I’ve been fascinated with cars for as far back as I can remember. According to my father, the first word I ever uttered as a toddler was “auto.” When I was a small boy, I eagerly soaked up everything my dad told me about cars. I was endlessly fascinated by my grandfather’s ability to tell the make and model of a tractor just from the sound their engines made. Before I could even read I was collecting car cards like other kids collected baseball cards. And among my most priced possessions were a couple of remote control cars. In those days, remote control still meant the control was connected to the car via a long cable-they weren’t like the electric RC cars we have today.

I’ll probably never forget the thrill I experienced when my dad came back from one of this trips and gave me a Mercedes Benz sedan remote control toy car. It was shiny black, looked absolutely realistic, and had working headlights, taillights and blinkers. The doors and trunk opened and it would go backwards and forwards as well as left and right. I played with it every chance I got for weeks.

Today, RC cars have wireless remote controls and are no longer tethered to the remote. And there is now an entire industry dedicated to electric remote control cars. What hasn’t changed is the thrill children experience operating their RC cars with parents, friends and siblings. There’s just something magical about those shiny remote controlled cars, something real that even today’s ultra-advanced video games cannot quite capture. They even help improve kids’ hand and eye coordination.

Radio control cars come in many different sizes, ranging from tiny matchbox-sized RC toy cars all the way to 1/8 and even 1/6-scale models that are over two feet long. And they are certainly not just for kids. Though I technically haven’t been a kid for many decades, I own a good number of electric RC cars, including a 1/6-scale PT Cruiser in the same exact inferno red color as the real thing in my garage. I also have two other remote control PT Cruisers and playing with all those different sizes is just too much fun (and also made for some cool photo ops).

Interestingly, even though today’s electric RC cars are far more sophisticated than the ones I had when I was a child, many are very reasonably priced. I remember when the first radio controlled models came on the market they cost a small fortune, and certainly more than I could afford on my allowance. Prices have come down drastically since then, and it’s now possible to get even 1/8 or 1/6-scale for about what you pay for an XBox or Playstation video game. That’s certainly a tremendous bargain!

What continues to fascinate me is the huge range of different models you can get. There is truly something for every taste. I may never be able to afford a Ferrari, but for less than it costs to take the family out to dinner in a chain restaurant I can get a beautifully crafted red 1/12-scale Ferrari F430 with working headlights (just like that Mercedes Benz of my youth), independent suspension and enough detail to make me dream. If you love cars and haven’t checked out electric RC cars lately, do yourself a favor and see what’s being offered these days!

Author: Chris Robertson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty

Children always like to imitate adults. Whether it is a good habit or a bad habit, children will just follow the adult. In this way, when children see their parents driving, they too want to drive. With the production of ride on cars this fascination of the children became a reality. In the beginning ride on cars were high priced and some of the ride on cars were as expensive as buying an actual motor-cycle. Now, with the commercial production of ride on cars by many toy companies it had become affordable to most parents. A ride on car is considered not an ordinary toy. In the opinion of most people, a ride on car is an educational toy which teaches a child the basic points of controlling and maneuvering a car just as an adult would do.

Ride on cars come in several forms. The earliest form of ride on cars was manual peddling. The first production was wooden ride on cars for children under five years of age. These wooden ride-on cars for children were heavy and bulky. This was followed by ride on mini cars that were made out of metal. These ride-on mini cars made of metal was dangerous as the metal rusted and children got bruised by the sharper edges. Now, with the introduction of electric powered ride on cars made out of fibre or plastic it has given this toy a lot of sophistication. The electric-powered ride on cars made by toy companies are replicas of big cars. They come with various controls that allow the child to learn to control the electric ride on cars intelligently. Children also use it carefully so as not to knock them to damage the electric powered ride on cars. When kids ride on cars they observe carefully what the adult does so that he or she may be able to follow that in their own ride on electric cars.

Some of the features of the electric powered ride on cars include travels at speeds ranging from three to six kilometers per hour with a load capacity up to forty kilograms. This means a child up to the age of twelve can use an electric ride on car. The motor of an electric ride on car is 18 Watts with a rechargeable battery of six volts. It weights around twenty to twenty five Kilograms.

