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Best Car Seats

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In this review:
  1. Best Cheap Car Seats, Cheap Convertible Car Seats Review
  2. Car Seat Harness, LATCH System
  3. Car Seat Weight Limits, Car Seat Size
  4. Car Seat Reviews
  5. Best Car Seats
  6. Discount Car Seats Features Comparison Table
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Related Guides: Baby Carriers, Baby Monitors, Baby Swings, Booster Seats, Cribs and Diapers

Car Seats Performance (continued)

Car Seat Comfort.

The consequences of an uncomfortable car seat are well-known to parents and caregivers: a crying baby, a squirming toddler, or a whining 4-year old who keeps asking when you're going to get there.
The good news is you don't have to sacrifice car seat comfort for a low price tag. The best car seats on our list all win praise for comfort and cushioning -- at least from adults posting reviews. Parents and caregivers comment that children easily fall asleep, sit peacefully through long car trips, and generally seem secure, comfortable, and happy. A nanny who posted a review on Buzzillions bought the Evenflo Titan Elite on the advice of her young charge, who said it was his favorite. Likewise, a reviewer of the Graco ComfortSport on Amazon says a child cried every time he got in a previous seat and has been a comfortable, pleasant passenger ever since they made the switch. Others on the site also indicate that their kids seem comfortable in the Graco ComfortSport.

A mom who posted a review at MySears.com of the Safety 1st OnSide Air Convertible Car Seat, one of the best car seats we found, says her 2-year-old daughter deems it comfortable. The Eddie Bauer Deluxe, on the other hand, receives very critical reviews from consumers at MySears.com, who say the seat pushes the child's head forward at an awkward angle that just can't be comfortable, let alone provide adequate head support. Reviewers of the seat at Target have similar complaints and additionally report that the buckle is too short, causing chaffing on their children's legs and in one instance actually pinching the legs.

Car Seat Durability.

There aren't a ton of user comments on durability, and those we did find are mostly positive. Shoppers posting reviews at Walmart say the Graco ComfortSport exceeds expectations for durability and is made of high-quality materials despite its low price. Even more important, a parent who was in a car accident with a 3-and-a-half-year-old son in the back seat reports that no straps came loose or unbuckled when the car landed on its top, keeping the child unharmed. Parents posting reviews at Target say the Evenflo Titan Elite, one of the best car seats on our list, is sturdy and made of high-quality materials. There's not much mention of durability in reviews of the Safety 1st OnSide Air Convertible Car Seat or the Eddie Bauer Deluxe.

Most new convertible car seats have a one-year manufacturer's warranty. Remember to fill out and mail the warranty card immediately so you can be contacted if the seat is ever recalled for safety or durability problems.

Review continues below

One last and very important word of advice: Safety experts say you shouldn't use a car seat that's been in an auto accident. More specifically, if an impact caused the air bags to deploy or damaged a door nearest the car seat, replace the seat immediately. If at all possible, spring for a new car seat rather than a secondhand one. You don't know where or how a seat was used, and safety features tend to improve over time.

by Raechel Conover (Google+ Profile)

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Best Cheap Car Seats

Evenflo Titan Elite

 Read why »
Where to buy

Safety 1st OnSide Air Convertible Car Seat

 Read why »
Where to buy

Good Cheap Car Seat

Graco ComfortSport

 Read why »
Where to buy
 
 
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Don't Bother Cheap Convertible Car Seat

Eddie Bauer Deluxe Convertible Car Seat

Installation seems to be a major problem with the Eddie Bauer Deluxe. Consumers gripe that the instructions are complicated and the seat doesn't seem tightly secured. There are also complaints about comfort, with poor head positioning and straps that dig into tiny legs. The five-point harness system is adjustable, although the manufacturer doesn't say how exactly. The seat is equipped with the LATCH system and a removable, washable pad. It's on the heavy side, at 13.8 pounds, but can accommodate rear-facing riders up to 35 pounds, forward-facing passengers from 22 to 40 pounds, and booster-seat riders from 40 to 80 pounds. Read more »

 
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