The car seat situation in my family was madness. There was the infant seat, then soon after a small one that faced front. She quickly outgrew that. Then there was the next weight category seat that we got mail order. It was so big that passengers could barely fit in the back seat! Why does the car seat situation have to be so difficult?
Well, most of the problem is that there are a lot of variables to consider. Things like the type of vehicle you have, how many other passengers (including other children) you anticipate. In our family, a big concern was the fact that we needed one in each of our three vehicles! That made cost a really huge factor to consider into the equation. I mean, this is not buying something simple, like baby bath toys or receiving blankets! You really have to do your research.
Before I say anything else, let me suggest one thing. Keep your receipts and original packing materials! We threw out our boxes and receipt, so we ended up being stuck with the giant car seat. Hang onto those things so you can easily return the car seat if it turns out to be not so great.
I also wish I had known about convertible car seats like the Evenflo convertible! It starts out as a back-facing infant seat. Then you can switch it over into a forward-facing seat when the baby gets older. Try to get one that has a high maximum weight limit (if it will fit in your car!) so that you can keep it for a long time without having to buy a new one.
Another thing to consider is getting a top-quality car seat. One brand that seems to have consistently high marks is the Britax car seat. I have not used it personally, but based on its reviews, I would give it a try if I had to do it all again. Plus, a quality car seat is more likely to keep your child safe if you have an accident. That’s the point, after all, right?
If you do get in an accident, replace the car seat right away, even if it does not show signs of damage. The seat may actually have damage that is not visible and it might not perform properly in the event of another accident. It’s just not work the risk.
I know this is not an in-depth guide on how to buy a car seat, but hopefully it gives you a few things to keep in mind while you are shopping. Just try and avoid the mess our family got into by taking the time to do some research (or ask families with children for opinions) before you buy.
Tags: baby car seat, baby care