The ride-on cars come with several names like Children’s ride on cars that can carry children up to five years of age. There are electric ride on cars named pussy cat cars that resemble the shape of a cat. There are also ride-on jeeps just like the bigger versions. These can accommodate two children each weighing twenty kilograms. There is also go-kart like kids ride on cars resembling the go-karts.

The most recent electric kids ride on car introduced to the market is the 1:4 scale Benz. It has forward, backward, right and left turn functions. It has a twelve volts rechargeable battery and resembles the original Benz car in all details.

Author: Samantha Clark
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Creditcard Currency Conversion Fee

They say that boys will be boys and although that can be a very subjective generalization, the evolution of boy’s toys into a hobby for grown men can attest to the fact that some boys never grow up-at least in terms of their toy cars.

RC (radio controlled) cars is the general term for any car model that uses a radio control system for remote management. However, there are two types of RC cars: the toy grade, which was designed for young boys; and the hobby grade which is the choice of adolescent boys and men of all ages.

The only similarity between the toy and hobby grade RC cars is that they are both models of land vehicles that are used via remote radio control system. The main difference in the two types of models however is that the toy grade one is just a bunch molded plastic that resembles the look of a miniature car, while the hobby grade types are actual miniature models of vehicles that come with individual parts assembled much like a real, full sized car. In fact, hobby grade RC cars are treated exactly like real cars because it requires regular maintenance and run on actual miniature car engines.

Some hobby grade RC cars run on electrically propelled machines while the rest run on gas powered engines. The complexity of hobby grade RC cars is probably the main attraction for men of all ages. That and the fact that hobby grade RC cars are made for racing that allow men to compete with each other using their personalized racing cars. An RC cars hobbyist will have to decide whether he wants a gas powered or electric powered vehicle. On both types of engines, there will be trade offs.

For instance, electric RC cars are generally lighter than their fuel powered counterparts. However, gas powered RC cars are faster than their electric counterparts. These trade offs are analyzed by the hobbyist in making his decision on which type of RC car to own. All these hobby grade RC cars come with complex parts that can be expanded and changed so that a hobbyist can own a gas powered car which he can change for an electric engine if he wants.

Because the RC cars are used for racing, they are fitted with extra powerful radio controlled systems that allow remote control from many distances. Not only that, since there are different terrain in which an RC car race can be held, there are also off-road models suited for all terrain racing because of their wheels and suspension.

Whether you have a electric RC car or gas powered rc cars, you can be assured that your car will need a lot of maintenance from repair and upgrading of car parts to cleaning and tuning to make sure that your race machine can hold its own out on the race track among other RC cars.

So you see, these RC cars are true toys for the bog boys. They are something that can be appreciated by grown ups in terms of complexity and ability for real races and it allows men to feel like boys again even for just a while.

Author: Bob Janeway
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Electric Pressure Cooker

Now that you have decided whether to purchase a toy or quality remote controlled car (see Remote Controlled Car Buying Tips – Part 1), the next step is to decide whether to purchase an electric or gas powered car. Once again, which car is the best for you depends upon your reasons for making the purchase and your skill level.

Electric Cars

* Easier for beginners to control

* Easier to maintain

* Runs on batteries

* Green living friendly – no harmful fuel emissions

* Runs quieter and cleaner than gas

* Speeds up to 25 mph

* Can be modified to reach speeds up to 55 mph

* More economical

* Out of the box ready -all accessories come with the car

Gas Powered Cars (aka nitro rc cars)

* Best for advanced users and racing competitions

* Require more maintenance due to the fueling system

* Runs on hobby fuel (nitro methane)

* Hobby fuel is flammable

* Fuel emission smell

* Noise level is much higher

* More power and speed

* Speeds up to 60 mph

* High end models can reach speeds u to 70 – 80 mph

Although both the electric car and the gas powered car can be suitable for beginners, the electric car is less complex. If the user is not mechanically inclined, the electric car would be the better choice. As long as the battery is charged, the electric car is always ready to go. Because the electric car is a quieter running vehicle, you can run them anywhere.

