Top tips for buying baby’s first car seat

Last week, a pregnant friend gave me a lift, and I could see that they already had their baby’s car seat fitted in the back seat. It looked so cute. And it suddenly felt like a very long time since we had been at the stage in our life when date night discussions were easily steered towards car seat brands.

That’s why I’m thrilled to have had the safety team at car rental company Sixt, which is running a campaign on child safety in the car, to remind me what parents should consider before buying baby’s first car seat. These are the top 5 tips from the Sixt safety team:

1. Type of car seat
There are two types of infant car seats, a rear-facing infant seat or a convertible seat. The first is more convenient as you can remove the seat and carry with the baby in it. The convertible seat can save you some money as it grows with your child, but is not portable.

2. Safety
All car seats on the market have been tested and approved to current safety standards – the United Nations standard, ECE Regulation 44.04 or R 44.03 or to the new i-size regulation. Those at the higher end will have a few more bells and whistles and higher quality fabric, but all are safe. To eliminate any uncertainty, the best thing you can do is not to accept a hand-me-down.

3. Proper Harness System
Whether you’re purchasing an infant car seat or a convertible car seat, look for a model that has a 5-point harness (two shoulder straps, two waist straps, and one strap between the legs that meet in the middle), side-impact protection (extra foam or air pads at the side of baby’s head), and compatibility with the LATCH system (a way to fasten the base tightly without using seatbelts).

4. Easily Adjustable
To save trouble, check to see if straps of the car seat you’re buying will be easy to adjust as your baby grows. Ideally, you want straps that will not have to be rethreaded. Many brands now have adjustment handles in the back of the seat, or a pull cord between baby’s legs, that make rethreading a thing of the past.

5. Professional Check
Although companies have simplified the car seat installation, it is best to have it checked by a professional before bringing baby home.

Read about our experience with baby’s first car seat when taking her home from hospital HERE