A Savvy Parent’s Guide to Finding the Right Car Seat
Having a child is not a cheap endeavor. You can literally spend thousands on clothing and equipment. Frugal types can manage on fewer dollars. But unless you’re planning on hoofing it home from the hospital, a car seat is the one item no parent can do without. By law your infant cannot ride in a vehicle unless restrained in an age-appropriate car seat. Your child must remain in a car seat until he or she is at least four or as old as 10, depending on the laws of your state. Given that a car seat is the one non-expendable item in your baby gear repertoire, we at EliteCarSeats.com recommend you read our tutorial on how to buy, install and use a car seat correctly.
Car Seat Types, which is right for you?
The first step in narrowing down the hundreds of choices in car seats is determining which ‘type’ of seat will best suit the needs of you and baby. We’ve put together some pretty simple definitions and comparisons of car seat types below to help you get started.
Infant Car Seat
These car seats are designed to be used from birth until your child is 20-35 pounds, depending on the model. Many manufacturers now make infant car seats that support children up to 30-35 pounds. (This is a notable trend because many babies reach the 20 pound mark well before their first birthday). An infant car seat allows babies to travel in a semi-reclined position. They are designed to be installed in the rear facing position. All infant car seats come with a base that can be secured in the car with seat belts or using LATCH, a system of latches and tethers that eliminates many of the common mistakes people make when installing a car seat. Having a base is a real benefit because it allows you to pull the seat in and out of the car with the click of a button. Often you can purchase additional bases so that the car seat can be installed quickly in multiple vehicles. In a pinch, you can install an infant car seat without its base, but the process is more labor intensive, not to mention more difficult to install correctly.
Upside:
An infant car seat can double as a carrier. It comes with a handle that allows you to take baby out of the car without taking him out of his seat. Most infant car seats can also be secured atop a stroller to create what is commonly referred to as a ‘stroller system’. But, keep in mind, that not every car seat is compatible with every stroller (see chart). Both of these features are helpful because you avoid waking a sleeping baby when moving from one destination to the next.
Downside:
Your child will outgrow their infant seat quickly. In fact, many babies exceed the weight and length maximum well before their first birthday.
Convertible Car Seats
These seats are dubbed convertibles because they can be used rear-facing with an infant, and then reinstalled in the forward-facing position once your child turns 1 and weighs at least 20 pounds. It is best to keep your child rear-facing as long as possible, and some newer models have rear-facing weight limitations of up to 45 pounds. When rear facing, the seat can be reclined to a 45 degree angle. In forward facing mode, most kids sit upright, though a few models also allow for a slight recline. Because convertible seats are much larger than infant-only seats, some come with padded inserts to better fit the tiniest passengers.
Upside:
You’ll save money by investing in a car seat that can take you from birth thru those preschool years, or depending on the model, perhaps even older.
Downside:
You’ll have to buckle and unbuckle your infant every time you get in and out of the car. This can be a big hassle because little babies aren’t always amenable to being strapped into the seat’s harness. And if you have to wake them in the process, well, let’s just say, they’ll let you know when they’re unhappy.
Youth & Toddler Combination Seats
Youth and toddler combination seats are designed to be used by children 1 year or older, who weigh more than 20 pounds. During the toddler years, the seat is semi-permanently installed and the child is secured using the seat’s internal harness system. Once your child grows to the point where his shoulders are above the highest harness slot, a combination toddler seat can be converted to a booster seat. One caveat: You’ll want to check the instruction manual to check the weight limit for the five-point-harness. Although these seats are generally good to around 80 pounds, the weight at which they child must utilize the seat as a booster varies from model to model.
Upside:
If you buy a combination youth and toddler seat, you won’t have to spring for a booster seat later.
Downside:
A toddler seat that doubles as a booster will save you money. But it’s likely to be bulkier than a standard booster. No big deal if the car seat stays put. But if you’re hauling through an airport, that extra weight can be a drag.
High-Back Booster Seats
This device is also known as a belt-positioning booster because it essentially lifts the child up to a height where he or she can safely use the car’s lap and shoulder seat belts. A high back booster can be compared to a portable bucket seat. It’s an absolute must if your car has low seat backs or no head rest.
Upside:
Because the seat uses the vehicle’s seat belt to restrain the child, you don’t have to worry about installing the seat correctly. *
Downside:
If your car only has lap belts, you can’t use a booster seat.
*A few models can now be locked in place with the LATCH system, this improves seat stability, but makes installation slightly more complicated.
