How to Buy a Safe and Affordable Convertible Car Seat

Shopping for a convertible car seat can be overwhelming, but knowing what to look for makes it a great deal easier. Here are some tips for shopping for a safe and affordable car seat:

1. Purchase a car seat easy to install or make an appointment with a Certified Passenger Safety Technician to have it installed properly.

Consumer Reports estimates "as many as 80 percent of infant car seats may be installed or used improperly, which can dramatically increase a child's risk of injury in a crash." Choosing a seat that is easy to install can be especially important if you plan to move it back and forth between more than one vehicle. Evenflo's Symphony car seat has a new system called "Sure Latch," which is designed to make it easier for parents to install car seats themselves. To see if your car seat is installed accurately or to find a Certified Passenger Safety Technician visit www.seatcheck.org or www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm

2. Choose a car seat with an extended rear-facing weight limit.

According to AAP, the safest car seats will allow your child to rear face for as long as possible; crash testing indicates children are better protected in rear-facing car seats. Choose a car seat with a rear-facing weight limit of at least 35 pounds. The Graco My Ride 65, scheduled to be in stores on June 9, will allow infants to rear face up to 40 pounds, which is the highest rear-facing weight limit of all U.S. manufactured car seats.

3. Make sure the seat has a five-point harness.

Some car seats do not allow you to continue using the seat's five-point harness after a certain weight limit. For instance, the Evenflo Symphony only allows you to use the five-point harness up to 40 pounds. Afterward, it switches to a three-point harness. Before you purchase a seat, make sure the five-point harness may be used up to a weight limit you feel comfortable with.

4. Find out the height limit of the straps and access how easy it is to adjust them.

Parents of long infants and toddlers complain their children grow out of seats due to their child's height rather than their weight. Choosing a car seat, which allows for a higher harness strap height may allow you to use your car seat longer, which is especially important if you have a tall child. An additional issue to consider is how easy it is to move the straps to a higher setting, as this can be time consuming. For this reason, Evenflo has created a car seat with a unique strap system that does not require rethreading. If you prefer to not be hassled with strap transitions, this may be a good car seat for you family; it is called the Triumph.

5. Make sure the seat fits in your vehicle before you purchase it.

Do not purchase a seat until you are sure it will fit in your vehicle properly. Baby's R Us actually allows you to test the car seat in your vehicle to see if it will fit properly. My husband and I were surprised to discover that the car seat, which most met our needs on paper, did not fit into our backseat when we tried it out. In fact, it blocked the view of our rear window. If the car seat does not fit properly in your vehicle then it is simply not safe for your child. I highly suggest trying the seats in your car before you purchase one. Additionally, there is a helpful website, www.carseatdata.org, which assists parents with finding car seats, which fit well in their vehicle.

6. Do not purchase additional padding or toys to attach to your car seat.

Car seats are tested for safety with only the padding or gadgets manufactured with the seat. Any attachments, which are not from the manufacturer may compromise the car seat's safety devices. According to Certified Passenger Safety Technicians, even mirrors used to watch your child when they are rear- facing can become safety hazards in an accident; it becomes something your child could injure themselves on if a seat forcefully rocks forward. Do not waste money on pads or devices, which can only lower the safety standards of your child's car seat.

7. Compare prices online.

Once you identify the seat that best fits the needs of your family, compare prices online before you make a purchase. Good sites to look at are www.nexttag.com; www.bizrate.com; www.ebay.com and even www.walmart.com. I recently saw new Britax car seats on Next Tag for the bargain price of $50.00! There are many car seat deals to be found online; however, even when the car seats are new in the box, be absolutely certain you are purchasing the current model sold in stores as you do not want to purchase an item that has had a recent recall.

"Car Seat Safety Seminar." Absolute Safety.
"Does Your Child's Car Seat Instillation Need a Check Up?" ConsumerReports.org.
"Why Rear-Facing is Safest." Car-Safety.org.
"Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families - 2009." American Academy of Pediatrics.