The biggest obstacle most parents, or parents to be, will run up against when deciding on a car seat is the fact that there are so many different ones to choose from. Car seats are sold by a wide range of manufactures and within many different price ranges. The variety of choice is so great it can leave parents mind numbingly lost and unable to make a decision.

However, by breaking the problem down and simplifying it, the purchase of a car seat becomes a task that is not as difficult as it may seem when you walk into a store and stand on an aisle that appears to have an infinite amount of choices.

Clearing up the Confusion

Child car seats are divided into categories, or stages, as most manufacturers refer to them. The stages are as follows:

Stage 1: Groups 0 & 0+

Stage 2: Group 1

Stage 3: Group 2

Stage 4: Group 3

Be aware when you are shopping that some car seats can be converted to keep pace with your child as he/she grows, so you may see some seats with packaging that specifies the seat fits within all of the stages or groups.

Rear-Facing Car Seat

This type of car seat applies to children who would fall under Group 0. Generally, this type of car seat is for children who way less than 22 pounds (generally children ages 6 to 12 months). Group 0+ would also fit into this type of car seat. Group 0+ describes children who weigh between 22 and 29 pounds (generally children ages 12 to 15 months).

This type of car seat can be placed in the front or back seat of a vehicle; however, most safety experts suggest placing it in the back seat, especially if your vehicle has a passenger side airbag. The impact of the airbag against the car seat can seriously injure, or even kill a child.

The upside of rear-facing car seats is that they offer excellent protection of the head, neck and spine of infants. In fact, many experts suggest that parents place their children in rear-facing car seats for as long as possible, only switching them to forward facing car seats once their children fully outgrow the weight limitations of the seat, or their head rests higher than the top of it.

Forward-facing Car Seat

This type of car seat is for children who fit into the rest of the groups mentioned above, and which vary amongst size, height and weight of children. Generally, children in these categories weigh between 20 to 40 pounds (generally children ages 9 months to 4 years old).

Similar to rear-facing seats, this type of seat can be placed in either the front or back seat of a vehicle; however, again, placing the seat in the back is best, especially if you have a passenger side airbag.

Children vary in all sizes and weights during this age period, which is why parents may need to purchase a booster cushion or booster seat, and maybe even a harness to create a better fit for their child in the seat.

If this happens to be the case, then it is important parents make sure they properly fasten and adjust the child's seatbelt. If a parent is unsure, there are many police stations whose officers are usually more than happy to demonstrate the correct way. The general rule though, is to make sure the seat belt is tight, and the lap belt is positioned over the pelvic area of the child, not the stomach. The diagonal strap should rest on the child's shoulder, not their neck.

Once the child grows to big for the seat (weighs more than the seat is rated for or their head rests above the top of the seat) he/she is ready to graduate to sitting in the vehicle without the car seat; however the child should still sit in the back seat until they grow older.

As a parent, it goes without saying that your child's safety comes first and foremost. By keeping this in mind and doing a thorough amount of research into pricing and availability of car seats, you will be able to make the right decision.