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Best Cheap Car Seats, Cheap Convertible Car seats Review
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Cheap Car Seats Buying Guide
One of the first purchases new parents make is a car seat for safely transporting their baby. Many opt for a rear-facing infant car seat because babies must ride backwards for the first year and until they reach 20 pounds.
Clearly, you get the most value for your money with a convertible car seat that can carry a child from birth through the pre-kindergarten years, or until the child weighs 40 pounds. Note, however, that government and medical experts recommend newborns be transported in special infant car seats because convertible car seats are rarely a good fit for young babies. But even if you decide to start out with an infant seat, you'll need a convertible seat at some point in the near future; the weight limit on infant seats is usually 30 pounds, the point at which experts say it's OK to let the child face forward.
Convertible car seat prices range from $50 all the way up to the three-digit stratosphere. The market is dominated by products from Cosco, Evenflo, Graco, Safety 1st, and Britax, the latter offering the car seat of choice for parents willing to break through the Cheapism barrier. But listen up, dollar-wise shoppers: the most expensive car seats may not be the best buy even though they have a certain amount of aesthetic and brand appeal. Cheap car seats come in an assortment of styles and fabric patterns, sport convenient features, and safely accommodate both rear- and forward-facing passengers. And based on scores of convertible car seat reviews, parents and caregivers appreciate the value they get for the money they spend on cheap car seats.
Back to top »What to Look For: Cheap Car Seat Features
Cheap Car Seat Components
. Every cheap car seat (and pricier models, as well) includes three critical components: body, harness, and latch system. The body provides the seat's support structure and is usually made of durable plastic. It should be sturdy and well-constructed. The harness refers to the straps that create a seat-belt system and securely hold a child in place. The safest strap system is the five-point harness, which has two straps over the shoulders and two around the hips, in addition to a crotch strap. The three-point system, with two shoulder straps that come together with a buckle and fasten between the child's legs, is effective but less secure. You will not find many three-point harness models on the market these days, and those we did find do not fare well in car seat reviews. Users of the Cosco Scenera with Versa-Fit Overhead Barrier (starting at $90, Amazon
The latch secures the convertible car seat to the automobile seat. Parents of children who no longer need car seats and owners of older cars are surely familiar with the hassle of using seat belts to fix the car seat in place. But most cars and car seats manufactured since September 1, 2002 are equipped with the new LATCH system, which relies on a tether behind the top of the car seat and two side anchors to hold the seat in place. If you have an older car, you can buy a kit and install the LATCH system yourself; alternatively, you can secure the seat with the seat belt.
Cheap Car Seat Materials.
Opting for a cheap convertible car seat doesn't have to mean sacrificing style or convenience. Inexpensive car seats come in a variety of fabrics and colors, and those intended for everyday use are often made of nylon or a similar easy-to-wipe material. Spills happen, so you might want a seat cover that is easily removed and machine washable. One happy consumer writes in a car seat review on the Walmart site that the seat cover of the bargain Graco ComfortSport with Graco Pedic Foam (starting at $80, Amazon
) looks like new after being washed. Although you may fancy a designer fabric, like that found in the Eddie Bauer Black Leather 3 in 1 Car Seat (now unavailable), remember that such covers can be hard and costly to clean -- and leather doesn't adjust well to temperature changes.
Inexpensive Convertible Car Seat Recline.
Many cheap car seats have a recline feature that lets you adjust the seat angle to enhance the young passenger's comfort and safety. The experts at CPSafety say young babies should recline at a 45-degree angle to keep their airway open, but older children should sit more upright even in the rear-facing position. The Evenflo Titan Elite Convertible Car Seat (starting at $92, Amazon
), Safety 1st Avenue Convertible Car Seat (starting at $85), and Graco ComfortSport feature an adjustable recline. A car seat review by a parent on Overstock.com notes that getting just the right angle can be tricky in some cars when the seat faces rear. Some parents also report that car seats adjusted to the full 45-degree rear-facing recline don't always fit in the back seat (much depends on the vehicle you drive), so you may have to try out one or two different models.
Cheap Convertible Car Seat Size.
