles in rear-facing operation. Older infants may have less recline in a rear-facing carseat. Some models have handy recline indicators to help adjust them properly. While forward-facing, recline is not recommended unless allowed in the owner's manual.