With our reliance on cars increasing day by day, it is essential to make our cars safer for our kids. With an infant or toddler, it is necessary to buy the right car seat to keep them safe while driving. Fortunately, there are different types of car seats available these days. You can find one that suits every age. The problem is that at times, it can be challenging to go through so many options to pick the right one.
Things become even more complicated when you go into the technical jargon and the specifications. We will today help you out. We will share with you a few things that you should always keep in mind when buying car seats. This article gives you information about the best car seats for your 3 year old child.
We will help you understand how you can choose the safest and most reliable options.
Type
When looking for such seats, the first choice which you will come across is the type of car seat itself. There are three different variants available. We will go into the details of these variations below.
- Rear-Facing Seats – As the name suggests, this seat is installed in the rear-facing position. It can generally carry between 5 lbs to 40 lbs. It comes in the semi-reclined form and is adjustable as well. In most of the cases, it is suitable for your infant. As your child crosses the age of 3, you might have to look for another option.
- Front facing seats – The advantage of the front facing seats is that the child can see the direction in which the car is traveling. That is why; it becomes a fascinating experience for your child. Front facing seats can accommodate toddlers and therefore, once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, you can opt for the front facing one. They come with the harness and can support more weight.
- Booster seat – The booster seat is required when your child outgrows even the front facing car seats. It raises your child while sitting and makes use of the lap and shoulder seat belts. These seats have high-back, which is often removable.
Thus, when looking for such seats, you have to take into account the age of your child and then choose between these three seat options. Once you are clear about them, you can take into account the other factors which we will be highlighting below to help you make your buying decision.
Harness type
The harness straps are what hold your child or toddler in place when in the seat. There are two different choices which you have. You can go with the car seat having 3 point harness or the 5 point harness. The 5 point harness can handle the high weight and are more secure. You always have to check the type of harness available and then make the decision about buying the seat.
Additionally, you have to look at the material of the harness as well. It should be durable and soft. When it meets both of these requirements, you can be sure that your child will be at complete ease when using that car seat. Thus, this is the second factor which you should consider while comparing different car seats.
Check the limitations
Before buying such a seat, it is better to check the limitations of the car seat. You have to check the limitations regarding:
- Weight of the child that it can handle
- Height of the child which it can accommodate
- Suitable age range
When you check these three limitations, you can be doubly sure whether the seat is suitable for your child. In such a case, there will be no room for any confusion, which will further aid you to choose the right car seat easily.
Never buy used car seats
Many people try to save a dollar by going for the used car seats. You need to remember that when it comes to the safety of your child, you should take no chances. You do not know the extent of wear and tear which these used for car seats have suffered from. Hence; it is essential to always go with the newer ones. Chances are when you buy a used car seats; you might have to spend additionally on their maintenance a few weeks down the line. It means that the amount which you will spend on the used car seats will be almost equivalent to buying a new one. That is why; you have to buy a new one right off the bat. It will provide you with complete peace of mind about the safety of the child in the car.
Check car seat quality
You have to consider the quality of the seat. It is easy to do so online. The first thing which you need to look at is the construction of the seat to determine the materials in use. Additionally, you have to look at the harness of the seat. Once you do so, you should also check the latest car seat ratings online to make sure that you are buying a car seat that scores high on all parameters. With the help of these ratings, it is easy to take your pick. You will not have to spend hours to buy the right car seat.
Installation mechanism
Many parents skip this step. However, it is a crucial thing to consider. When buying a car seat online, you must look at the installation procedure. If it is easy to install, that is a huge positive. You should not buy a car seat which takes hours to install and requires professional installation for the first time. It will be expensive. That is why; you have to look at the installation mechanism and then take a call.
You should prefer a car seat which comes with the instruction manual. When that is the case, you can follow that manual to install and remove it as per your convenience. Also, it is your responsibility to always follow the instruction manual up to the last detail. It will keep your toddler or infant completely safe in the seat. Nevertheless, you should not ignore this factor while choosing one.
So, if you’re confused about car seats, these are the six things to keep in mind while buying one. It will help you choose the right car seat without any issue. Among the numerous options available, you can compare these six factors and pick the right one. These factors ensure that the car seat which you choose is the safest option for your child.
