How to choose a convertible car seat

Your child's safety while traveling by car is certainly a priority, so you will need to have a child seat suitable for your child's weight, height and age. However, if you don't want to be forced to replace the seat several times in the first years of your child's life, the solution for you is to buy a convertible car seat for small cars.

It is, in fact, universal restraint systems, which can be used both when the baby has a few days, until it reaches 35/40 kg in weight and sometimes even more.

The advantage of this type of convertible car seat for small cars for newborns is mainly that of being equipped with appropriate accessories that allow the seat to be positioned both in the opposite direction to that of travel and forward: this allows, therefore, to use them both when your child is newborn, both when he grows older.

However, in order for this to be possible, it is necessary that the convertible car seat respects some fundamental requirements, first of all that the seat is such as to support the head and neck of the child in the first days of life.

To achieve this, most convertible car seats for small cars are equipped with shaped padding and provided with holes for the passage of the belts, to be placed as reducers under the body of the child himself.

Nevertheless, many parents still find it inconvenient to use this type of seating, opting instead for a 0+ seat in the early days, whose smaller size and wraparound shape seem to better contain the small limbs of your newborn.

Furthermore, universal or 3-in-1 child seats are much heavier and more bulky than normal car seats and are, for this reason, more difficult to transport, unlike the more practical little egg that can instead be detached from the car and fixed on the stroller on the trio, leaving the child all the time to sleep undisturbed inside.

However, a non-negligible aspect, the convertible car seat, once purchased, will no longer need to be replaced for many years, becoming a faithful friend to ensure your child's safety in the car.

Precisely for this reason, you will have to pay the utmost attention to the model to be purchased, so here is a series of useful tips on how to choose a convertible seat for small cars.

But let's look at the main features to consider during the purchase.

Ease of use and flexibility in the convertible car seat

Before buying a convertible car seat for small cars, make sure it is really easy to use.

These assessments concern first and foremost the ease of installation and removal, the clarity and completeness of the instruction manual and above all the actual degree of safety assured to the child once placed inside it.

So the best thing is to go to a well-stocked childcare store and try the available car seat models directly. If instead you want to buy your seat on the internet, read carefully the reviews of other buyers and do appropriate research to understand what they say about the models you like other moms and dads who have previously used them.

Safety

Undoubtedly, if you want to buy a convertible car seat for small cars, you won't have to skimp on its degree of security.

The first thing to remember in this sense is that the seat must always be installed on the rear seat, both when facing in the opposite direction to the direction of travel and when it is placed forward, and that it must never be placed on seats for which air bags are in operation.

To ensure maximum child safety, a seat must first have a 5-point belt, consisting of a strap for each shoulder, one for each hip and one to be positioned between the child's legs.

To wrap the body of the newborn well, the belt must have more plugs in order to be adjusted according to its growth; the best seats also allow you to adjust the straps by locking the excess in the front.

Also take care that the seat is equipped with side impact protection, i.e. special padding made of foam or other materials designed to absorb the energy produced by impacts and thus better protect the baby's head and chest in case of side impact.

Finally, make sure that the seat harness is also easy to open and remove, if, in the event of an accident, you are forced to quickly remove the child from the cockpit.

Comfort and cleanliness

Since the child will spend many hours sitting in the car to face long journeys and journeys, it is necessary that the seat has a comfortable padding, possibly positioned in various inclinations to allow an optimal rest of the newborn or to allow him to have a visual contact with the mother when awake.

For very young children, there is also a need for additional padding that can adequately support the head and neck.

Finally, make sure that the coverings, as well as made of breathable and non-toxic material, are also removable and machine washable as it is easy, over time, to become covered with stains and bad smells.

How much do you spend to buy a convertible car seat?

A convertible car seat has a slightly higher cost than one in the 0+ category or other seats that can only be positioned forward: but considering that you will no longer have to replace them, in the end it may even prove advantageous.

There are also so many brands and models that even the prices result rather variable in the end: they range from 80/100 dollars for the cheaper models to even reach figures of 250/300 dollars for the trendiest brands.

If you are thinking of using a second-hand car seat to save money, know that the experts advise against buying used car seats because they may lack important parts or be damaged due to accidents or simple wear and tear.

However, if you want to opt for this solution (or you have a friend or relative willing to lend you a seat that no longer uses) make sure that the item has never been involved in an accident, that it is not older than 5 years and that you be supplied with all parts, including the instruction manual.

I am a school teacher and professional guest post writer.