The overall size of cheap car seats varies tremendously depending on the model and features included. Activity trays, cup holders, and extra padding add to a car seat's bulk, but many consumers seem willing to shoehorn a seat into the car if it means more comfort for the passenger; one parent tried sitting in the Evenflo Titan Elite and in a report on Buzzillions notes it is "generously wide." But buyer beware: make sure the budget convertible car seat you choose fits into your car. One user warns in a car seat review on Amazon that the Graco ComfortSport fit nicely in one of the family vehicles but was too large for another. And a parent writes on the Walmart site that the side-mounted cup and activity attachments on the Evenflo Titan Elite hog space and may not leave room for adult passengers when the unit sits in the center of the back seat.Budget Convertible Car Seat Weight/Height
. A car seat's advertised weight includes the seat unit with the attachments and padding. Parents seem to prefer a car seat that feels strong enough to support and protect the child, but light enough to carry into an airport or transfer from one car to another; a consumer posting a car seat review on Mysears.com, for example, says the Safety 1st Avenue is great for travel. One user of the 10-pound Cosco Scenera Convertible Car Seat (starting at $55, Amazon
) writes on the Toys R Us website that the seat seems flimsy and the frame twisted during installation, whereas the Graco ComfortSport and Evenflo Titan Elite are described as "sturdy" in car seat reviews on Buzzillions and Walmart. If you're willing to go for broke, consider the 21-pound Britax Marathon (starting at $200, Amazon
); parents posting car seat reviews on Viewpoints.com say that if price is not an issue, the safety and comfort of this high-end and heavy model is worth the investment.
A related design issue is the height of the seat and the shoulder harness. Adults seem to like the seat height of the Graco ComfortSport because it lets tiny passengers enjoy the view out the window, keeping them happily occupied (sigh), as one mom notes in her car seat review on Amazon. Others, however, gripe on sites like Walmart that the shoulder straps on the Graco ComfortSport don't comfortably fit children who weigh less than the advertised 40-pound weight limit even when threaded through the highest slots. The issue crops up often enough that a number of parents specifically comment in their car seat reviews of the Graco Comfort Sport that they don't have this problem; inadequate harness height occasionally surfaces in reviews of other car seats that we researched. By the way, the Evenflo Titan Elite appeals to consumers posting on Walmart and Buzzillions particularly because of the 50-pound weight limit, which exceeds the usual 40-pound maximum of most convertible car seats.
Low-cost Convertible Car Seat Frills
. There are some useful extras commonly found in convertible car seats that won't add much, if anything, to the final price. Even cheap convertible car seats often include convenience items such as cup holders, activity trays, and pockets for crayons and books, although you may have to forego luxuries like the four-position headrest on the Eddie Bauer Deluxe Convertible Car Seat (starting at $150, Amazon
). A convertible car seats review at ArticlesBase considers this model a good choice if you're into extravagance but concludes that frugal shoppers would be just as satisfied with something cheaper. Indeed, one owner of the Safety 1st Avenue writes on Buzzillions.com that the padding, head support, strap covers, and low price are worth more than the bells and whistles on fancier models.
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What to Expect: Cheap Car Seat Performance
Bargain Convertible Car Seat Installation.
Regardless of a car seat's size and features, it should be easy to install and/or transfer from one vehicle to another. In general, cars and car seats equipped with the LATCH system facilitate the installation process, although the LATCH anchors on some back seats may be difficult to locate and some cars do not have anchors for the mid-seat position. Most purchasers report installation is fairly quick and straightforward for the front-facing position. One Walmart shopper says in a car seats review that the process took her all of 15 minutes with the EvenFlo Titan Elite, and a self-described technologically-challenged mom writes on Epinions that the Evenflo Titan Deluxe Convertible Car Seat (starting at $72, Amazon
Rear-facing installation may be more of a trial, depending on the car and car seat. Reviews of cheap car seats on Overstock.com indicate that the Safety 1st Avenue can be hard to position at the correct angle and may need a rolled-up towel to make it level. Users of the Evenflo Titan Elite and Graco Comfort Sport likewise report using towels and pool noodles to prop up rear-facing seats. Convertible car seat reviews on the Toys R Us site are far less enthusiastic about the Evenflo Tribute V Convertible Car Seat (starting at $55, Amazon
Cheap Convertible Car Seat Comfort.
