Patent ID: 7909400

Claim:
A method of adjusting a child safety seat to a child as that child grows larger, said method comprising the steps of: providing a base shell having a rigid bottom surface, a rigid rear surface and side panels, said side panels having forwardly extending sections in a specific height range for providing head protection, wherein a seat receptacle is defined by said base shell; providing restraints that are anchored to said base shell; attaching said base shell to the seat of an automobile; providing a plurality of seating inserts of different sizes, wherein said plurality of seating inserts includes a largest seating insert, and wherein each of said seating inserts is a different size for seating a child of a different size in a position where the head of the child is positioned within said specific height range between said extending sections of said side panels, and wherein each of said seating inserts has a rigid seat, a rigid backrest, and openings for said restraints to pass through each of said seating inserts and restrain a seated child; selecting from among said plurality of seating inserts, a particular seating insert that is appropriate for a particular child; attaching said particular seating insert to said base shell; and replacing said particular seating insert with a larger one from said plurality of seating inserts when the particular child outgrows said particular seating insert; and removing said base shell and seating a particular child in just said largest seating insert when the particular child grows to a predetermined physical stature.