Which Car Seat To Buy?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  1. Right seat: Check the seat's height and weight limits (see our timeline above). …
  2. Seat tight: Once installed, the seat shouldn't move more than 1 inch side to side or front to back. …
  3. Harness height: In rear-facing installation, the harness straps are at or below your baby's shoulders.

What is the safest infant car seat 2021?

Best Car Seats Editor's Rating Price 1.

Chicco KeyFit 30

9.8 check price
2. Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 9.8 check price 3. UPPAbaby MESA 9.7 check price

What are the 3 types of car seats?

  • – Infant Car Seat. …
  • Convertible Car Seat. Rear-facing or Forward-facing. …
  • 3 in 1 Car Seat. Rear-facing or Forward-facing. …
  • Combination Car Seat. Forward-facing. …
  • Booster Seat. Forward-facing. …
  • Built-in Car Seat. Forward-facing. …
  • Special Needs Car Seat.

What is the safest infant car seat 2020?

  • PIPATM car seat + base. …
  • Chicco KeyFit infant car seat and base. …
  • Combi Coccoro convertible car seat. …
  • Britax B-Safe infant car seat. …
  • Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 infant car seat. …
  • Maxi-Cosi Mico Max 30 infant car seat. …
  • Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35. …
  • Doona Infant car seat.

What size car seat should my child be in?

Current California Law:



Children under the age of 8 must be secured in a car seat or booster seat in the back seat

. Children who are 8 years of age OR have reached 4'9” in height may be secured by a booster seat, but at a minimum must be secured by a safety belt.

What car seat do I need for a 4 year old?

Currently

booster cushions

fall under the Group 2/3 car seat category, meaning they can be used from around 4-years-old. The new extension recommends children use backless boosters once they are 125cm or taller, which is roughly about 7-years-old.

What is the top rated infant car seat?

  • UPPAbaby MESA Infant Car Seat. …
  • Doona Car Seat and Stroller. …
  • Maxi-Cosi Mico 30 Infant Car Seat. …
  • Evenflo LiteMax 35 Infant Car Seat. …
  • Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Infant Car Seat. …
  • Nuna PIPA Infant Car Seat & Base. …
  • Baby Trend EZ Flex Loc Infant Car Seat.

What is the highest rated car seat?

  1. Graco 4Ever DLX: Best child car seat. …
  2. Cybex Aton 2: Best infant car seat. …
  3. Chicco Keyfit 30: Best child car seat for budgets. …
  4. Britax Boulevard Clicktight ARB: Best convertible car seat. …
  5. Evenflo Gold SensorSafe EveryStage: Best extended rear-facing car seat. …
  6. Primo Viaggio Nido: Anti-rebound pick.

What age do babies outgrow infant car seats?

Babies usually outgrow their infant car seats by the time they're

8 or 9 months old

. When this happens, change to a convertible or all-in-one car seat, and use it rear-facing until age 2. Convertible Seat: A convertible seat can change from a rear-facing seat to a forward-facing seat.

What are the different size car seats?

  • Rear-Facing Car Seat. Birth-12 Months. Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. …
  • Forward-Facing Car Seat. 1 – 3 Years. Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. …
  • Booster Seat. 4 – 7 Years.

Are all car seat bases the same?

Are All Car Seat Bases Universal?

No, not all car seat bases are universal

. When choosing a car seat base, it is vital to check and double-check that the base is compatible with your car seat make and model.

What are the different stages of car seats?

  • Stage 1: Rear-facing car seats. Rear-facing car seats should be used until your child is at least 2 years old. …
  • Stage 2: Forward-facing car seat. Forward-facing car seats are usually used until the child reaches, at least, five years old. …
  • Stage 3: Booster seat. …
  • Stage 4: Seatbelt.

Why is UPPAbaby so popular?

As a premium brand, UPPAbaby products have many features and capabilities not seen on lower-priced options, and are made with superior materials designed to last for many years. Additionally,

the beautiful design and contemporary details

have led UPPAbaby to become a fashion statement for the trend-conscious parent.

Are car seats safe for newborns?

Child safety seat tips for baby


Your infant or toddler should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their seat

. Most convertible seats have limits that will allow children to ride rear-facing for two years or more.

Do you really need an infant car seat?

Why are rear-facing seats better?

A rear-facing car seat will

absorb most of the crash forces and supports the head, neck and spine

. When children ride forward-facing, their heads – which for toddlers are disproportionately large and heavy – are thrown forward, possibly resulting in spine and head injuries.

Can I put my 3 year old in a booster seat?

1

Three-year-olds are not ready to ride in a booster seat

, even if they fit within the manufacturer's height and weight guidelines. To sit in a booster seat, children should:3. Many convertible and harness-to-booster car seats have harnesses rated to hold kids up to 65 pounds.

Are booster seats legal?


Children weighing more than 22kg and taller than 125cm can use a backless booster seat

. Children of 12 years old or taller than 135cm do not need to use a child seat. Before this age or height they must do by law. Child seats must be fitted either using ISOFIX mountings or a diagonal seat belt strap.

Can my 4 year old use a backless booster seat?

If you can answer “Yes” to ALL the statements below,

your child is safe to use a booster

: There's a shoulder AND lap belt (boosters need shoulder belts) The child is at least 40 lbs. The child is at least 5 years old.

Can a 4 year old use a booster seat?

CHILD CAR SEATS/BOOSTER SEATS

This is the car seat that your child will use for the longest time –

from approx. 4 years until 12 years

. Using a high back booster seat instead of only a booster cushion ensures that your child is provided with a side impact protection during the whole period of use.

Can a 5 year old use a booster seat?


Yes you can

. Previously, booster cushions were sold as being suitable for children over 15kg (2 stone 5 pounds), which can happen between 3 to 4 years old. If you have one of these already and it complies with current regulations (ECE R4/04 law), you can still use it legally, even if your child isn't yet 125cm or 22kg.

What car seats do celebrities use?

Another car seat that is a favorite for celebs is the brand's

Maxi-Cosi Magellan

. The Magellan 5-in-1 Convertible Car Seat can “grow” with the child. It can be used for kids 5-120 lbs.

Are Nuna car seats worth it?

They unanimously gave the car seat very good ratings for quality and ease of use. While it's on the higher end of price points for infant car seats,

our editors and parent testers felt the lightweight, durable Nuna Pipa is worth it given the quality, ease of installation and use, and comfort for little ones

.

Which side is safer for a car seat?

Placing the car seat in the wrong spot


The safest place for your child's car seat is in the back seat

, away from active air bags. If the car seat is placed in the front seat and the air bag inflates, it could hit the back of a rear-facing car seat — right where the child's head is — and cause a serious or fatal injury.

Are backless booster seats safe?

While high-backs are the safest choice,

backless boosters are still much safer than no booster at all

, and we can see some legitimate reasons parents might choose a no-back model. For one thing, backless boosters are generally less expensive, some costing as little as $14.

Is Graco a good brand?

Graco is like the Honda of strollers—

a mid-priced brand with decent quality, but not a lot of pizazz

. You'll find Graco in most chain stores like Target. Graco's line is huge (48 models at last count), so we'll hit the highlights: The models.

Maria LaPaige
Author
Maria LaPaige
Maria is a parenting expert and mother of three. She has written several books on parenting and child development, and has been featured in various parenting magazines. Maria's practical approach to family life has helped many parents navigate the ups and downs of raising children.