Car Seat Buying Guide

Spending a lot of money doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get the best car seat. Many midpriced models work as well as or better than pricier ones. An expensive model may give you more features for ease of installation or use, but paying more does not guarantee a safer seat. 

Know your child, and study up on your car. 

Get used to keeping track of your child’s height and weight, which (along with age) can determine seat type and when it’s time to move up to the next level. Note: Any behavioral or health issues will also affect your choice.

Check the child-safety sections of your vehicle owner’s manual, and research relevant features such as belts, lower anchors, top tethers, and head restraints. For more information on which cars work best with child seats, see the Driving With Kids or Child Safety sections of our vehicle road-test reports and our Rear Seat Safety and Child Safety scores, which includes car seat fit and booster fit, on our vehicle model pages.

In the past, we recommended shopping in person; some retailers would even let you test-install a seat in your car, which was great because we’ve found that cushion angle or seat belt placement can make a car and child seat incompatible. 

But with far fewer options for shopping in the store, there are some factors to keep in mind when ordering online. For one, read up on the return policy before you purchase. And leave yourself time to try the seat in your car, and return and replace it with another seat if it doesn’t work. In other words, don’t wait until the last minute.

Favor trusted retailers—or order straight from the manufacturer. Large chains such as Target and Walmart offer a limited range of products in stores and a wider selection online. Online retailers such as Albee Baby and Amazon offer an even larger selection of seat brands and models. Many retailers offer free shipping on car seats. If you order a seat from a third-party retailer, even from a trusted marketplace like Amazon or Walmart, use our tips to make sure your car seat meets safety regulations and is good to use.

Even seasoned parents may be fuzzy on the right seat type and when it’s time for a change. Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind.

• Keep your baby rear-facing until at least 2 years old, or until they exceed the rear-facing height or weight limit of their seat. CR recommends moving your child to a rear-facing convertible no later than their first birthday for added head protection.

• Until your child outgrows the harness height or weight limit, stick with a forward-facing harness.

• Your child needs a booster seat until they are 57 inches tall, between 8 and 12 years old, and fits the vehicle belts correctly. 

• You should replace a seat that’s damaged in any way or that has been in a moderate to severe accident (use the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s checklist).

• Even after your child is ready to use just the vehicle belt alone, they should ride in the backseat until age 13.

• Seats that have not been in a crash can be reused, but they do expire. Some have a printed date—usually on the manufacturer’s label or molded into the seat, which always includes a production date. Others will expire in a certain number of years, so it’s up to you to check the child seat manual and do the math.

According to National Digital Check Form, used by car seat technicians in the field, there is a misuse rate of nearly 63 percent (as of September 2023) when it comes to car seat installations. Yes, you read that right—the majority of child seats are not installed correctly.

When installing, be sure to follow the vehicle owner’s manual and seat instructions, and consider having your installation checked by a Child Passenger Safety Technician at a car seat checkup event.

Here’s how to make sure it’s installed properly.

Right seat: Check the seat’s height and weight limits. Age is also an important factor because it is reflective of your child’s skeletal development.

Seat tight: Once installed, the seat shouldn’t move more than 1 inch side to side or front to back. Don’t get discouraged—this can be tricky.

Harness height: In a rear-facing installation, the harness straps are at or below your baby’s shoulders. For forward-facing, harness straps should be at or above your child’s shoulders. The chest clip should always be at armpit level.

Harness tight: If your child is secured properly, you shouldn’t be able to pinch any fabric on the straps at the child’s shoulders.

Final check: Recline right and tether tight. Check the recline angle for rear-facing seats (most have an indicator) to avoid allowing the child’s head to fall forward and obstruct breathing.

For forward-facing seats installed with either lower anchors or the vehicle’s seat belt, always attach and tighten the top tether to help prevent forward movement, which could cause head injury.

We also have a visual guide on how to avoid common car seat installation mistakes.