Long story short:
- The best car seat is the one that 1) fits in your car 2) you are going to install correctly and 3) you can afford.
- The difference between the more affordable brands and the expensive brands are typically materials used and added comfort features, and neither of these have any effect on the efficacy of a car seat in a crash or accident as long as they are being used properly. All car seats on the US market pass the same crash safety tests.
- If you want the expensive car seat from the popular brand, get the expensive car seat from the popular brand! If you want the tried-and-true, affordable option from the other super popular brand, get that one! This choice is your own and, again, ALL CAR SEATS PASS THE SAME CRASH SAFETY TESTS.
The Long Story:
“Which car seat are you getting?” may have been the phrase that inspired this entire website. I’ve come to learn that there are about 1,000 types to choose from. Do you need an Infant, Convertible, 3-in-1, Rear-facing, Forward-facing, Special Needs, Booster Seat??
Answering this question is overwhelming, and it’s expensive. And for a lot of families, you’ll find yourself buying multiple car seats for each stage of your child’s life. Oh, and don’t forget about getting another set for the second car.
So, what do you actually need? And which is the best? What about the safest?
Things to consider when buying a car seat:
- Safety
- Price
- Longevity
- Materials and Toxicity
The safest car seat for your Little is the car seat that is properly installed and fits your child.
The best car seat? The best car seat is the one that is going to keep your Little safe, so refer again to the sentence above.
That said, there are options, and hundreds of them, on the market for a reason. There are various levels of comfort, size, color, and brand to decide between.
The 3 main types of car seats are:
Infant
- For your littlest Little. Straight from the hospital until they hit anywhere between 22-35 pounds and 29-35 inches (limits vary by car seat).
- Typically click in and out of your car and potentially onto a stroller for convenience and portability.
- Will always be rear-facing only
Convertible
- Also for your littlest Little and can be used from the hospital but follows them into toddlerhood so you get more life out of your purchase.
- Stationary car seats for the most part. Not meant to be moved out of the car frequently as they are heavier and bulkier. You will be carrying your Little in and out instead.
- These convert from rear-facing to forward-facing as your Little moves through weight/height limits.
3-in-1 (also called All-In-One)
- Similar to a Convertible car seat, but these will follow your child all the way into fit your newborn, toddler, and big kid as they go from rear-facing to forward-facing, and eventually a booster seat.
- Also a stationary option, these are typically the largest and bulkiest car seats since they are built to accommodate such a large age range.
- Your family will get the longest life out of this option.
The NHTSA has a great guide on the ins and outs of all these options as well as how to use them all safely. The NHTSA is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the authority on safe travel.
A popular strategy is buying an infant car seat for the first 1-ish year of life, and then transitioning them to a convertible or 3-in-1. But parents can make a single car seat work if buying multiple is not in your budget, or if you just don’t want to (which is always a valid reason).
Benefits of an infant car seat:
- Lightweight and portable. With most infant car seats, you can click it in and out of your car with your baby in it, so you don’t have to move them if they are sleeping or comfortable in their seat. Most infant car seats also click right into a stroller base, so you can easily move them from car to stroller and back into the car easily — like for those quick trips to the store or to grab food.
- You can strap your baby into the car seat while indoors and then move them out to the car. A huge plus for parents who need a minute to ensure their baby is strapped in properly, especially when facing weather elements like rain, heat, snow, etc.
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