Car seat safety is super important. But is there a way to make sure your child stays safe, and not spending a fortune? Blog reader dad Allen Brown has some helpful tips for you to keep your child secure without breaking the bank.
One of the first items your baby will use is the car seat you purchase for them, taking the first car trip from the hospital to home sweet home. So it’s important that you choose a seat based on some essential features that suit your budget, but more importantly features that keep your baby safe when in a vehicle.
If the car seat has the basic features of safety and convenience, there will be no need to get into extra features that add to their price and that you might never need. So, what are some of the things you should be looking for in a car seat when on a budget?
LATCH or seat belt
Some seats use the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system which most new vehicles have. Yet, old cars might use seatbelt type chairs. For the LATCH system, find where it’s located in your car. The safest place for the baby to be seated is in the middle of the back seat, and the LATCH system might not be located in that area. You’ll also want to measure the car’s back seat because some chairs are quite large at the base, so you might need to buy a narrower one.
Convertible seat
To save money, you would want to buy a seat that works from infancy to toddlerhood. There are two types of seat that a newborn can sit in; one that is rear-facing, the other a convertible seat which faces the rear of the car that can later be turned toward the front. If you didn’t know it, you’ll know now that https://parentingpod.com/graco-4ever-all-in-one-convertible-car-seat-review/ tells us some seats can accommodate children from infancy to age nine. These types of seats tend to function as a rear-facing infant car seat, a forward-facing car seat for toddlers, a high-backed (or belt-positioning) booster, and a backless booster.
Buy a new seat
You want to save money, but not to the extent that it jeopardizes your child’s safety. So, you could be tempted to buy an old second-hand seat or borrow one from a friend or relative who had bought theirs way back; maybe 10 or even 20 years ago. Those old seats do not have the same safety precautions that are required by law now. Nor do they have the new technological features existing today. Seats on the market now have been tested and approved and this is what you need.
Essential features
Much of the high priced ones are expensive because of additional features that you don’t have to have for a completely safe car seat. For lower-ended price ranges, look for a model that has a reliable two shoulder, two waist straps and one strap between the legs. Side-impact protection to protect the baby’s head is also vital.
There are great seats out there that you can afford. Unlike many other things, they can last much longer than most other purchases for babies. You’ll find a perfect seat that is safe and comfortable for your baby, and easy for you to install and uninstall that doesn’t have a perfectly crazy price tag.
