Baby Freebies

My family had all sorts of trouble with car seats. First we fought with the infant seat. Then we had to get a small, cheap, forward-facing one. The baby quickly grew to big for it, and we had to get a new one. That one was so huge (we got it mail order) that passengers had to squeeze into the back seat. Why did the car seat thing have to be such a nightmare?

Well, mostly because we did not consider all the variables. What type of vehicle we had, how many adults and children would be in the car on a regular basis, and how many seats we really needed (one for each of our three cars)! Instead, we treated it like we were shopping for baby bath toys or blankets! It’s just not that simple. It should be treated like any serious purchase, with thought and research.

One important thing to keep in mind is to hold on to your receipts and the original box. We threw away those things and ended up stuck with that seat that is way too big. Keep your paperwork and all packing materials so that you can easily return the car seat if it does not work out for you.

I also wish I had known about convertible car seats like the Evenflo convertible! It starts out as a back-facing infant seat. Then you can switch it over into a forward-facing seat when the baby gets older. Try to get one that has a high maximum weight limit (if it will fit in your car!) so that you can keep it for a long time without having to buy a new one.

Also really consider investing in a top-quality car seat. The Britax car seat gets really high marks in reviews, though I have not used it personally. The initial cost may be higher, but you save more in the long run. Plus, by getting a good car seat you improve the chances of protecting your child in the event of an accident.

If you do get in an accident, replace the car seat right away, even if it does not show signs of damage. The seat may actually have damage that is not visible and it might not perform properly in the event of another accident. It’s just not work the risk.

I hope this gives you a few helpful tips. By doing a little research and measuring, you can avoid all the problems we had. You can also ask other families about their car seat experiences. Maybe that will guide you in the right direction. Good luck!