Safety, Comfort, and Convenience - Tips for Buying a Car Seat

Car seats are probably the most important baby purchases you will make. You obviously want products that will keep your baby safe, but you probably don’t have time to read all of the tests and reviews to find the top models. Newer car seats do more than just protect the mobile baby – they provide features to make your life easier. Because a parent’s life is hectic enough, here is some guidance in what to look for when you shop for a car seat.

Safety – the Number One Priority

Of course, your first concern is keeping your infant or child safe in case of an accident, or even just a rough stop or swerve. While most seats boast high baby car seat safety ratings, the tests are done with the seat properly installed and adjusted. If it is difficult to secure the seat or your child, even in a highly rated seat, safety is compromised.

Most new car seats come equipped with LATCH, which is supposed to make life easier. Not only are a lot of these systems difficult, they aren’t always safe. In a lot of cases, Consumer Reports found that seatbelt installation was safer.

One of the biggest complaints of parents is not being able to get the car seats in tight enough. No matter how much they pull and adjust, there is slack in the seatbelt that allow the seats to move. Obviously, this would not be ideal during an accident. Besides, if the seat moves, the child moves, putting them into awkward positions while sleeping. There is a nifty little gadget that hooks on to the seat belt. You crank it a couple of times, and the slack is gone. No matter what car seat you choose, you should pick up this device for under $20. In crash and review tests, the Mighty Tite brand has been shown to improve the effectiveness of any strapped-in car seat.

The best infant car seats are convertible. Babies MUST sit rear facing until they are both a year old AND 20 lbs. It’s a waste of money to get two different seats when one seat can be used facing both front and rear to last for more than just a year (as long as you have washable car sear covers). Many of the convertible car seats have different harness holes for rear or front facing positions, so be sure you are using the right ones!

A problem with car seats is that so many are recalled. Check frequently to make sure you aren’t using a recalled seat. There is a master list available online that also tells you which baby high chairs, strollers, and cribs have been recalled. Many top brands (including Cosco, Britax, Graco, and Century – all highly recommended brands) also list recalls on their sites. Mark your calendar, and check once a month to be sure.

Safety has more to do with proper use and avoiding mistakes. If there are any doubts about the product itself, read labels carefully. Most car seats are proud of their safety ratings and brag about them on the box.

Safety Isn’t Just for Babies!

Nearly 500 children between 4 and 8 are killed each year in car accidents because they aren’t adequately restrained. Seat belts do not properly fit young children. A life-saving product is a car booster seat. They are designed to make the seatbelt lay correctly to restrain a child in an accident. Some come with features such as adjustable armrests and cup holders. While these may seem like extravagant luxuries, it’s important to realize that at this age, kids don’t want to ride in car seats. These “grown up” features will make your children eager to get strapped in.

Comfort – A smoother ride for everyone

There are some obvious ways to make your baby more comfortable on trips. For instance, skip the designer baby clothing. Yes, you want your child to look like he just stepped out of a cutest-kid-in-the-world magazine, but a long car ride isn’t the time. More comfort means less fussing.

You also want headrests. A baby should have both an elevated and surrounding headrest to keep him from turning into a bobble-head and adding stress to his neck. Even booster seats for older children should have side (wing) head rests to avoid stiff necks.

Harnesses are important for both comfort and safety. There should be no slack, and the harness straps should rest on his shoulders with the retainer clip at his breastbone. Don’t let the straps slip or pinch his neck.

A sun visor can help make a pleasant drive. Babies and toddlers are less likely to sleep without one, and direct sunlight can make them too hot with sore eyes. Good infant car seats come equipped with big sun visors. Don’t bother with the little ones that only cover a tiny little sliver of your child.

Sweaty babies aren’t happy babies. Even with the air conditioner, your child probably sweats everywhere he is touching his car seat. To avoid the discomfort of feeling wet and heat rash, try dressing your baby in new micro fiber clothing that keeps moisture away from his skin. You might even consider cloth baby diapers for extended car trips. Don’t worry – they aren’t the cloth diapers your mother used. You can now get disposable liners that are still a lot easier on baby’s skin.

Convenience for a happy parent

Some car seats are designed with a base that you install only once. The seat is then easily snapped or latched into the base. If you go with one of these seats, check the base regularly to ensure it remains properly installed.

Don’t forget toys! To keep your child entertained, have toys just for the baby's car seat. Sometimes the toys are included and either hook onto the sides or arm rests. You should not hook toys onto the harness straps for safety reasons.

If your neck is sore from turning around at every strange noise coming from the backseat, you might consider a “babyview mirror.” This goes under the rearview mirror and allows you to keep an eye on the backseat. This can be distracting, so be careful.

About the Author

Shannon Schwartz is a successful freelance writer offering guidance and suggestions for consumers buying baby high chairs, baby boy clothing and designer diaper bags. Her many articles give information and tips to help people save money and make smarter decisions.