Top 10 mistakes when buying a car seat by Linda Jenkinson
There is no doubt that a good quality car seat is
one of the most important purchases the parent of an infant or toddler can make.
A properly installed car seat can be a real life saver in a crash. In addition,
a car seat can keep the baby comfortable and happy on those long road trips.
Unfortunately, there are some common mistakes parents
make when buying these important safety items. Listed below are some of the
most frequently seen mistakes made when buying and installing a car seat.
1.Buying a car seat that is difficult to install - Proper installation is the
most important part of buying a good car seat. Inspections of car seats reveal
that the majority of car seats are installed improperly. Car seats that come
with incomplete or poorly worded instructions, or those that are overly complicated
to install, can be dangerous.
2.Buying a car seat that does not properly fit your vehicle. Most car seats
are designed to fit most models of newer cars, but owners of older or more exotic
cars may have problems fitting car seats properly. If you are unsure if the
seat you chose will fit your car, be sure to check with the auto dealer.
3.Not looking for the seal of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. Parents
should only buy car seats that meet or exceed this federal standard.
4.Buying a car seat that is too small for your baby - All car seats carry a
maximum height and weight rating. Be sure to buy a car seat that provide room
to grow.
5.Choosing a car seat that is not compatible with your car's seat belt. Not
all car seats are compatible with all styles of seat belts. If you are unsure
what type of car seat you need, be sure to consult with the manufacturer.
6.Not ensuring that the car seat fits the baby properly. Particularly with
larger car seats, a small baby could accidentally slip out of the seat. It is
important that infants one year of age and younger ride only in a rear facing
car seat. Only after the baby is older than one year and weighs between 20 or
40 pounds should he or she be switched to a front facing seat.
7.Not checking for safety recalls. There are a number of safety recalls on
car seats every year, and it is important to check for recalls on the model
car seat you are considering.
8.Not choosing the fabric carefully - It is important to choose a fabric that
is machine washable. In addition, a cloth upholstered seat is often more comfortable
for the baby.
9.Not buying a car seat as part of a travel system - It is possible to buy
a car seat that is part of a three part travel system. That means that the car
seat, infant carrier and stroller are all integrated into one handy unit. This
combination is often a more convenient and cost effective solution than buying
the items separately.
10.Buying a car seat that is poorly made - Poor construction may be the biggest
problem with some car seats. Be sure to check the quality of the car seat, watching
especially for any sharp edges or loose parts.
About the Author
Linda, mother of two is an inspired author of the Baby
Strollers Guide and the Baby
Products Guide
2 Response to Tips on buying a car seat
frank says:
I found this piece of advice on car buying incentives in: http://www.buyingadvice.com/
In the midst of a fuel crisis and a flailing economy, car dealers and manufacturers are offering up a bevy of incentives for the new car buyer. Anywhere we turn these days, consumers are being enticed by a variety of offers and deals on purchasing that new vehicle.
But just how much of a deal is the car buyer really getting? Do these incentives actually benefit you, the consumer, in the long run?
These are difficult questions to answer, and depend greatly on the model you are considering and the incentive in question.
One type of incentive that has garnered a lot of attention in the past few months is the fuel incentive.
Primarily utilized by Chrysler as the basis of its "Let's Refuel America" campaign, this incentive guarantees that buyers can lock into a $2.99 a gallon gasoline price for the next three years. The manufacturer launched this effort in May 2008, after hitting a record low in sales for the previous month.
A new BuyingAdvice.com survey, which drew response from over 2,400 visitors, sought to examine what new car buyers think of the variety of incentives now being offered to them.
In regards to the Chrysler fuel incentive, participants were almost equally divided on the issue. Just more than half (53%) of those polled said they believed that the Chrysler fuel incentive would lead to substantial savings for the consumer.
A few months after its inception, however, most sources report that the incentive plan has not been successful.
After crunching numbers, Consumer Reports has basically pointed out that new car buyers will save more by choosing normal incentives, rather than the gas card. As part of the deal in choosing the gas card, buyers were obligated to forego any other type of incentive.
Many have been quick to point out the flaws with the fuel incentive, and it makes some sense that offering gas at lower prices does very little to reduce fuel consumption. Critics note that the public has been quick to catch on as well, as only 5-10 % of Chrysler buyers have opted to go with the fuel promotion.
When survey respondents were asked to select which type of incentive was generally most beneficial to the consumer, fuel incentives was actually the least popular choice, with only 18% of the vote. The majority of participants selected cash incentives as the most beneficial, and employee pricing incentives ranked second.
Although cash incentives are the most preferred type of incentive, they are not enough to persuade a large segment of new car buyers to purchase a larger vehicle, such as a truck or SUV.
46% of buyers stated that no incentive would persuade them to consider purchasing a larger, less fuel-efficient vehicle. Over half (53%) stated that neither cash, nor fuel incentives would influence their car-buying decision.
In regards to cash incentives, buyers would benefit from being cautious. The fact is that many of these vehicles have big discounts for a reason; they are not selling well, and it is important to consider why.
Posted on August 25, 2008 at 12:17 pm
davidhoffman1991 says:
Another link I found helpful on which type of Car seat to Buy: http://www.childseatcenter.com/article7.html
Posted on October 17, 2007 at 8:08 pm