Popular Reviews: Home Plasma TV Lawn Mowers Toyota Prius Leaf Blowers Treadmills Mutual Funds Refrigerators

Car Seat Reviews and Buying Guide: One of the most important products you will ever buy your baby is a car seat. Baby car seats have come under some scrutiny lately after Consumer Reports did a survey on them back in February 2007 that had to be retracted due to "testing errors". Lots of new parents look to CR for guidance on which brands perform the best under crash testing and that is where the iniital test went wrong. Their updated tests came out in October 2007 with new findings and all 11 models of rear facing car seats passed the crash protection test. Not all car seats on the market can make this claim, so be sure to check with reputable sources or websites before making your final purchase. Car seats range in price from $70 to about $220 for the most expensive Peg Perego Primo Viaggio model. Beyond safety, parents should look for car seats that are convenient to get in and out of their base units and that are easy to adjust as your baby gets bigger. For more in depth information on particular models you can view details online at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website HERE. All the top brand names are listed with a rating system of an A, B or C. The NHTSA rates the car seats on several features including ease of securing a child in the seat, how easy it to install the seat in a car, and if the instructions/manual are clearly written and understandable. About.com in their Baby Products section offers a complete buying guide for concerned parents with information on car seat accessories and whether or on the baby seat will fit into your particular car. As Consumer Reports noted in their survey, it's not always easy to get every type of car seat into sedans, SUVs, wagons, minivans, and hatchbacks. Things you want in a car seat besides the obvious safety features are a five-point harness, push-on style LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) connectors, easy to use fasteners and clips, harness adjusters that work without hassle, and level indicators and recline adjusters. Having been through 2 children over the last 4 years I'm experienced with all the problems that come up with switching car seats between cars, adjusting the straps and harnesses to each kids size, and trying to keep the seat in the proper recline position. The more expensive car seats don't perform any better, you just get European brand names that offer designer looks and plenty of cushioning. Consumer Reports gave their 'best buy' awards to models that were $90. We have listed the top rated car seats below with basic specs and where to buy. Best Baby Car Seat: If price is not that much of an issue, then the Chicco KeyFit ($160) is an excellent buy with the easiest to use features on any car seat tested and it fits into all types of vehicles fairly easily. This infant car seat is #1 rated at the time of this article (Dec 2007). The 5 point harness is really easy to adjust and the seat interior is lined with EPS energy absorbing foam supplying the best protection possible. Tightening or looseing the LATCH is simple and it safety fits infants from 4 to 22 lbs. You can buy it online through Amazon or at Babies R Us. Top Rated Car Seat: Another top rated car seat is the Graco SnugRide ($90) which is sold in retail stores like Target and Babies R Us. It's available in all sorts of colors and patterns for either girls or boys. Features include a 5 point harness, an ergonomic carrying handle, a canopy, and a stay-in car base. The harness straps are easy to adjust so getting the baby in and out of the car seat is not a hassle. Even dads will like the ease of use of the SnugRide which fits in all types of cars. One thing that many parents say in forums related to baby products is that car seats become unruly after the harnesses and straps get tangled and twisted so badly. The Graco car seat will help alleviate those issues and keep your child safe. Best Value Baby Seat: As many new parents realize, buying all the things your new baby needs can practically break the bank. Of course no one wants to skimp on a baby product that will keep your infant safe while in a car but keep in mind that the $200 car seat and $100 version both get the same crash ratings so you are essentially paying for a brand name and nothing else. The BabyTrend Flex-Loc at $80 is a great "value buy" with many of the same features found on the more expensive Peg Perego that costs upwards of $200. The Baby Trend is available at Target, Amazon, and Babies R Us. The Flex-Loc has the adjustable level indicator and a 7 position adjustable seat back. Perfect for babies from 5 to 22 pounds and up to 28.5 inches in length. © 1999-2008 Funskins.com - Product Reviews