Finding the right car seat for your baby or toddler is one of the most important things you can do as a parent. After all, you want to find the safest car seat for your child with the most important safety features. But on top of this, you also need to find a car seat that is the most compatible with your car. While you might also want to find a more affordable seat, you definitely don't want to let money be the most important factor in finding the right car seat, potentially buying a compromised car seat or one that’s barely up to standards. All in all, there are so many things to consider when selecting a car seat and many of them might not even have occurred to you. If you are in need of a new car seat for your child, check out these frequently asked questions to learn more.
It is important to pay attention to the maximum weight capacity of your car seat. Once your child exceeds that weight limit, it’s time to get a new seat right away. Most infant car seats support an infant up to 40 or 50 pounds. A toddler car seat can support a child up to 65 pounds and sometimes even more – it all depends on the seat you are looking at.
The safety harness is one of the most important features of a car seat, because it is your child’s seat belt. The safety harness ensures that your child cannot get out of their seat, but also keeps them secure in the event of a collision. These harnesses can be tightened so that your child is properly secure.
Many infant car seats can be converted into toddler car seats. Provided you never get into an accident that may compromise your car seat, you may not need to replace your car seat till your child is well-grown when you have a convertible car seat. The seats are usually convertible from rear-facing to front-facing as well. Many seats may also be reclined which is useful if you have a child that likes to sleep in the car.
The top car seat brands for babies and toddlers include Graco, Chicco and Britax. These companies offer the best quality car seats with all the top safety features and are always up to safety standards. While many of these car seats can be quite expensive, you can often find discounts from retailers like Target or even from somewhere like Costco.
The Chicco NextFit is another great seat that supports different leveling positions and features latch connectors for easy installation in your vehicle. The car seat can be reclined and can be converted from front-facing to rear-facing as needed. It features a five-point safety harness and a two-point chest clip for growing children.
While not the most affordable option, the Britax USA Advocate ClickTight convertible car seat is easily one of the safest car seats on the market, delivering the most essential safety features and exceeding safety standards. The seat offers up to three layers of protection ad includes an indicator attached to the harness that ensures your child’s harness has the correct tightness level.
You want to be sure you select a car seat that is easy to install, so be sure to do your research. If the car seat is difficult to install, you run the risk of installing it incorrectly. But even if you get the hang of it, moving it in and out of your car and into another one get be a real pain.
Currently, one of the best car seats for your money is the Graco Contender 65 Convertible Car Seat can support a child up to 65 pounds, converting from an infant to toddler seat. It exceeds safety standards, ensuring the most protection for your child in comparison to other car seats.