Congrats, you re a new parent! Now you have to buy a car seat! You know it needs to be safe, It needs to meet federal guidelines, and you want to make sure it has all the great features you and your child will need. So, how can we find the perfect one for our child?
Look at the Reviews
The first thing you need to do is start looking at the reviews for car seats. If you have an infant then you need to specifically find either an infant seat or a convertible seat that is designed for infants. Infant car seats, according to US Federal Law, have to face backwards for the first year of life. If you find a car seats that says it s designed for your child under age 1 to face forward, just keep going. 99 of them will be designed correctly. So now you need to look at the reviews for what s a good car seat. Check places like Consumer Reports and other expert consumer companies as well as reading reviews from actual people who use them. Also, The government has a list of the safest car seats that comes out every year. You will generally find that there are one or two brands that stick out to you and you ll want to keep them in mind.
Look at the Features
The next big thing is figuring out what features are important to you. Many companies make infant car seats that can easily connect to a base & to a stroller (and usually they have a suggested stroller or it is sold together with the stroller). The base is very important because it helps keep your car seat more solid. While an infant seat can be put in a car without one, you should use this method sparingly & use the base in your main car. If your child will be in more than one car regularly, you may consider picking up an extra base.
As for the stroller, it s not necessary but it sure is nice. A stroller, especially one designed to hold your infant seat, makes life a lot easier. Most parents, at some point, want to walk with their child without having to hold them. That s the ease of the stroller. If you re infant seat can simply lock into the stroller, you can save the hassle of trying to move an infant (especially a sleeping one) and just move the seat.
There are several other extras that come with some infant seats and you will want to look and see if you want/need them or can do without.
Look at the Price
You should by now know what are good car seats according to safety ratings and reviews and know what you want in extras, so it really comes down to the price you are willing to pay. Prices start around $100 and can go up to the $500 or more range. Britax is quite a good brand but can be quite pricey. Make sure what you pick is something that is perfect for you including the price. You may find some great prices online.
You may also want to consider a convertible car seat. They can switch to a car seat for a toddler and older child. They are great money savers in the long run, but they usually cost quite a bit at first.
Final Thoughts
First and foremost, never buy a used car seat. It s very tempting, especially if you the car seat you want is very expensive when you buy it new. You still never buy a used one. If the car seat has ever been in an accident (even a minor one) there might have been some damage done to the car seat. You can t guarantee that a used car seat has never been in an accident. This also means replacing your car seat if it s in an accident.
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