In the past few years, there has been a growing trend to provide an all-in-one solution for safely transporting our new babies. From the new born stage to the time your lovely child is big enough and old enough to ride in the regular seat of the car, you might have to purchase up to four different car seats for them. Many parents are going with a convertible car seat instead of a seat for each stage of a developing baby’s life.
Which is the Safest Car Seat
We all want to be confident that our baby will remain safe during a car accident. Any car seat that you purchase brand new has to meet minimum government standards. For many, that is fine. For others though, they want extra insurance that their baby will be safe, and opt to purchase a seat that is said to provide a higher level of protection. Manufacturers do not publish their safety testing, so knowing which is the safest is very hard to determine. Be assured though, anything you buy new will be safer than no car seat at all.
Does Your Baby Fit?
The fit is important for safety and comfort of your baby or child. Many of the convertible car seats on the market today have a weight rating of five to seventy pounds, while others range from twenty to over one hundred pounds. Do not be fooled by the weight rating though. The height of the child is important as well. Tall skinny children can out grow their seat before they are too heavy for it. For the best protection, the harness needs to be positioned right on the child, and if the child does not fit the car seat properly, the harness may not provide the right amount of protection.
Making a Fashion Statement?
Many manufacturers of car seats, like Britax and Graco manufacture their seats in different patterns and colors. If you have a theme for your baby, it is very likely you will be able to find a child convertible car seat to fit that theme. Pink, black, cow print, and character themed are a small sampling from the several options that are available.
What Kind of Budget?
When it comes to keeping your child safe in the car, you do not have to take out a second mortgage to do so. Standard seats start under one hundred dollars, and the higher end models can reach up over three hundred dollars. If your budget does not allow for the higher end seats, the less expensive ones still provide adequate protection due to the fact that all car seats need to meet minimum safety standards. You also need to think of how much it will cost if you choose to purchase a new car seat for each stage of your child’s life. It is possible you will save money by purchasing one convertible car seat for all stages instead of three to four different ones.
Hopefully before your new baby is born in to this world, you will have some time to research your options, which need to include reading extensive convertible car seat reviews. Reviews will help give you a better understanding of what different brand and models of seats offer for protection, fit, fashions, and pricing. The ultimate goal is to bring your new bundle of joy home safe and sound from the hospital. You are not a bad parent if you can not afford to purchase a two hundred dollar and up Britax convertible car seat.
