Infant car seat buying guide for new parents
If you are buying an infant car seat for the first time, or at least the first time in a while, there are going to be many different things that you need to do and cover before you can make a final decision on the purchase. The best thing you can do is take it step by step so that you make sure you cover everything.
Step 1: Know What You Need
There isn’t just one type of infant car seat on the market today. Instead, there are at least three different kinds that you want to choose between:
- Infant car seats only face the rear of your car and are typically the first car seat that you will use. These are usually suitable for babies that are up to 40 pounds and 35 inches long. You want the seat to be snug, so make sure that you look at the lower weight requirements when making a purchase here.
- Convertible car seats are called convertible because they can convert from a rear-facing seat for babies and toddlers into a forward facing seat for older children. These tend to have higher weight and height limits – sometimes up to 120 pounds. You just have to make sure, once again, that the lower weight limits can handle a newborn. Most parents don’t choose this as the very first car seat that they use.
- 3-in-1 seats do the same thing as convertible seats, but they go one step further and become booster seats as well.
So what really is the difference? Safety seems to be the biggest problem here. If you want a safer seat for your infant, then you want to go with an infant car seat and work up from there. This isn’t always the easiest method, or the most cost effective, but it is the safest.
Step 2: Look for the Features You Want
The next step to buying an infant car seat is to look for the features you want to use. Here are some things to look for:
How Easy Is It to Use? Of course, you want a seat that you know how to operate and how to use. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has a rating system that you can look at to see how easy the seat is to install and operate. It will also look at the clarity of the instruction manual.
Does It Have a Base? Most infant car seats will come with a base, but you want to check if it does and if you can purchase a second car seat base. This is great for parents who have two cars. Moving bases can get really annoying and takes up a lot of time. Even worse, it is hard to get the seat just right, especially if you have a baby that is uncomfortable at specific levels.
Is the Seat Easy to Adjust? Other than just looking at the installation, how easy is it to adjust the headrest and harness on your seat? As your baby grows, you will have to adjust these parts of the car seat almost daily it seems. You want to look for seats that advertise single-hand adjustments, quick release buckets, no rethread harnesses, and single-hand headrests as well.
Is the Seat Easy to Clean? Cleaning up after your baby is going to seem like your full time job. Getting a seat that has a detachable cover that is machine washable will certainly help you.
Does the Seat Fit Your Car? Of course, probably the most important question to ask is whether or not the car seat actually fits into your car. Some cars are so different that you might have trouble with certain brands. In general, larger car seats won’t always fit comfortable into sports cars unless you have the seat all the way forward.
Step 3: Should You Buy a Used Car Seat?
The short answer to this question is no, you should not buy a secondhand car seat. Even if you know the history of the seat, you cannot always tell by the outside of the seat whether it has endured damage or not.
Never use a seat that has been involved in a crash, is expired or has an unknown expiration date, has visible wear and tear, lacks a manufacturer label, you do not know how to use it (i.e. it lacks a manual), doesn’t have all of the parts, or was recalled.
Step 4: Then Think About Budget
Infant car seats range in price from about $40 all the way up to over $500. You have to think about
what you will be willing to spend, remembering that all seats on the market have to be safe. You are really going to be paying for the accessories and extra pieces.
The most important thing is to look for car seats for infants that earned the top score in safety, convenience, ease of use, and comfort.