Buying a Car Seat

Top 10 car seats

Before buying a car seat make sure you're clear about what the law requires in your state. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has published the latest child restraint laws on its website. When you're ready to start shopping around, consider reviewing the recommendations on both Consumer Reports and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration before making your final choice. Consumer Reports is the only reviewing organization that crash tests car seats in a laboratory, whereas the NHTSA evaluates car seats primarily on ease of use. Baby Bargains, written by Denise and Alan Fields and considered a must-have by many parents, offers reviews as well as bargain deals.

Our recommendations

If you're short on time and need some tips on the best car seats out there, consider the following choices:

Top seats for Infants

When buying a seat for your newborn, you’re looking primarily for safety, but ‘snuggability’ and ease of fitting are also important. Remember to fit the baby seat into your car a couple of weeks before the due date, especially if you’re using a fixed-base system, to avoid a last-minute panic!

• Britax Companion The most expensive choice, at $190, but tops the charts on both safety and ease of use.
• Combi Tyro 8000 at $120, and the Baby Trend LATCH-LOC Adjustable Back 6169, $90, are comparable to the Britax Companion in safety and ease of use, but are more reasonably priced.
• Evenflo Discovery at just $50 this has been given high marks by the NHTSA and is rated fifth by Consumer Reports.
  

Top Seats for toddlers

For this age, you’ll want something that’s quick to get them in to and has an easily-removable cover for washing. Look too for a sturdy harness and a range of sitting or reclining positions.

• Britax tops the charts on most online review sites in this category, with a variety of models to choose from.
• Cosco’s Eddie Bauer High Back Booster and the Safety 1st Vantage Point SE High Back are also popular.
• Evenflo again tops the charts when it comes to getting best bang for your buck, with the Chase DLX.

Top booster seats for older children

Drink holders, toy trays and snack boxes are all features your children will love, but look out for good side protection and easy to use belt adjusters at this age range. Trying to choose a design and color that will last until they’re nearly teenagers might be the biggest challenge!

• Compass B500 received the best reviews but is also the most expensive at $90.
• Cosco's Protek 22-291 and Evenflo's Big Kid LX Booster are good cheaper alternatives. 
  
• Cosco’s High Rise Auto Booster and Evenflo’s Big Kid No Back Booster, $20 and $30 respectively, are good booster cushion options for tweens.
  

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