Perhaps you have perused a list of the top 10 infant car seats, or maybe you have wandered around your local big box store, just trying to find the car seat that speaks to you – and nothing has spoken yet. It is difficult to find the right seat, especially if this is your first time doing so. Never fear – there is a method to the madness, and you will be able to find the infant car seat that will work best for you.
About Infant Car Seats
The first thing to know about infant car seats are the different types of infant car seats on the market – yes, there is more than one type. An infant car seat faces the rear of your car and is only really good for the first 12 months or so (or until your meets the height and weight requirements for another seat).
A convertible car seat changes from a rear facing seat to a forward-facing seat – and sometimes even more.
An all-in-one car seat (sometimes called a 3-in-1 seat) goes from infancy to booster. These typically are the only seat that you will need.
So with all of these options, why buy an infant seat?
Why To Buy An Infant Seat
The most important reason to buy an infant car seat is that they are safer than other types of car set. When our children are first born, that is when they are most vulnerable to injury. If you have a child under 20 pounds, he or she should definitely be in an infant seat – even experts agree on that.
Convertible seats are great, but at times the seat’s harness straps are too long and cannot correctly be tightened to protect the baby. Make sure that, when in rear-facing mode, the harness straps are just below the baby’s shoulders.
Another reason to consider an infant car seat is that of the angle you can sit your child at. Newborns sit best between 30 to 45 degrees because it helps them to breathe – it also helps with protection during an accident. While convertible seats don’t always have the option to tilt your baby to this angle, infant seats do.
The final reason to choose an infant seat is that they are smaller and lighter – right after you give birth, you will have some trouble lifting heavy weights, so the lighter the car seat, the better off you will be. This is especially true for mom’s who have C-sections. Infant seats easily snap into a base, a stroller, or even a high chair for maximum convenience. You won’t have to handle your baby as much, reducing the risk of any accidents.
Be a Choosy Mom When Choosing a Car Seat
When choosing a car seat, there are a few different things you want to look at – let’s start from the bottom and work our way up.
Start with the base. The base of your car seat will likely be plastic – that’s standard. What you want to look for is the option to buy a second base if you will be transporting your baby in two cars, as most of us do. You may want to consider even more for grandparents or babysitters. You may also want to look at any extras that come along with the base – like foot trays, toy bars, or cup holders.
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children). All car seats have to be compatible with a car’s LATCH system. If you see a car seat that does not have this system, immediately move onto another option. LATCH is not only safer; it makes the installation process that much easier. One thing you do want to look at is which of the two LATCH styles you have: rigid or flexible. The rigid connectors are easier to use.
Comfort level. If your baby will spend a lot of time in the seat, you want to think about the comfort level. Look for a well-padded seat that allows for adjustments. You also want to check for how breathable the fabric is.
Side-impact protection. The “wings” of the car seat have padding that not only makes the seat more comfortable, but they protect your baby’s head in case of an accident.
How easy it is to use. The easier your seat is to use, the better it will be for you. Look for ratings from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) – the more stars it has, the easier it will be the use. You also want to look at how easy the seat is to adjust to get the personalized fit. Car seats aren’t something that you can set and forget – you have to do constant maintenance to keep it at optimal performance. Finally, you want to look at how easy the seat is to clean. Babies can be quite messy, and you will have to clean up all sorts of fluids and spills at some point.
Installation. Make sure that you know how to install the seat. This means knowing that the instruction manual is easy to use and understand. Even better, you want to pick a seat that has a plethora of online information as well as access to help if you should need it.
Buy new. One of the most important things you can do for the safety of your child is to never, ever purchase a secondhand car seat. Even if you know the person who owned it before, it is better to get one that is brand new. Seats may not live up to current safety standards, may be defective, or could harbor germs and bacteria.
Cost of a Car Seat
One of the most important things to consider when buying an infant car seat is to look at the price of the seat. Most infant car seats will cost between $50-$200, though some can go way above that to up to $500. The less expensive options will have fewer options, though many tend to be of similar safety – after all, they have to reach standards.
When buying a car seat, make sure that you use your best tools to make an accurate choice for your baby. Talk to doctors, research online, and talk to other moms and dads who have actually used the seats on a day-to-day basis.
