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If you have a car, a car seat is a must-have item. Babies are safer in car seats in the event of an accident, not to mention that it’s the law… Getting the right seat for your baby will make your life a lot easier, but figuring out the right one takes some work. Depending on how fast your baby grows and what type of seat you buy initially, you might actually need to buy a second one before baby’s first birthday. Picking the right seat isn’t just about the look. Not every seat does the same thing. The good news- all seats sold in the US have to meet federal standards, so there’s no wrong choices, but some seats may still work better for you than others. Let’s start with the types of seats.
Types of seats
Infant car seats- These are designed specifically for infants. The weight limit on the seat is usually high enough that your baby will outgrow it between year 1 and 2. They are designed to only face the rear of the car and they also have a carry handle so that they can also function as an infant carrier. Some models are belted in with the seat belt, while others come with a base that stays in the car. Multiple bases can be purchase for separate cars.
Convertible car seats- These seats can be used for a longer period of time that is determined by weight and height of the child and allows for either rear or forward-facing installation. This means that you can probably get more for your money going this route as it will not need to be replaced as soon. The downside is that these models do not function as infant carriers so baby will need to be moved in and out of the seat more often. They also do not have a base and therefore are not a portable or easy to move between cars.
All-in-one/3-in-1 Seats- These seats are similar to convertibles except that they can go one step further and function as a booster seat when your child is ready to use a seat belt, but not old enough to graduate from a car seat entirely.
Booster seat- The final stage of car seats and probably the last one you need to buy. These are forward-facing only and have minimum weight limits that start at 30 pounds or more. These are for children up to 4 feet 9 inches tall. Most kids hit that height by 12 years of age or so.
What are you driving?
Just as different seats fit different children, not all seats fit in every car alike. Vehicle types and even interior seat arrangements can change what child seats are your best bets. Get out your tape measure and get a good idea of how much space you have to work with. Bonus points if you have a way to try out a seat in-person with your car. Call friends and family with small kids. At a minimum, it might be time to search online for the best seats to fit your model of car.
How long do you need a car seat for?
Your child’s age will determine how much use you are going to get out of a seat. If you have any questions, grab your tape measure again and check your child’s height and seated height. Different seats have different instructions for when to flip from rear to forward-facing. Combine this with varying height and weight limits. This means shopping by size of your child rather than just age or development stage.
What’s your typical day like?
Some parents set it and forget it until it’s time to adjust straps when it comes to car seats. Others are constantly taking the seat in and out, whether that’s due to multiple caregivers with multiple cars or need for the space in the car when the kid isn’t going anywhere. Some people buy multiple seats, others move that one seat frequently.
Beyond the car situation, consider other parts of your new life with baby. Some car seats have a matching stroller for easy moving from the car to the stroller with the push of a button to release the seat from the base.
Safety should always be priority number one
Even though car seats are manufactured to federal standards, they are only as effective as they are installed and used. It’s hard to understate how important this is. Your child is not safe if you do not know how to install and belt your child in. Study the manual that comes with your seat when you make your purchasing decision. Study the stickers on the sides of the seat or base. If you still have questions, please please please don’t hesitate to reach out to someone, whether it’s the manufacturer or your local police department or fire department. The local fire department by me offers complimentary safety checks for residents. Just bring your seat and they will show you how to install it and tell that it’s installed properly.
Child seats have two major options for installing- LATCH and the seat belt. All seats will work with seat belts. Period. But most seats also work with a standard called LATCH (also known as LUAS in Canada and ISOFIX in Europe). LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. You may have noticed LATCH anchor points in your vehicle’s back seat. They are a pair of U-shaped metal loops that tend to be buried just past the fabric in the crease between the seat back and bottom. Seats that use LATCH have 2 connectors that can hitch onto these metal anchor points. There is also a matching anchor point on the back of the vehicle seat for the child seat’s tether. The LATCH system has been standardized between all manufacturers so that child seats and LATCH anchors play nice together. LATCH has also been around for some time now, first appearing in the 2003 model year.
Car seat laws vary by state, but the general trend over the past few decades has been to keep kids in car seats for longer. Crash data supports the fact that car seats protect children better than seat belts alone. Whichever seat you end up picking, know that it is one of the best investments you will make for your child.
Cleaning
Whichever seat you choose, it will inevitably get dirty at some point. But not every seat is easy to clean. Some have covers that snap on and off, others have a zipper system. Ease of cleaning is something to keep in mind when shopping.
Price
No matter what else the seat may do, price is always going to be a consideration. Getting the most for your dollar is important. Every seat has to meet minimum standards, so even the less expensive seats out there will meet safety requirements, but will probably lack some of the other creature features like zip-out linings and cup holders.
If you decide to shop used seats, there is nothing wrong with that if you are careful. Just make sure the expiration date is far enough out to get some use out of the seat. Yes, car seats do expire. I was surprised the first time I saw that there was a expiration date on our seats. Be sure to check the date even if purchasing new or reusing a seat with a new child. Also, be aware that a used seat may have been in an accident even if it looks fine. Trusting your seller plays a bigger part here.
Recommendations
So what would I recommend? These are the seats I can personally vouch for, having purchased them with my own money in the past five years or so.
Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat with Bravo stroller
Even with the premium price, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy Chicco again. It held up very well across 2 kids.
Chicco Nextfit Zip Convertible Car Seat
When our kids got too big for the Keyfit seat, we got a Chicco convertible seat for both cars. Just as good as the Keyfit seat.
Safety 1st Grand DLX Booster Car Seat
Our son outgrew the Nextfit seat around 3.5-4 years old and we switched to Safety 1st due to inventory problems with the whole COVID thing. It has been a solid performer so far. Even with it only being $80 as of writing, I don’t think the quality was that much less than offerings from Chicco or Britax or any other high-end seat maker.
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