Backless Booster Seats
Like the high-back booster, a backless booster lifts the child up to a height where he or she can safely use the car’s lap and shoulder seat belts. However, because the seat has no back, it cannot be used in a car with low seat backs or in vehicles without head rests.
Uspide:
Because it’s small and weighs next to nothing, it’s ideal for travel.
Downside:
It’s not as comfortable as a high-back booster because your child doesn’t have additional padding behind the head and torso. No big deal for short car rides. But if you want your child to catch a few zzzs on the road, head support will improve the odds of a restful slumber.
First things first. No matter what you read, there’s no one seat that’s the absolute safest. That’s because every child is different. And, well, not every car seat works equally well in every vehicle. You need to find a model that’s comfortable for your child, and one that can be installed correctly in your vehicle. So, in reality, the ‘best’ car seat is the one that fits your child, fits your car, and gets used correctly each and every time you use it. Sounds simple. But you’d be surprised. According to the National Highway Safety Transportation Administration three out of four parents do not properly use child restraints. This is truly frightening because when an infant is properly restrained the risk of death in an accident can be reduced by 71 percent. For children ages 1 to 4 the risk of death is reduced by 54 percent. To avoid being a statistic:
* Always read the instruction manual before attempting to install a car seat. If you’ve installed one car seat, you have not installed them all. The one you purchased for a first child may not be installed the same as the next one. Even if it’s the same model, designs change from year to year.
* Keep your child in the rear-facing position for as long as possible. Many state’s laws require a child must be 12 months and 20 pounds before facing forward. But if your child isn’t complaining, and your child hasn’t exceeded the weight recommendations, there’s no need to flip him or her forward. A rear facing car seat affords better crash protection than one that’s forward facing. To that end, a five-point harness offers better protection in a crash than a three-point-harness,. Likewise, a three-point harness is safer than a booster seat.
* When buckling a child into a harness strap system make sure the material isn’t twisted. The straps must be pulled tight enough that you can’t pinch any fabric between your fingers. Slide the plastic clip that holds the straps together up to your child’s arm pit. The shoulder strap should be at or below the child’s shoulders when rear facing, and at or above the shoulders when forward facing. Once an older child’s shoulders rise above the top harness slots, it’s time to switch to a booster.
* After purchasing a car seat, fill out and mail in the registration form. This is crucial so that the manufacturer can contact you in the event of a safety recall.
* If your vehicle comes with side curtain airbags, you’ll want to consult the owner’s manual for proper positioning before installing the car seat.
* The safest place to install your car seat is the back middle seat. If you have only one child, this is where you want to place the car seat. The most dangerous spot for a child is the front passenger seat. Do not place a child here, unless it’s absolutely necessary. And, if you do so, be sure that the vehicles front airbags are deactivated. This is imperative because if the airbags were to deploy, your child could be seriously injured or even killed by the force of the impact.
* If you’re using the car’s lap and shoulder seat belts to secure the car seat, make sure the seat cannot be moved more than an inch forward or to the sides when belted into place.
* Steer clear of all after-market products that may interfere with the car seat’s harness system. Belt positioning devices, for example, may make your child more comfortable, but they can cause serious injury in a crash. Also, if you need to replace any of your car seat’s parts, buy direct from the manufacturer.
* Never buy or borrow a car seat unless you know its history. The reason: If it has already been involved in an accident the structural integrity may be compromised. And just because it ‘looks good’ doesn’t mean it hasn’t suffered internal damage that can affect safety. Also, keep in mind that a car seat manufactured more than six years ago doesn’t meet current safety standards.
* The laws for when your child can ditch their car seat vary from state to state. Some, for example, only require children to be in car seats until age four. Think of your state’s laws as the minimums in terms of safety. In fact, child advocacy groups, advise going well beyond state laws. The National Safe Kids Campaign, for example, recommend kids stay in a car seat until the vehicle’s safety belts can be positioned so the lap belt fits against the child’s hips, and the shoulder belt can cross the center of the shoulders. And, generally speaking, this doesn’t happen until a child reaches a height of 4′ 9″. Your child must also have the maturity to sit upright with their back against the seat back for the duration of the car trip.
* If you have any doubt that you have installed the car seat correctly, be sure to have a certified child passenger safety technician give your handiwork a once over. To find an inspection station go to www.seatcheck.org. This service is free and yours for the asking. In addition to checking the accuracy of your installation, these nice folks will give you a one-on-one tutorial on how to properly restrain your child in said car seat.