If the users likes the realism of power, speed and maintenance, then starting out with a gas-powered vehicle is fine. Just like real cars, gas-powered cars may refuse to run at times, needing a “mechanic” (you) to fix them. Due to the noise and fuel emissions, there may be restrictions as to where this type of car can be run in your area.

When it comes to maneuverability, some electric cars can actually outperform gas-powered cars in twists and turns; but for straight out speed, the gas powered car will outperform the electric car. One of the reasons that gas-powered cars outperform electric cars is because of its transmission system. This may change in the near future as technology is increasing the speed and power of electric cars.

In the beginning days of remote controlled cars, hobbyist were required to build their vehicles; but in today’s world many electric and some gas-powered cars can be purchased ready to run, right out of the box. Entry-level cars in both categories are faster, cheaper and will outperform the cars that were built in the early days of remote controlled cars.

Author: Anthony Cendejas
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Electric Pressure Cooker

They entertain, excite and impress by their designs and features. They are radio controlled cars, or if you like, remote controlled cars. The main science behind these RC cars is using radio transmissions to maneuver the cars like you would do with a normal steering wheel. These cars are wonderful play toys to kids especially but all age groups can indulge in their use.

Technological advancements in the motoring industry have trickled down to the radio controlled cars in amazing fashion. At present day and age these cars are powered by various energy sources including electricity, nitro, gas and battery. The designers of these RC cars have gone as far as fitting the cars with such features as radios and mp3 players that actually work!

Of all the radio controlled cars available, the nitro RC cars have gotten the best reviews as being the premier cars to have. The synonym of nitro is of course speed and blistering speed at that. The nitro powered cars have been known to achieve mind boggling speeds and have even beaten real cars in racing. The nitro fuel is a special mix made of methanol, oil and nitro methane. Go figure.

The electric RC car, though they trail their nitro powered counterparts in speed, still provide much entertainment and fun. They also are very cheap considering that electricity is readily available. What the electric RC car loses in speed they make up in design and functionality. Improvements in technology have led to development of more efficient chargers which have made the cars more enjoyable.

The guzzlers that they are, gas powered RC cars are inadvertently more costly than the electric and nitro powered cars. These also are bigger in size and so require bigger space in order to be experienced in full. They compensate for speed with lots of power and longevity. These gas powered RC cars have been made so as not to consume a lot of fuel.

To get the best out of radio controlled cars you need to know all about them so as you can get all accessories that go with the different kind of models on offer. These accessories like batteries for the electric RC car and RC gas car, a glow plug heater for the nitro RC cars, are critical to the functionality of the models. As such hype about these cars is far from being quenched.

Author: Sam Lin
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: How Electric Pressure Cookers Work

Air Hogs R/C: Zero Gravity Mini Car – Blue or Red

Radio Control indoor racing has never seen anything like this. The zero-gravity micro racer is a full-function Radio Control car that knows no difference between the wall, the cielings and the floor! It races upside-down, right-side up and on any other smooth surface, all with fantastic scale speed and stunning operation. Real Working headlights shows charge level indication, so you can see when it’s time to recharge.

Product Features The ultimate fully functional Radio Control vehicle Includes one zero gravity micro car, one controller or charger and one instruction sheet Micro sized for the best play action Drives on your walls,ceilings and floor Performance best on surfaces that are smooth

Spinmaster Air Hogs Zero Gravity Micro Car Product Details

Products Dimension: 4 x 6 x 10.1 inches ; 13.6 ounces Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) ASIN: B00192CA38 Item model number: 6012048 Our Recommended Age: 8 years and up Manufacturer Recommended Age: 8 years and up Batteries: 6 AA batteries required.

Product Description

Forget those remote control cars that just scoot across the ground! These Air Hogs Zero Gravity Micro cars moves in three dimensions — across the ground, up the wall, and even upside down on the ceiling! By using a specifically designed suction system, this car can climb up walls and maneuver just as it does on the ground.

