Of all the products you’ll purchase for your child, it is important to invest in one that will provide protection during a motor vehicle accident. Your baby’s car seat is one of the most significant choices you need to make. Hospitals will not let you take a child home without a car seat. There are different car seats until your child can sit with a regular seatbelt. How to choose the best car seat for your baby?
Why is Baby Car Seat Important
The alarming fact is that about 46% of child seats and boosters are not installed properly. These infants or toddlers may end up hurt in an accident. A poorly installed seat may leave them without any protection at all. And a loose seat may go flying in a crash
All car seats are required by law to meet federal safety standards. By conducting a 30-mph crash test, it is easy to see that each car seat has been tested and meets these safety requirements.
Price is not a guarantee that you are getting one of the best seats available that fit your baby’s needs. A lot of mid-priced models work just as well as more expensive ones. There’s a wide variety of prices for different seats, but regardless of cost, it’s important to find one that fits your car.
Planning ahead for our children’s seating needs is a priority for any parent, and it can be quite overwhelming at first. Use our guide to figure out what kind of seats will work best for your child. And find out how long he or she should use each one.
1. Check out your car before you shop
Read your vehicle manual before buying a car seat. This will ensure the safety of your child as this will guide you to the weight and height limit. Car seats can be attached to a car in different ways. They can be used with the standard seatbelt or the LATCH system. The LATCH system can be found on the latest vehicles in the market.
Before buying your car seat, measure your backseat first. This is where you will place your car seat, and knowing its limitations is a must. The base of a car seat will measure about 17 inches wide and 12 inches deep. A car seat that has a large base may not fit in a small car like a compact sedan which has limited space. Additionally, it is important to consider the passenger who will be sitting in the back seat. Safety should be one of your primary concerns when choosing a car seat.
2. Consider a Convertible Car Seat That Can Grow With Your Child.
Consider buying a convertible car seat. Babies grow quickly, and before you know it, you’re changing car seats again. A convertible car seat is a great investment. This type of car seat can last up until your baby becomes a toddler. It’s safe and it will save you money.
3. A car seat stroller may save you money
A lot of parents agree that moving a sleeping baby in a car seat without waking them up is priceless. Considering a stroller might be your best option.
If you are looking to buy an infant car seat but want to save money, it’s important to consider buying a travel system. These come bundled which can save you a lot of money in the long run on two items that will be used together anyway. You may find these in the stroller section, not the car seats section.
4. No hand-me-down when it comes to safety
It’s understandable that you would want to know which car seat is safest for your child, but all seats that are currently available on the market have already been tested to meet the current safety standards.
Considering that safety technology improves so frequently, the most important thing a parent can do is buy a new car seat for their child every time they need one. They should not accept a hand-me-down from friends or family members because these items might not be up-to-date with the latest safety standards.
5. Focus on safety, comfort, and added features
Whether you are purchasing a baby car seat for your newborn or a more advanced convertible car seat for an older child, be sure to look for a model that has been built with the highest safety standards in mind.
If you purchase a car seat with premium features, such as an anti-rebound bar that limits movement during a crash, you may want to consider spending more money to purchase the best car seat available.
Another feature to consider when choosing a car seat is how adjustable the straps are to accommodate your child as they grow. Ideally, you want straps that can be readily adjusted without having to be rethreaded.
Thanks to new advances in baby car seat technology, a lot of brands now offer adjustment handles that are located in the back of the seat or a pull cord that is safely placed between your baby’s legs. This is especially helpful for parents who have limited hand mobility.
6. Pick something that is easy to clean.
When looking for seat fabric, it is important to take into consideration how easy the material is to clean.
Choose a smooth fabric that you can easily clean by wiping rather than textured fabric such as wool, felt, or corduroy.
There’s more to it than just being safe though – it’s also about what you want your car to look like when you go visit family and friends afterward.
7. Choose an installation guide with diagrams and texts
You’re not finished until you’ve used all the instructions that came with the seat to have the best possible chance of installing it correctly. Check each step carefully and follow them in order to ensure that you don’t miss anything. Remember, if you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask for help!
