Becoming a mom for the first time is hard enough. Your well-meaning friends and family (and sometimes strangers) will offer you unsolicited advice on everything from breastfeeding to which diapers to purchase. Every seasoned parent has their opinion on which products are best for their family, but it’s not always what’s best for you and your children.
When it comes to car seats, you want one that is safe, easy to install, and comfortable for your child. Something you might not consider is if it will fit in your specific vehicle. I personally have 3 car seats lined up in the back seat of our Honda Civic, so I know a thing or two about which car seats you can fit in a small vehicle!
How To Choose
How do you decide which car seats are best for you? The choice is easier than you think. You can find a great selection of car seats by graco at Diapers.com. You can rest assured that you will be getting a top of the line car seat that is safe, versatile, and long-lasting.
The type of car seat you’ll need depends on your child’s age, weight and height. Some car seat laws differ from state to state so check out the car seat recommendations for children.
The Graco Contender 65 Convertible Car Seat was listed as one of the 5 Top-Rated Convertible Car Seats by Consumer Reports. It also received a rave review by famed car seat experts Car Seats For The Littles.
I particularly like the Graco Contender 65 because it can be used rear-facing from 5 to 40 lbs! It’s not just a personal preference or what your baby appears to like when it comes to which direction to face your car seat. It is recommended to keep children rear-facing as long as possible because it is proven to be safer. Your child should ideally remain in a rear-facing car seat until they have reached the top height or weight limit that is allowed by your specific car seat. Only once your child has outgrown the manufacturer’s recommendations for rear-facing in that specific car seat, should you turn the car seat around.
Admittedly, when I was a first-time mom, I was anxious to turn the car seat around so my baby would be “facing the right way” and be able to see where we were going. No one told me that it was safer to keep the car seat rear-facing as long as possible. I also didn’t realize car seats could expire either. I think a lot of us get dropped into parenthood pretty quickly and find ourselves overwhelmed by all the things we need to learn and do. It wasn’t until my second child that I learned a thing or two about car seat safety.
First time parents should get your car seat checked to make sure it is installed properly. Getting your car seat installed properly is really important and you may be surprised to find that you’ve been doing it all wrong. Always be sure to thoroughly read and follow the directions that come with the car seat you select when installing it in your vehicle.
Tell us about your car seat experiences!
Do you consider yourself a car seat expert or are you still trying to figure everything out? Tell us in the comments which car seats you love and which ones you hate. Let’s discuss!
My girls are grown but car seat use is VERY important!
My kids are past the car seat age but when I used them I got some of my best advice from other moms.
My kids are grown, but I know how important it is to find a good car seat
Yes, I am a single dad raising all 5 of mine and I always liked to look for comfort and a product with a name I know I can trust to be safe.
My son is in a booster seat but I prefer him in the booster seat with the back on it. Helps his seat belt stay in place and gives him head support when he falls asleep! :)
I have a toddler. Find a car seat that is easy to install otherwise you’ll get really frustrated if you ever have to move it.
My daughter has the Nautilus seat and we love it! it really was the best option for us and theres not much I would change about it. so thankful Graco has this seat!
We have kids, but they are past the car seat age. It won’t be long & we’ll be looking for grandkids!
I have two kids. We always read reviews and did research before getting our convertible car seats.
I have one son who is almost 2 months old. :)
I am a single mom of a toddler. I am still looking for the new, affordable, and safe car seat for my little one.
Thank You for sharing this awesome topic!
My tip for choosing car seat is to choose one with best safety rating….safety is foremost. And, once you get a car seat, go to a certified car seat installation checker and have them check to see if you’re installing them correctly! They are easy to find (checker) if you google for a local certified checker in your area:) Our fire department did for us and I learned a lot
Buy a high quality car seat that matches the current weight of your child and make sure it is installed properly.
We’ve gone through more than 10 car seats over the years, lots of kids! Just making sure it’s installed according to the directions and baby is comfy.