Smart, Innovative Design

Air Hogs makes the only cars that climb walls, the Zero Gravity Micro is faster and smaller than the original Air Hogs Zero Gravity Humvee. We were surprised by how small and light the Zero Gravity Micro is; it is basically a thin plastic shell wrapped around a light body with a vacuum in it. Our car was designed to look like a red race car, but you can choose from other designs available as well. We were able to get the Zero Gravity Micro up and running without any problems. The remote control unit needs six AA batteries (not included), and is then used to charge the built-in rechargeable battery in the car. This is done by connecting a cable from the remote control to the car, and flipping the switch to charge mode. Thanks to the smart design, this cable can be stowed and hidden away when not being used.

After about half an hour for charging, the car was ready. Right away, we set the car to wall climbing mode and set it on our wall. Though we’d read about what it was supposed to do, we were still very impressed when we saw the car stick to the wall and climb. You can see the vacuum working, as there is a window on the top of the car showing a spinning fan. The car makes quite a bit of sound when it is in wall mode. Using the remote, we were able to make the car go up, turn left and right, and go down as well. With a tight turning radius, the car is very maneuverable and with some practice, you can get the car to do exactly as you wish.Additionaly to the Wall mode, there is also Ground mode which leaves the vacuum switched off, and lets you drive with full function on the ground. You need to walk around with the car, however, as the remote has limited range. This is not as big a concern on walls because we were usually pretty close to the wall as the car was climbing it.

The car has working headlights that double as a battery charge indicato — when they start to blink, the car needs charging.

Needs Clean, Smooth Surface.

The instructions warn that the car should be played on a smooth, clean surface, and they’re not kidding. Since the car stays on walls due to suction, the moment an irregular surface is introduced, the car loses suction and falls off. We found that a surface like glass works very well. With our concrete wall, we often ran into problems with the car maintaining its suction. Coupled with the car’s construction, we fear that rough treatment could cause damage to it.

Overall, we found the Air Hogs Zero Gravity Micro to be an innovative and fun toy. We wished it were a bit more hefty and could work on more surfaces, but when we got it going on our window, we were very impressed. It’s a great new idea and twist on an old toy, and is bound to keep children mesmerized. What’s in the Box AirHogs car, remote control unit, instructions.

The Car comes with two power settings – floor mode with venture fan off, and suction mode for vertical and upside-down action. Includes four different frequencies so you can race against your friends. Requires 1 rechargeable LiPo battery (included) and 6 “AA” batteries (not included). Measures 4.75″L x 2.5″W x 1.25″H. Colors may vary from image shown.

The Good: Car can be driven up walls; includeing rechargeable battery

The Bad: Car is a bit fragile; slightly loud; and limited wireless range

In a Nutshell: Car can do everything as advertised, but all the conditions must be met

At a Glance

Ages: 8 and up Requires: 6 AA batteries for remote, clean surface.

Author: Gary P Jones
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable pressure cooker

Many people look at Radio Control Cars as just toys and sometimes they are near the truth.
The main reason for that is that Radio Controlled Toys have in the past couple of years got

a LOT better in quality and even in performance.

This is not to say that Hobby grade Model “RC” ( radio control) Cars have lagged behind as they are certainly much more like driving a real car or truck than they were even 2 years ago.

There is not such a fine line any more between Radio Control Toys and Hobby Grade cars.
Both are available as either 4 wheel drive or all terrain vehicles or as racetrack style cars for use on flatter surfaces or even paving stones perhaps even indoors.

The main differences now are on the engines and for toys these are usually electric and
are powered mainly by AA or rechargeable batteries.

One thing to watch for is the difference between

Radio Control and Remote control remote control is usually a wire going from the car to the controlling handset whereas a Radio Control Car is not connected physically but commands are given by a wireless connection from free wireless transmitter handset to a receiver inside the car or truck.

Toy Cars are sometimes looked down on by some people in the Hobby communities but if people derive pleasure from toy grade cars then I am in favour of that.

