Choosing an infant car seat can be a challenging project. You want the safest, most reliable car seat possible for your new little bundle of joy! Here are 6 things to consider when choosing an infant car seat.
#1. Safety Ratings- If there’s one thing to pay attention to when choosing a car seat, it’s the safety ratings. Every car seat that’s sold in a store has to be tested and approved. Typically, the manufacturer will have safety ratings for the car seat listed right on their website. You can also look for the JMPA logo on the box.
#2. Functionality- Infants can safely sit in two kinds of car seats: a rear-facing infant seat, or a convertible car seat (which is designed for rear facing first, and can later be converted to a forward facing seat). Starting with a convertible seat may save money, but it also means waking a sleeping baby when you need to exit the vehicle, because convertible car seats can’t be taken in and out of the car like an infant car seat can. After three kids, I think it pays to start with an infant car seat since most infant car seats are carried around for the first couple of months, while the baby is still little. It seems like such a small detail, but trust me, when you have a baby with colic you will do almost anything to prevent him from waking up once he’s fallen asleep
#3. Five point harness- You should never buy an infant car seat that does not have a five point harness. A five point harness is what helps keep the baby safe in case of an accident.
#4. Make sure the car seat is new- It’s tempting to buy a car seat off of a used site, but it’s imperative to buy car seats new. The reason is that you have no idea what a certain carseat has been through. If the carseat you buy second hand has been in an accident, the car seat will not function correctly in the event that it’s in another accident. Not to mention- the newer the carseat the better because then you know it has met all government guidelines and has not expired. Yes, car seats expire!
#5. Price- Another thing you should consider when choosing an infant car seat is the price. The cheapest car seat on the market does not mean it’s the worst and the most expensive car seat on the market does not mean it’s the best. However, it is possible to find a car seat that’s right in your budget without sacrificing safety. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of a baby car seat mirror for rear facing car seats.
#6. Travel Systems- Speaking of price, when you need to cut costs, consider an stroller/car seat travel system. Travel systems are sold together at a discount, as opposed to the cost of purchasing a stroller and car seat separately. Also, by purchasing them together, you know they will work together. You can get a travel system with jogging stroller and car seat caddy both, so you always have the wheels you need.
What are some things you like to consider when choosing an infant car seat?
Thanks for the tips, it can be so difficult to navigate the world of car seats.