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Step 1
Age. Make sure the car seat you’re planning on buying is age appropriate. If you have a newborn an infant car seat is best. Up to 1 year old you need a rear facing car seat. If your little one is 4-8 years older and meets the weight requirements a booster seat is better. Look for the age the car seat is made for on the box or tag.
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Step 2
Weight. While your child may fit into a certain age group they may be in a different weight group. If your child is heaver or lighter than normal then go by the weight limit of the car seat or booster seat. Booster seats also have height requirements to take into consideration. Newborns and infants still need to sit in a rear facing car seat. If they are heavier than normal be sure and get a rear facing car seat with a higher weight limit.
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Step 3
LATCH systemInstallation. You can have the perfect car seat but if it is installed wrong then it is a safety hazard. Most car seats can be installed with just the seatbelt. However if you have a vehicle from 1999 or earlier than utilize the LATCH system. These are built in anchors made for car seats. Read the installation directions for your car seat carefully and follow all directions.
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Step 4
Harness. Car seats come with harnesses. The best is a five point harness. This harness should fit snuggly around the body, the shoulder and the crotch area. You do not want your baby to be able to slide around inside the car seat in case of an accident. There are some car seat options that give you multiple height choices for the harness. This will usually allow you to use the car seat longer as it will grow with your baby.
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Step 5
Classes. There are many car seat installation classes and you can even have your car seat installation inspected. Check out this site for an inspector near you http://www.seatcheck.org/.
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Step 6
The base. Many car seats come with the option to buy an extra base for your car seat. This can be helpful if you have more than one vehicle or if the grandparents will be picking your little one up on a regular basis.
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Step 7
Travel system. Some car seats come with what is known as a Travel system. These are car seats that have strollers they attach to. If looking at this option check out "How to choose the right stroller for your baby".
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Step 8
Extras. Some car seats have a head pillow option for stabilizing your baby’s head and neck. Some also have a canopy options and pockets for storage. Other options are cup holders and built in toys. All of these along with the color and pattern you choose are based on your personal wants and desires. As long as the above steps are reached the additional stuff is just for fun!