Recently Toy cars come with much more durable bodies as makers know that some users like to stage collisions ! (But like their cars to work afterwards)

Hobby Grade Radio Control cars are pretty much always Radio Controlled.
Older models may be remote control.

These are sometimes very collectible.

One of the big differences is that Hobby Grade Cars are repairable in case of damage while many toy grade cars will just have to be patched us as best as the owner can manage. Spares are very rarely available for Toy Grade cars.

This is because Hobby grade cars now are mainly capable of being upgraded and spare parts are generally easily available.

The reason for this is that hobby grade cars often need tuning or the owners want to add
flashy new exhaust pipes,steering units or other great addons .

This is one of the ways that Hobby Car makers use to make extra income.
They supply a demand but sometimes supplies coming from the Far East take a while to arrive.

Electric cars are some of the cheapest and have minimal servicing needs like minor cleaning and replacing worn parts.

They are probably the best starter cars for a novice driver and are generally quite durable.
Electric cars are now supplied mainly with “brushless” engines and some earlier ones can be upgraded.

Nitro Cars have real small combustion engines – a miniaturized version of car engines although they run on special fuel based on Nitromethane,Methanol and oil – supplied usually by hobby stores.
These engines are known as Glow Plug engines and the cars powered by them can reach quite high speeds.

The engines can be replace often with larger capacity ones that supplied by the maker . These do however need a bit more maintenance as the fuel does spray around a little and they also need tuning.

It is much easier for the novice to buy a pre-tuned car in this category
These are known as Ready To Run cars.

Generally the Nitro cars are about 20 percent bigger than Electric Cars due to the
glow plug engines and they are much faster. (There are actually many different cars available and the crossover between electric and Nitro Cars in output is sometimes similar).

The next grade up is Hobby grade cars with real engines – these are known as “Gassers” or “Fuelies” and have much bigger engines similar in size to brush cutter engines and with a corresponding increase in power.
These are for the real enthusiast and cost much more than Nitro or Electric models.

Cars for Racing have very specific requirements for engine size and other needs.
You will always receive a transmitter handset with your radio control car and a manual.
Keep the manual safe – you WILL need it.

Second user cars are popular as many users upgrade.
Always make sure you get the manual and an assurance that the car will not be “DOA” (dead on arrival!).

If the car is not functioning properly then get your money back.
It is a good idea if buying at auction to always use Paypal which covers you for up to $500 in this case or in the case of nondelivery.

Author: Keith Jones
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Smart cooker

When I first heard the words, convertible car seat I thought, WOW! They actually make car seats specifically for convertibles? They must have a special structure to protect children’s heads should the convertible roll. Imagine my surprise when I realized that convertible meant the car seats could be used in both rear facing and front facing situations. All I could do was laugh and think, I know my kids are older now, but do I really live in the dark ages?

When my children were younger we didnt have the option of buying one car seat and having it last for years. We had to buy the rear facing infant car seat, then the front facing toddler car seat, and finally, just when we thought we were out of car seats, we had to purchase the dreaded booster seat!

When I was told that my sister-in-law would be arriving by plane with her two boys to spend a month with us, I said to my husband, I know we can borrow a car seat from our neighbor, but we will need another car seat. After all, were not going to be sticking around the house all month. Little did I know at the time that shed be dragging two car seats from California to South Dakota.

At any rate, a week after the boys arrived, my brand new Radian 80 convertible car seat arrived and I couldnt be happier. You see, one of the twins has actually sprouted and his car seat was just too tight and uncomfortable.

So I opened the box and sat dumb-found as I stared at the countless straps, the instruction booklet and the extras. Im not mechanically inclined for something like this, I told my husband.

He looked at me, opened up the instruction booklet and laughed. Seriously, Alyice. Its really easy to install and use. But Im not so sure about carrying this thing on my back. Look theres no cushion and its heavy. And with that, he had strapped the car seat onto his back, like a backpack, and began walking around the room. Hey, this isnt half bad! Nothing is poking me in the back. This could really work when changing flights in an airport.

