How to Pick an Infant Car Seat

One of the most important things you can buy as an expectant parent is an infant car seat. Walking into the car seat aisle at your local store can be overwhelming with all that variety. Here are some tips to choosing the perfect car seat for your baby.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Before heading to the store, look online for product reviews. Check retail websites such as target.com, babiesrus.com. and amazon.com for infant car seat reviews. Getting reviews from users will give you a better idea of which brands offer top quality.
2. When you do venture to the store, look at each car seat up close. Check the straps to see how hard they are to adjust and how difficult the buckle is. See if you can handle it with one hand.
3. Check the weight of the car seat. Some car seats weigh several pounds. Estimat what your might weight at six months and determine if the seat will still be easy to carry with your baby in it.
4. The handle of the car seat should feel comfortable. Try out different handle designs to see which feels better to you. Also check to see if you can swing the seat without hurting yourself. You may need to do this to calm a crying baby.
5. Check that the seat will install in your car correctly. Some seats are harder to install in certain cars.

Tips & Warnings

• Never buy a used seat. They can be dangerous and may have been subject to a recall you don't know about.