The perils of an uncomfortable car seat are well-known to parents and caregivers: a crying baby, a squirming toddler, and a whining four-year old who keeps asking when you're going to get there. The Safety 1st Avenue, Graco ComfortSport, and Evenflo Titan Elite convertible car seats all win praise from adults, at least, for perceived comfort and sufficient cushioning. Relieved parents and caregivers write about children easily falling asleep, sitting peacefully through long car trips, and generally seeming secure, comfortable, and happy. In a convertible car seats review on Buzzillions, a nanny writes about buying the Evenflo Titan Elite on the advice of her young charge, who indicated it was his favorite among all the car seats he sits in.Insufficient head support is a common complaint about cheap convertible car seats. Although Safety 1st Avenue reviews on Mysears.com, EvenFlo Titan Elite reviews on Stayathomedads.about.com, and Graco ComfortSport reviews on Amazon note satisfaction with the head support on these models, critics grumble about inadequate recline and no place for sleepy heads to rest. (This latter matter can be resolved with an add-on head support that costs about $10-$15.)
For some users of the Evenflo Titan Elite and Graco ComfortSport models, the shoulder straps are a sore point. The Evenflo takes a few hits in several convertible car seats reviews by parents on Buzzillions for excessive twisting while moving the child in or out of the seat, and the Graco is charged in several Amazon reviews of cheap car seats with uneven tension in the straps, although the two-piece chest clip is praised as user-friendly. Adjusting the straps in the rear-facing position can be daunting on some inexpensive car seats and in some cars.
Cheap Car Seat Durability.
The fabric on cheap car seats affects perceptions of durability and the length of time you'll use it. According to cheap car seats reviews, the consensus among experienced parents is that material quality trumps pattern when deciding which car seat to buy. Because convertible car seats should accommodate a child for several years, be sure to choose one that suits your lifestyle. If you expect to dine in your vehicle more often than not, remember that lighter-colored materials may be more aesthetically appealing but they show stains and spills more readily. Features like additional seat covers, or covers that are easy to remove and wash, will increase a seat's longevity and improve its appearance. As an aside, a very unhappy user of the Cosco Scenera with Versa-Fit Overhead Barrier complains on Amazon that little passengers can easily pull the material off the barrier, which is held in place only by small pieces of plastic.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 your convertible car seat is ever recalled for safety or durability problems.
One last and very important word of advice: Safety experts recommend that 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 it immediately. If at all possible, spring for a new car seat rather than a second-hand unit -- you don't know where or how it was used, and safety features tend to improve over time.
The federal government has posted a lot of useful information about child passenger safety on the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) website, as well as ease-of-use ratings for many car seat models.
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Please see our Discount Car Seats Features Comparison Table »
Best Cheap Car Seat
Graco ComfortSport
Often compared to car seats that cost twice as much, the Graco ComfortSport features a removable seat pad for easy cleaning, three shoulder height positions, removable infant head support, and patented level indicator for rear-facing installation; although many reviewers say the straps can be difficult to adjust and some find the seat too small for larger toddlers, parents seem willing to overlook these minor flaws for the comfort of the energy-absorbing foam liner.
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Evenflo Titan Elite
This seat boasts a 50-lb weight limit, four shoulder harness positions, memory foam padding in the seat, adjustable recline, and combined cupholder/activity attachment; although some users struggle with twisting straps, many like the safety rating, convenience of the removable/washable head and body pillow, and fit for taller tykes.
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Good Cheap Car Seat
Safety 1st Avenue
An affordable car seat with infant head support, padded straps, four shoulder harness heights, and adjustable recline that holds appeal as a second unit for grandparents, sitters, and others who need to safely transport a child; consumers appreciate the light weight and easy installation.
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Cheap toys r here
Inexpensive stylish car
The young and the stylish are putting their seal of approval on the new Kia Soul, according to USA Today. Priced just under $14,000, this snazzy little car may be giving the Korean brand the "it" identity that reels in buyers (and profits).
Children's weight loss
Save money and your waistline all in one shot. Give up those sweet sugared beverages, says The Sun-Times, and you and your children will be a whole lot healthier. Water anyone?
Don't Bother Cheap Convertible Car Seat
Cosco Scenera with Versa-Fit Overhead Barrier
One of the few convertible car seats still available that uses an overhead barrier and three-point harness system, its roomy and cushy seat doesn't make up for the safety concerns about the absence of hip straps; users say the overhead bar is less reliable and is awkward when moving a child in or out of the seat.
Products Mentioned in This Review
Cosco Scenera with Versa-Fit Overhead BarrierSafety 1st Avenue
Graco ComfortSport
Evenflo Titan Elite
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