Car Seat Information

Car seats are probably our most expensive purchase to protect our children during the first several years of their lives. However, trying to figure out which car seat to buy can be overwhelming because there are so many choices. It can also be difficult to determine what the differences are between various car seats and why certain car seats that have similar specifications on paper are so different in price.

All car seats made in the United States must meet the same requirements in order to be approved. There is not one “safest” car seat. The safest car seat must: 1) fit in your vehicle; 2) be properly installed; and 3) be used correctly every time. However, there are some car seats that are difficult to use (which often leads to misuse) or are outgrown quickly. The recommendations on this website for car seats are based on ease of use, ease of installation, some additional safety features, and length of use.

 

Car Seat Basics

There are four basic types of car seats which many parents will choose to use:

• Infant car seats – These “bucket” or “pumpkin” car seats are rated for babies as small as 4lbs or 5lbs. Infant seats have a base that you install in the car and then you carry the baby in the car seat. Most parents use infant seats because it is more convenient especially when you are moving a sleeping baby or dealing with temperature extremes.
• Convertible car seats – These car seats can be installed rear-facing for babies (including newborns) and toddlers. Then are turned forward-facing when the child is older. Most parents move babies from the infant seat to a convertible car seat.  
• Combination seats (“youth” or “toddler” seats) – These seats can only be used in a forward-facing position so they are not appropriate for babies. These seats have a 5-point harness which is removed when a child outgrows the harness. Then the seat is used as a booster seat with the car’s shoulder seatbelt.
• Booster seats – These seats are only used with the car’s seatbelts and are designed for older children who have outgrown the 5-point harness but are not big enough to fit in the regular seat with the seatbelts. Booster seats come in two varieties – high back booster and no back booster.

Car Seat Dos and Don’ts

• DO read your car seat manual before you install it in your car. Follow the directions carefully.
• DO purchase car seats from authorized dealers only. Car seats purchased elsewhere (including new-in-box seats from EBay) may void the manufacturer’s warranty on the car seat.
• DO use the car seat properly every time you have your child in the car.
• DO the pinch test to check that the straps are tightened properly. If you can pinch the harness at the shoulders (pinch from front to back), the harness is too loose.
• DO position the chest clip even with the armpits on the chest bone. (Remember, it’s a chest clip, not a belly clip!)
• DO have your car seats checked by a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST).
• DO use the top tethers for installing all forward-facing car seats. This reduces head excursion, which is how far a child’s head moves forward during an accident. If you do not have top tethers in your vehicle, contact the car dealership about having the top tethers retrofitted.
• DO make sure the car seat will work in your car. You can try the car seat in your vehicle and/or use the car seat compatibility website. (Hint: Only type in the make and model of your vehicle since several years of models will be similar to your specific model.)
• DO place children in the back seat of the vehicle if at all possible. If you must put a child in the front seat, consider the implications of air bags. (See Air Bags: Helping Parents Make Tough Choices)
• DO NOT use both the seatbelt and LATCH to install a car seat. In addition to going against the instructions, the car seat may actually be less safe and unable to protect your child in an accident. Choose one method to get a good install. (Can I use LATCH and a seatbelt?)
• DO NOT use the lower LATCH anchors when children have exceeded the weight limits for the lower anchors on your vehicle. At that point, you MUST use the seatbelts to install your car seats. Some vehicles have a 40lb limit, but most have a 48lb limit. Check your vehicle manual for specific information.
• DO NOT add anything to the car seat that did not come with the car seat itself. Car seat manufacturers specifically state that using aftermarket products will void your warranty. Aftermarket products have not been tested with the car seat and they may cause the car seat to fail in an accident. (Manufacturer Statements on Aftermarket Accessories)
• DO NOT put anything between your child and the harness – including a heavy jacket, snowsuit, or an aftermarket product to keep your baby warm. These items require that the car seat harness be loosened too much. In the event of an accident, the jacket or product can compress so much that the child is able to slide out. (Winter Coats and Car Seats – Check for Safety)
• DO NOT use an expired car seat. Most car seats expire 6 years from the date the seat was manufactured (DOM), but some seats last 8 or 9 years. Information about when your car seat expires will be in the manual and on the car seat itself. It may also be on the box – which will allow you to select the most recent DOM when you are buying a seat at the store.
• DO NOT use a car seat that has been in an accident. A few car seat manufacturers (i.e. Britax) allow seats to be used after a minor accident that meets specific criteria, but most manuals specifically state that car seats must be replaced after any accident. Insurance should replace the car seats.
• DO NOT use a previously used car seat unless you get the car seat from someone you know and would trust with your child’s life and it meets the criteria from the Used Child Safety Seat Checklist.