Things to Consider Before Buying a Car Seat
Types of Car Seats Available
First, you have to check what your needs as a parent are if you need to constantly transport the product, if you live in a place with many stairs, or if you are a parent who needs a sturdy model that won’t move from your car. The weight and portability are one of the main differences among the different kinds of car seats.
For example, you need a car seat for your newborn also to be used as a carrier, you can get an infant car seat which is usually made to be safe and comfortable but with a short age range; if you are looking for a wider age range, you can get a convertible car seat which is not as safe as an infant car seat but can be used for babies to toddlers; if you are looking for a car seat to keep your grown kid-safe until he or she is able to use the regular car seat, a booster is a right option, as they are made to be used until they are grown enough to use the regular car seat.
Finally, the “all-included” car seats, these are made to last from birth to full-grown kid, they are a good option for a family on a budget, as you just have to buy one product and use it as an infant car seat, convertible and booster. Still, since versatility is their main feature, they sacrifice many safety and comfort features.
Car Seat Meets Federal Standards
There are some standards that each car seat of all kinds and models have to follow to be used in the US:
- Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 (which regulates child transportation products).
- Instructions manual to use the car seat.
- Manufacturer contact information.
- Labeled date and code number of the product.
If the product that you are looking for is not certified with these standards, both the user and the manufacturer can receive very strong penalties.
New vs Used
We always recommend getting brand new products; you know that it’s made to work properly without any hidden damages. Despite this recommendation, there are some brands that follow such a high-quality standard that you can get a high-end product for a lower price. Manufacturers like Britax, Nuna, Graco, among others, are made to be a long-lasting investment for your family, with life’s spawn of 8-10 years, so if you can try all of the listed features by the manufacturers and everything’s working perfectly, it’s not a bad option to get a high-quality product for a lower price.
Size and Shape
Like we mentioned before, this depends on the parent’s needs and the portability and the space that you have available to store or use the product. A wider car seat can be more sturdy and stable for the baby to use, but if it works with the LATCH system, you don’t need that extra stability thanks to the base. Maybe if you are looking for an easier to install a product that you just want to attach with the seat belt, a wider car seat can be more useful and safer for the passenger.
Ease of Installation
As we could notice during the review of all these products, the ease of installation depends on how portable do you need the car seat to be; for parents who are usually using taxis or uber, it’s easier to get a car seat that’s installed by just using the seat belt. Some products can be harder to install but safer for the baby.
Safety
For this feature, we mention the main safety indicator, the crash test result. This is a characteristic that’s very important to consider while looking for a child transportation option, as this is the main reason to get a car seat for your child. Most manufacturers include the crash test results on their products description, and you can always find the results on their webpages.
Fabric
The fabric is important not just for the passenger’s comfort but also because if the texture is too hard, it may harm the child’s skin. It’s also important to check if there is not an allergic reaction in the baby’s skin from any harsh chemicals. As an extra feature, it’s more comfortable for us, the parents, if it is machine washable, so we can save up time and keep it clean for the baby to use.
Read more about how to clean baby car seats.
Safety Extras
The use of extra safety features depends mostly on the product that you get. Maybe if you get an infant car seat with a great crash test result, you may not need an anti-rebound bar, or if your car seat is going to stay put in a single place, it may be good to get one with a steel frame that gives extra shock absorption. All of this depends on the use that you will give the car seat and the passenger’s size. We recommend you to get the best product that covers all of your needs by itself.
Stroller Compatibility
This is mostly for infant car seats, as boosters or convertible car seats are not compatible with strollers because of the size. But if you are looking for an option to carry your baby not just in the car, this is the main feature you need to take into consideration. It will be a lot easier if you get a stroller that is compatible with your car seat or the whole travel system, and it can be cheaper if you buy a pre-packaged version of the product.