Okay Mr. Smarty Pants, lets go install this thing in our Uplander, I laughed.

And with that, we effortlessly installed the car seat and put my now sprouted nephew into the car seat for a test run. Our thoughts were to let the boys take turns using the car seat but once he took that test run there was absolutely no turning back to the old car seat. He was in heaven!

There are many things I like about the Radian 80–all of which were pleasant surprises.

First, you have four options for carrying the Radian 80: a small red strap at the base of the seat, a plastic handle on the side of the car seat, the long shoulder strap, and of course the best feature of all, the two shoulder straps work together like a back pack. For many this might seem like the most trivial part of the car seat, but for me its an important aspect because trying to get car seat, diaper bag, and child into the car at one time can often be a struggleespecially when you only have one car to work with and two adults who use it or need to alter between two vehicles. Now, all I have to do is put the car seat on my back, place the diaper bag over my shoulder, and grab the kidno more trying to juggle it all in one trip or making two trips.

Second, there is a detachable base that helps keep the car seat in proper rear facing position, thus securing the infant into place. I like the idea of this feature being detachable because when guests visits, I can easily adjust the car seat to fit the age and weight of each child.

Third, the forward facing latch installation system can be easily adjusted to fit a variety of carswhich is a good thing considering we own three cars and often vary use depending on where we are going or how many people are going with us.

Fourth, the car seat as a feature that helps further secure the seat to the car. Its called a Top Tether. Basically, it means that there is a strap at the top of the car seat that can attach to a specific part of the car and help maintain stability of the car seat.

Sixth, the harness buckle system can be altered according to the height and weight of the child. I really like this feature because it means that the child is properly secured at all times. I hate to put a child into a car seat only to pad it with blankets because the straps are too loosethats not safe. And I definitely hate the idea of worrying that Ill pinch the skin because the straps are too tight.

Seventh, there is a locking clip that helps secure the lap-shoulder seat belt. This is a great feature because it prevents the lap belt from becoming loose over time, thus making sure the car seat is tight and secure at all times.

Eighth, the car seat is so compact and sturdy that its been tested and approved to be used on an aircraft which is a good thing since my sister-in-law is considering buying two before she returns home. (See company photo I was able to acquire of the car seat in use on an aircraft!)

And finally, the car seat comes with support cushions to help support infants and toddlers, a plastic harness clip, and two metal restraint buckles. The five point harness system is also important to note because it keeps children snug and prevents them from wiggling out of the car seat while protecting them during impact.

I know Ive gone on and on with this review, but I really do like the Radian 80.

Author: Alyice Edrich
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: WordPress plugin Guest Blogger

A child car seat should be high on your to-buy list. You’ll need one to bring your baby home from the hospital and for every car trip thereafter. In fact, hospitals and birthing centers generally won’t let you leave by car with your newborn if you don’t have one. Every state requires that kids up to 4 years of age ride in a car seat; many require booster seats for older children.

WHAT’S AVAILABLE

The major brands of car seats you’re likely to encounter are, in alphabetical order: Baby Trend, Britax, Chicco, Combi, Cosco, Eddie Bauer, Evenflo, Graco, Peg Perego, and Safety 1st.

There are also car beds for preemies and other very small newborns if there’s a concern that a car seat may not provide a secure fit or that it may exacerbate breathing problems. In addition, there are specially designed car seats for children with physical disabilities. Every model of car seat sold in the U.S. must meet federal safety standards. These are your basic choices:

Infant seats. These rear-facing seats are for babies up to 22 pounds. They allow infants to recline at an angle that doesn’t interfere with breathing and protects them best in a crash. Many strollers are now designed to accommodate infant car seats. All infant car-seat models come with a handle, and nearly all have a base that secures to your vehicle with LATCH connections or a vehicle safety belt, a convenience that lets you remove the seat and use it as a carrier. You can strap most infant seats into a car without a base, using the vehicle safety belts, but most people don’t use them that way.

