Car Seats Buyers Guide
Ensuring a Safe and Comfortable Drive
You know you need a new car seat from the moment you hear about your infant's arrival. For most parents there is nothing more important than the safety of their kid. Recent studies have shown several children dying in car accidents and this makes it very important for people to have car seats in their car for their child's safety. It may not be a wise decision to buy the first car seat you come across. There are certain things you need to know and remember while purchasing car seats.
Rear facing car seats
First, let us take a look at the different types of car seats that are available in the market these days. Mainly you will find four types of car seats in the market. There is a variety of car seats that is meant especially for newborn babies and infants. These rear facing car seats are quite small and perfectly tailored for the infants. This is the kind of car seat you should buy for you infant till he/ she is a year old. These seats are specifically meant for kids weighing below 20 pounds.
Convertible car seats
The convertible car seats are flexible in the respect of being both rear facing and front facing, as and when required. Newborn kids need the car seats to be rear facing while growing infants need front facing ones. This is made possible with these convertible car seats. These seats can take the weight of the kid till he/ she weighs around 40 pounds. They require some care when it comes to using them for infants, as they may not be perfect for newborns.
Forward facing car seats
If you do not wish to use the convertible car seats you might wish to opt for forward facing car seats. These are specifically made for your kids who weigh more than 20 pounds and are growing. If they are above a year old they might have outgrown the infant car seats and in need of front facing car seats. These are not safe for newborn kids. These seats are also known as combination seats, as they can be changed into booster car seats (we will read about booster seats in the next section). This conversion may be required when your kid's weight exceeds 40 pounds.
Booster car seats
Booster car seats are meant for your kids when they become too heavy or big for the forward facing car seats. The child must generally weigh more than 40 pounds in order to use these seats. There are two kinds of booster car seats – shield booster car seats and belt-positioning booster car seats. It is advisable to use the latter version of car seats. These car seats are recommended till your kid is big enough to use the normal seat belts meant for adults.
Other features
There are various other features that can be found in car seats. Canopy, harness arrangement, chest and locking clips, latch arrangement, recline, harness and belt system, etc. are some of the features to name only a few. You can even avail of accessories like toys, headrests, protectors, mirrors, sun shades, etc. You can base your choice on your preference and need. The cost of the car seat is also an influential factor while you are about to purchase a car seat. You could opt for a car seat that is washable. It is better if you go for a new seat instead of a used one and thereby further ensure your child's safety.
Now that you know the various types of car seats and the various features and accessories available you can decide on the one you wish to buy for your kid depending on the child's age, weight and requirement. Your choice will also be influenced by the compatibility of the original car seat. Make your purchase only after you consider all the pros and cons.
Key Features
| Key Features | | | Car Seat Type | | | Restraint System | | | Seating Direction |
| | With over 100 car seats on the market, key features such as Car Seat Type, Restraint System & Seating Direction are important factors when buying. These features not only effect the performane and quality of the car seat you choose, but also the price. Shown below are price guides for a selection of car seats focusing on the key features: Car Seat Type, Restraint System & Seating Direction. |
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| Car Seat Type | | Infant | £70.00 | | Youth | £72.00 | | Convertible | £75.00 | | Booster | £81.00 | | * | Convertible | £75.00 |
| | | Restraint System | | 2-Piece Safety Harness | £35.00 | | Vehicle Seat Belts | £44.00 | | 5-Point Safety Harness | £77.00 | | 3-Point Safety Harness | £80.00 | | * | 5-Point Safety Harness | £77.00 |
| | | Seating Direction | | Rear / Forward Facing | £63.00 | | Rear Facing | £71.00 | | Forward Facing | £76.00 | | * | Rear / Forward Facing | £63.00 |
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* Taking into account all current car seats on the market the most desirable would be a car seat with Convertible Car Seat Type, 5-Point Safety Harness Restraint System and Rear / Forward Facing Seating Direction.
Price Guide
| Min | £29.95 | | Avg | £76.05 | | Max | £135.00 |
| | Car Seats cost anywhere from £29.95 for a basic car seat with few features to around £135.00 for a fully featured car seat. |
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Brand Guide
| Popular Brands | | | LITTLE SHIELD | | | Chicco | | | Graco | | | Britax | | | Nania | | | Mamas |
| | The most popular car seats brand is LITTLE SHIELD. The most expensive car seats brand is Concord. If you're looking for a bargain then look out for Apollo branded car seats as generally they offer the cheapest car seats. |
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