Learning the Lingo
It’s amazing how something as seemingly simple as a child’s car seat can become so, well, confusing. Fortunately, once you become familiar with all the terminology it all begins to make sense. Below are a list of key terms that every parent ought to know.
LATCH
This is an acronym for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, a system that, beginning in 2002, became a standard in nearly all new cars and car seats. Essentially it allows you to install your car seat with anchors and tethers rather than relying on the car’s seat belts. The system improves car seat stability and minimizes the likelihood that the seat is installed incorrectly. Any new car seat you purchase will now be LATCH compatible. However, these same car seats can also be used with the car’s seat belt system. If your car doesn’t have LATCH, don’t sweat it. LATCH isn’t any safer. But it does make installation easier, in most cases.
Locking Clips
This flat metal device is an accessory that comes with all new car seats. It keeps the seat belt’s webbing taught when routing it through the car seat. It’s a necessity in certain car models to ensure the car seat is installed properly. How do you know if you need one for your vehicle? Consult your car owner’s manual. A handful of car seats now offer belt lock offs, which keep the belt taut without relying on a locking clip. Basically, you thread the seat belt through the router and then ‘lock off’ the seat belt with a clamp attached to the seat. A properly secured seat should not move more than an inch forward or to the sides while belted into place.
Harness System
Unlike a basic lap and shoulder belt, these safety belts, available in three point and five point configurations, consist of a series of straps that keep the child restrained in their seat. In a crash situation, the straps help spread the energy over the chest, pelvis, and shoulders. With a five-point harness (two shoulder straps, two hips straps and a crotch strap) the impact of the crash will be spread out further than with a three-point harness (two straps over the shoulder and one between the crotch). However, both of these mechanisms offer better protection than a lap and shoulder belt.
EPS and EPP Foam
EPS, also known as expanded polystyrene foam, is basically like Styrofoam. EPP, expanded polypropylene foam, is similar to EPS but is a denser material and less rigid. These materials help absorb the energy of a collision. To put it in perspective, EPS is the same material used to line bicycle helmets. You won’t find it in some of the lower end car seats because it’s not a federal requirement. But, obviously, a nice feature if you can afford it.
Side Impact Protection or SIP
According to current government safety standards a car seat must only protect a child against the most common type of crash which is a front-end collision. That’s not to say that the car seat won’t protect your child from a side-impact collision. They simply aren’t tested on how they would withstand such a collision. However, several car seat manufacturers have done independent testing. They now offer car seats with ‘wings’ around the head and/or torso. This small design innovation means that your child will be better protected in the event of a broadside accident. It’s particularly useful if you plan to install the car seat behind the driver’s or front passenger’s seat, as these positions offer less crash protection than the car’s rear middle seat.
No Thread Harnesses
One of the biggest headaches with a car seat’s harness system is that every time your child goes through a growth spurt, you have to re-thread the harness straps. It’s a little complicated, and it means having to uninstall and reinstall the car seat to change the harness height. But a car seat with a no-thread adjuster will save you the aggravation. Simply spin the knob, or raise the lever and the harness’s shoulder height can be adjusted to your child’s current needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you start your baby in an infant car seat or convertible seat is a personal decision. Both comply with government safety standards, and are legal for transporting infants in all 50 states. However, if you can afford the added expense of an infant car seat, we at EliteCarSeats.com believe it’s a better option. The reason: Some experts believe that a newborn is safer in an infant car seat because it’s smaller and therefore does a better job of cradling your child. Also, because you can pop it in and out of the car without removing baby, it’s far more convenient. And, finally, an infant car seat, unlike a convertible car seat, can be secured atop a stroller. Of course, not every car seat is compatible with every stroller (see chart). So you’ll want to make sure that the car seat you purchase works with the stroller you buy. Infant car seats are wonderful. But because little babies grow like weeds, they have a short shelf life. Once your child hits the weight maximum, typically 22-30 pounds, it’s time to move him up to a convertible or toddler seat. For many kids, this happens well before the first birthday. If that’s the case, you’ll need to switch to a convertible seat because children need to remain rear facing until age 1. And convertible seats are the only type of car seat than can be positioned in either the front or rear facing position. If your child reaches 20 pounds after his first birthday, you can purchase a youth or toddler seat. Normally, we recommend that your child be at least 4 years old and weigh at least 40 pounds before moving him or her into a booster. With this said, there are booster seats on the market with minimum weight requirements lower than 40 pounds because as we all know, each child grows differently. This, however, should