Infant seats have either a three-point harness–two adjustable shoulder straps and a lock between the child’s legs or–even better–an adjustable five-point system–two straps over the shoulders, two for the thighs, and a crotch strap. The handle usually swings from a position behind the seat’s shell when in the car to an upright position for carrying. Remember to swing the handle to the vehicle position before each trip. Slots underneath most seats help them attach to the frame of a shopping cart.

With an infant car seat, you also can move your baby from car to house or vice versa without waking him or her up–a plus for both of you. Note also that extra bases are available so you can keep a secured base in each of your vehicles. Your baby may outgrow an infant car seat quickly and become too heavy for you to use it as a carrier. As a result, you may find yourself having to buy a convertible car seat after your baby is 6 to 9 months old. However, our advice is still to start with an infant seat before moving up to a convertible seat.

Price range: $30 to $180.

Travel systems. Travel systems offer one-stop shopping: You get an infant car seat and a stroller all in one. Most car-seat manufacturers offer these combination strollers/infant car seats. And many stand-alone strollers are now designed to accommodate infant car seats. With these strollers, you create a carriage by snapping an infant car seat into a stroller. The car seats of travel systems also come with a base, which stays in the car. The snap-on car seat is generally positioned atop the strollers so the infant rides facing the person pushing. Your baby can also ride in the stroller seat alone when he or she is big enough.

Most travel-system strollers can be used only with a car seat from the same company. They can also be bulky, so if you’re a city dweller who negotiates more subway stairs than highways or if the trunk of your car isn’t too roomy, you may be better off with a separate car seat and a compact stroller that is appropriate for a newborn.

Price range: $40 (stroller frame only) to $400.

Convertible seats. With a convertible seat, the child faces rearward as an infant, then toward the front of the vehicle as a toddler. The seat can function as a rear-facing seat for infants up to 30 or 35 pounds, depending on the model, and as a front-facing seat for toddlers generally up to 40 pounds (a few have a 65-pound limit). Models typically have an adjustable five-point harness system–two straps over the shoulders, two for the thighs, and a crotch strap between the legs. Some models have a tray shield that lowers over the baby’s head and fastens with a buckle between the legs. However, our tests show that children, especially small ones, are better restrained with a five-point harness.

A convertible car seat can be a money saver, taking your child from infancy to kindergarten and beyond. We advise starting with an infant seat first, though, as mentioned earlier. Keep in mind that convertible seats are not compatible with strollers, so you will have to transfer your baby from the convertible car seat to a carriage or stroller when you’re ready to set out on foot. Such jostling can wake a sleeping baby, a problem if you need to take your child on frequent shopping expeditions or other errands.

Price range: $50 to $290.

Toddler/booster seats. Looking like large versions of convertible seats, these front-facing seats are used with an internal harness for toddlers 20 to 40 pounds. They’re either LATCH-attached or can be secured using the vehicle belts and tethers. When kids reach 40 pounds, the seat becomes a belt-positioned booster seat, which children can use until they’re 80 or 100 pounds. With a belt-positioned booster seat, the child is restrained using the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belt system.

Booster seats. These are generally for children weighing 40 to 80 pounds. (A very tall child may begin using a booster seat at 30 pounds.) Booster seats use the vehicle’s own safety belts to restrain the child.

Built-in seats. Some U.S. and foreign automakers offer on select cars and minivans an integrated, forward-facing child seat that has a harness and accommodates toddlers weighing more than 20 pounds. There are also some booster-seat versions. Built-in seats must meet the same performance standards as add-on child seats. However, they offer little or no side protection and they’re usually located next to a door, instead of in the center–the safer position. You may also need a regular car seat for when your child travels in other vehicles.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

Since Sept.1, 2002, all child car seats with an internal harness and nearly all passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. have been required to include equipment designed for simpler buckling. This system, called LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children), consists of child car-seat connections that attach to anchor points in the vehicle, eliminating the need to use a vehicle’s safety belts to install the seat. You can still use safety belts to install a LATCH-equipped child car seat–for example, in an older car that lacks LATCH anchors. You can also retrofit some non-LATCH car seats with LATCH features.

