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The most overlooked issues when choosing a car seat!Dec 19 '03 (Updated Dec 21 '03) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Your car seat is the most operated device in your house for the next 4 years. EASE of use is therefor the most important feature. Quality is in the details
This review covers car seats for children and toddlers. Oh well, first of all CONGRATULATIONS ! If you ended up here, you are most likely a first time buyer and that means you are a proud parent of your first born toddler. If you already had a child, you would know these things by pure experience: So rather then telling you which car seat is the best, let me elude to the most overlooked issues when you buy a car seat. I have 4 now of different brands for a total of 3 kids. Why ? Cause I overlooked some of the following things: You want to protect your kid and you don't want to pay through the nose for a car seat either. So here is the skinny about choosing a car seat: 1) Your kid needs to fit into it and like it So bring your kid when you try it out, after all he/she is the customer and will spend considerable time in it 2) What do you reckon how often you will mount/dismount your kid into your car ? Once a day ? Think again, Twice ? Think again. ONE shopping trip to two stores has 6 mount / dismount operations. You stop by your friend it is 8. And it will go on for 4 years at least. About a gazillion times or so it seems.... 3) So what is most important then ? That you can mount/dismount fast and while doing so make sure the straps sit correctly, so your kid is safely protected. 4) A kid is not always the SAME ! Actually they grow fast and their body circumference changes quite often with the proper weather attire, so the straps need to be adjustable. Well all of them are, but the cheaper seats ( and even some of the more expensive ones) do it on the rear. So you take the car seat out to adjust it, at least TWICE a year and it still never fits correctly. This should be forbidden by law ! 5) So this is the most important tip: Never ever buy a car seat, that lacks following feature: A clip at the front that allows you to tighten the straps with a ONE hand operation. If you do, you might as well budget for another seat about 5 month later.... 6) And this is the other nice feature you should include: An extra buckle in chest height Cheap plastic , but you will enjoy the fact, that the straps don't fall off your kids shoulder and the little one is actually very safe and doesn't work itself out of the straps like a contortionist (and the little ones ARE contortionists, never had one escape the chest buckle so far) 7) And the most annoying issue you can have is with the straps actually twisting and turning, so they start blocking the passage through the buckle. Then everything jams up and you can start working on unfiddling it, which always happens when you are in a hurry. So check for tight passage of the shoulder straps through the belt buckle (try twist and turn) somewhat stiffer straps are a LOT less likely to jam up. Look at your car seatbelts, that is the quality you want, not the cushy soft nylon straps some have. They twist and turn and roll up and then are a nuisance and way more uncomfortable to your kid. 8) And what about the brand ? Well that is up to you , quality brands will have above features, the cheaper ones will lack them as they add to the cost. Strap and unstrap your kids a couple of times while putting a jacket on and off. Do it in the shop with a few seats and you will notice the difference. Safe ride !  |
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