How to Pick a Car Seat for Your Baby (Without Losing Your Mind)

Picking a car seat for your baby can be so overwhelming! Do you need the luxury car seat? Is this brand safer? Is this one okay even though it's cheaper? There are lots of car seats to choose from and googling "best baby car seat" isn't always helpful. Let's talk about how to know if a car seat is right for you.

How To Know If A Car Seat Is Safe

First of all, don't stress! Car seats in the US have to meet the same safety standards, even if they’re cheaper or don't have lots of extra features. And what exactly is the point of all those features? Some can make a car seat easier to use and some can make the car seat work better in a crash. Some even do both!

All those “extras” can really add up, but it's okay if a pricey car seat isn't in your budget! Your kiddo will be protected if the car seat fits them, fits your car, and you can use it correctly. No matter how much it costs.

A few things to remember: Always buy car seats from a store you trust, online or in person. Don't buy car seats from Temu. If a price looks too good to be true - it is! Car seats do go on sale, but never for 90% off (even if that would be super helpful).

Car seat brands always talk about the things that make their car seats better or safer. So here's the inside scoop about car seat features and what they actually do.

Features That Make Car Seats Easier To Use

Want your car seat to be super easy to use? These things will help with that!:

Rigid LATCH: Metal connectors on the car seat/base so you can install it in your car with two simple clicks!

Lock-Off: A feature that makes it easier to install the car seat/base by locking the seat belt for you!

No-Rethread Harness: A feature that that moves the harness up and down by squeezing a handle or pulling a tab.

Rotating Seat: A feature that makes it easier to get baby in and out by letting you turn the top of the base 180 degrees!

Features That Can Make Car Seats Safer In A Crash

Really into everything safety? These features will be right up your alley!:

Anti-Rebound Bar/Panel: Another feature that helps the car seat move less! And the less the car seat moves in a crash, the better.

Load Leg: A metal leg that goes from the bottom of the car seat (or base) to the floor of your car. It makes the car seat move less in a crash, which keeps kids safer.

Rigid LATCH: A feature so nice we listed it twice! It also helps the car seat (you guessed it!) move less in a crash to help keep kids safer.

Deciding Which Features Matter To You

Car seats with more features are more expensive, so your heart is probably saying yes to all the features...but your wallet might be saying no. That's okay! Just remember: you don’t need a car seat with every single feature. The most important thing is using the car seat correctly. Everything else is a cherry on top!

The Bottom Line

At this point, you probably wish someone would just tell you which car seat to buy - and I don't blame you. It's a big decision! But buying a car seat is a really personal choice. The car seat your best friend swears by might not fit in your car. The car seat your favorite influencer mentioned might not fit in your budget. Your best bet is to buy a car seat that fits your budget and your needs!

Now that you know what you're looking for, take your search into the real world. Big box stores (like Target, Walmart, Meijer, and Nordstrom) have display car seats you can touch and try.

Shopping local? Boutique baby stores are a great place to buy car seats! Many will let you try car seats in your car so you can make sure the one you pick fits. And they have car seat savvy employees who can help you decide which car seat to choose.

No matter what car seat you buy, it's always a good idea to get a car seat check from a CPST. They’ll make sure you know how to use all the great features that you spent time researching!