Today’s car seats cater to every possible taste–plain colors, plaids, animal and paw-print motifs, and patriotic red, white, and blue. Remember that, style aside, babies tend to be messy, so washable fabric is a plus, especially if your car seat will be with you beyond the first year, when training cups and eating on the go can kick into high gear. Car seats from some leading brands, however, require hand washing and line drying. Make sure you’re up for that; most coverings are rigged through the harness-strap system and are held in place with elastic so they can be removed for laundering. But in some cases extracting the fabric from the seat can require extensive dismantling. Check the seat’s manual for how-to’s.

Extras such as add-on seat covers (“boots”), thicker padding, additional reclining options, or adjustable head-support cushions may offer greater comfort. But buy them only if they are sold by the same maker as the seat and for that specific seat, since they were tested that way; mixing brands is very risky. Some models have elastic side pockets for toys, bottles, or snacks. As your baby grows, they can come in handy, but they’re not absolutely necessary.

Some infant and convertible seats have a level indicator on the side to help you install them facing the rear at a safe angle. A top tether is a webbed strap that can be used with all front-facing seats for children up to 40 pounds and with some up to 65 pounds. It’s located on the back of a convertible or toddler seat and hooks into an eye bolt in a vehicle’s rear deck, floor, roof, or seatback. Passenger vehicles manufactured on or after Sept.1,1999 have the anchors in place in their rear seats, but older models may need to have the hardware added. Obviously, you can’t use a tether with cars that lack a top-tether anchor or that have no provision for a retrofit.

HOW TO CHOOSE

Start with an infant seat for a newborn and pay close attention to the height and weight limits as your child grows. When your baby reaches the infant seat’s limits for height and weight, or becomes too heavy for you to tote, use a convertible seat in the rear-facing orientation up to the seat’s limits in that mode. Then use the convertible seat front-facing until your toddler reaches the next height and weight limits. After that, use a booster seat until your child is tall enough to use the car’s safety belts, typically at least 57 inches. Buying three seats instead of two may cost more, but it can pay off in protection and peace of mind

Make sure the seat is compatible with your car. One of the first things you should do in choosing a seat for your child is to check the fit of any models you’re considering in your own car. Even before that, though, we suggest placing similar-looking models side by side in the store to compare features. (If you’ve already had your baby, place your child in the seat, to get a sense of the ease of buckling and unbuckling.) Then, if possible, bring the floor model to your car for a mock installation. Be aware that some vehicle seats are too short, indented, or excessively sloped to allow a good fit of a child car seats.

If you’re considering a convertible car seat, try the floor model in both the rear- and front-facing positions. Check out the harness release button in the rear-facing position; in some models it may be too low to reach comfortably. If you’re thinking about an infant car-seat/stroller combination, also known as a travel system, check to be sure that it fits in your trunk or vehicle cargo area. If the store won’t let you take the seat out to your car to try it, make sure you can return any car seat you buy–or go to another store.

Insist on new. Although there are many baby items you can borrow or buy secondhand, don’t make a car seat one of them if you can avoid it. A used seat may have been in a crash or recalled. The manufacturer’s instructions may be missing. If, for some reason, you must use a secondhand seat, avoid those with an unknown history or that are older than six years. In the world of car seats, a six-year-old model is a relic–and risky. You’ll also want to avoid recalled models.

Send in the registration card. You should be notified by the manufacturer if the car seat is recalled. To play it extra safe, you can also sign up for the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s e-mail subscription list at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp. Updated recall information will be sent directly to your e-mail in-box. Or check monthly issues of Consumer Reports or visit http://www.ConsumerReports.org. Other sources of information on car-seat recalls include NHTSA’s Web site (www.nhtsa.gov) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission site, http://www.recalls.gov.

Check the store’s return policy. If you’re not happy with a particular car seat for whatever reason, it’s important to know that you can return it and try again with another model. Be aware that a badly soiled or damaged seat may not be exchanged.

Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.

For the latest information on this and many other products and services, visit http://www.ConsumerReports.org

Author: Brooke Yan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger

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