Some Tips On Avoiding Car Seat Woes
Posted by Babies - 30/03/10 at 08:03 pmMan, did we have trouble with car seats. We had the cheap (yet heavy) infant seat. She outgrew that really fast and we got an inexpensive forward-facing one. Then we had to get another one when she exceeded the weight limit of the cheap one! The next one, which we got over the Internet, was so big that we had a hard time shoving passengers in the back seat. Why were we having so much trouble?
We should have done our research before buying. Seats can differ greatly, and we should have taken into account what type of vehicle we had. We should have measured things. And we should have thought about how many passengers and other children we would have in the car on a regular basis. But instead we treated it like something simple, like buying baby bath toys or blankets! Save yourself the big hassle by treating it like any serious purchase.
One important thing to keep in mind is to hold on to your receipts and the original box. We threw away those things and ended up stuck with that seat that is way too big. Keep your paperwork and all packing materials so that you can easily return the car seat if it does not work out for you.
I would also definitely consider a convertible car seat, such as an Evenflo convertible. What a convertible seat allows you to do is to have the rear facing infant seat when you need it. Then it converts into a forward-facing seat. Check the maximum weight limit and get a higher one so you can keep it as long as possible.
Also really consider investing in a top-quality car seat. The Britax car seat gets really high marks in reviews, though I have not used it personally. The initial cost may be higher, but you save more in the long run. Plus, by getting a good car seat you improve the chances of protecting your child in the event of an accident.
One special note: If you do get in an accident, manufacturers and experts say you are supposed to replace the car seat. Even if it does not look damaged, it might have invisible fractures or other stress damage. Then it may not perform correctly if you happen to get into another accident. It’s not worth the risk!
While this is clearly not a complete guide to buying car seats, I hope it helps a little. Just do the extra work up front and you will save yourself a lot of hassle later on. Research the Internet, and also ask other families what they recommend. Good luck to you!