not be a reason to put a child younger than four in a booster seat. And, in fact, for optimal crash protection, parents are advised to keep their child in a seat utilizing a five-point harness system, until they reach the height and weight maximums for their convertible or youth seat. Well, now that you mention it, yes. Installing a car seat is a huge pain in the neck. Now, you may be thinking, “C’mon, it shouldn’t take a degree in engineering to figure out how to install a car seat.” And it doesn’t. However, it’s more difficult than you’d think. In fact, according to government statistics, around 75 percent of car seats are improperly installed. Fortunately, things are getting better. For example, beginning in 2002, the government began mandating that new cars and car seats be equipped with LATCH, a system of latches and tethers that eliminates many of the common mistakes people make when installing a car seat. But this system is by no means fool-proof. The only way to be absolutely certain your car seat is installed correctly is to have your car seat checked over by a certified child passenger safety technician, also known as a CPS tech. These folks are true experts. To become certified, technicians must complete 30 hours of course work and pass a written exam. (Okay, so maybe it doesn’t take an engineering degree, but apparently reading an instruction manual may not cut it.) That said, if you have any questions or concerns, a CPS tech can address them. Contrary to what you might think, there is no one safest car seat. Certainly, it’s true that some car seats offer additional safety features like side impact protection and shock absorbing foam. All that is well and good. But, ultimately, the safest car seat is the one that fits your child, fits your vehicle, and gets used consistently and correctly. We’re the first to admit that there’s a slight disadvantage in purchasing a car seat online since you’re not able to try before you buy. However, we’ve done everything possible to ensure your odds of success. First we’ve measured each car seat we carry and list detailed specs on our website. Second, we let you know upfront which seats have been returned frequently due to installation headaches. The Britax Husky and the Britax Regent, for example, are both top-notch car seats. However, we know from experience that they don’t work well in some smaller hatchbacks. Another way to ensure a good fit: check out www.carseatdata.org. They have an online database of car seat and vehicle compatibility compiled by consumers and checked for accuracy by certified child passenger safety technicians. And, worst-case scenario: We have a ‘No Worries Return/Exchange Policy.’ Meaning, if it doesn’t work, or you just simply don’t like it, we’ll take it back no questions asked. For added piece of mind, consider purchasing return shipping insurance. If you own a 2003 model car or newer your car should be equipped with LATCH, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers For Children. Many 2002 cars and a handful of 2001 model cars will also have LATCH. If you have LATCH your vehicle owner’s manual will detail its location. The only cars not required to have a LATCH system are cars without back seats as well as some convertibles. If you have a LATCH system in your car, by all means use it. The point of the LATCH system is that is greatly reduces human error when installing a car seat. Moreover, it provides additional stability. If, however, you don’t have a car with LATCH, don’t sweat it. A car seat that utilizes a vehicle’s seat belt system is just as safe when installed correctly. One last point: The LATCH system does have a weight maximum. It’s usually somewhere between 40 and 50 pounds. But check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for the exact weight limit. Once your child exceeds the maximum, you must secure the car seat with the car’s lap and shoulder harness. In a word, yes. Every car seat is manufactured to protect children of a specific weight and height range. Each car seat undergoes extensive crash testing. But this testing assumes the user is within the recommended age range. If your child falls outside the range, their safety cannot be assured. So know your child’s height and weight and check the specs to be sure it’s a good fit. All 50 states have laws that require parents to place children in child safety seats when traveling by car. However, the specific requirements vary from state to state. Unfortunately, most state’s car seat laws are still too lax. If you comply, you’ll avoid getting a ticket. But you won’t necessarily be protecting your child as best you can. That’s why we strongly advise parents to follow the guidelines set forth by child advocacy groups. In a nut shell, here’s what they recommend: Infants should ride in a rear-facing seat as long as possible, but until at least 12 months and 20 pounds. Toddlers and preschoolers should stay in a front-facing 3 or 5 point harness for as long as possible, but until at least 40 pounds. And, finally, grade school children should remain in their booster as long as possible, but at least until they reach a height of 4 feet 9 inches. Related items:Do I start my baby in an infant car seat or a convertible car seat?
When do I move my child from an infant car seat to a convertible or youth toddler seat?
Is my child ready for a booster?
Are car seats difficult to install?
What is the safest car seat for my child?
How do I know that the car seat I buy will fit my vehicle?
Does my car have LATCH?
Is it safer to install my car seat with LATCH or the seat belts?
Does my child have to be in the recommended weight and height ranges?
Can you explain the law with regards to car seats?
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