Car Seat Buying Guide
Buying a car seat can feel like an overwhelming process, especially when 10 different moms tell you what they think is best. While you shouldn’t just buy the first car seat you see, you shouldn’t have to have a PhD in car seat science to find the best seat for your family either. To start your search, it helps to know what to look for and how to compare car seats, so we’re always here to help.
If you already know the type of car seat you want, you can skip this section and go straight to the top 10 car seat options listed above. We chose our picks based on performance, user ratings, features and actual reviews from parents who purchased these car seats. For those ready to start comparing, find your new favorite with ease.
Four types of car seats
First, you’ll see four types of car seats: forward-facing, rear-facing, booster, and convertible. Each of these types of car seats depends on the size, weight and age of the child who will be using the car seat.
The first car seat you should look for for your newborn or infant is a rear-facing car seat, and you should have your child in a rear-facing car seat as long as their height and weight requirements allow. Every car seat comes with guidelines about maximum weight and height requirements, not age limits.
When your child exceeds these weight and height limits, they can begin using a forward-facing car seat, then a booster, and finally a seat belt. When you change from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat, you will need to adjust the position of the shoulder straps and buckles to ensure that your car seat is ready for forward momentum.
Because of the importance of proper placement of the straps and buckles, you need to make sure your car seat is adjustable and appropriate for your child’s weight and height. Please read the user manual and restrictions before making a final decision.
Convertible car seats allow for multiple positions: rear, front or booster, without the need to purchase a new car seat. However, not all convertible car seats work as well as these three car seats, so be sure to understand the limitations and features of your future purchase.
In our top picks, you’ll see several convertible car seats that will grow with your child. One of the biggest benefits of doing this is that you won’t have to relearn the ins and outs of a new car seat simply because your child has grown from a rear-facing position. While you will need to make safety adjustments, you have enough experience with the convertible car seat to understand how it functions and how to use it.
Easy to use and install
What good is a car seat if you can’t use it at any point you decide to go to the grocery store? The hassle of some car seat features can cause some parents to overlook certain adjustments, undermining safety aspects and putting your family at risk.
Safety is the number one priority, and an intuitive and easily adjustable car seat means you’ll have the seat installed correctly every time you ride, ultimately leading to a safer ride for everyone. How do you know which car seat is easy and which is more complicated than a Rubik’s Cube? Read user reviews. Parents don’t let complicated instructions stop them from using a car seat they find difficult to use.
It’s frustrating to have your child go from happy to grumpy just because it took you 20 minutes to pull out the car seat manual. That’s why we wholeheartedly believe in the magic of parent reviews, especially in the world of Amazon, where everything is allowed to be rated.
Beyond that, you can usually judge the complexity of a car seat by its adjustable features. Some, like the Evenflo SureRide DLX convertible car seat, have a front-facing harness adjuster that eliminates the need to look behind the child or fiddle with the straps under the car seat.
Look for key words like “adjuster” and multi-position headrests, footrests, etc.-suggestions that imply that the manufacturer prioritized simplicity in their design, rather than having you manually change anything in the car seat.
Car seat portability
Portability may be the last thing you consider when making a decision, but it’s important to think about where your car seat will go. For flights or just changing vehicles, you want to make sure your car seat can be easily transported for a stress-free trip.
While most car seats have travel needs in mind, make sure your car seat is easy to maneuver and fits in a variety of vehicles. You can check the dimensions of your car seat to make sure it’s the right size for your car.
Even if you find the coolest, most comfortable and stylish car seat on the market, it doesn’t matter if you can’t fit it in your car.
Breathable and comfortable
All summer long, you’ve probably realized how important it is to have breathable clothing or mesh-backed chairs. If the fabric that touches you doesn’t have built-in ventilation, you’ll start to feel hot and sweaty once the temperature rises.
That said, car seat fabric should also be breathable and comfortable for any child sitting in it. Since car seats use extra padding to absorb the impact of a crash, you must take into account the warmth that comes with this added material.
Some manufacturers have taken this into account by adding breathable fabrics and mesh nets to some of the materials that come into contact with children. For people in hot areas, this may be a more important priority, especially if you’re waiting for cooler air to enter from A/C.
