As your child gets older and a little taller, many parents will decide to buy a new car seat to match their kid’s size. There are many available options that parents can consider choosing from, but the most recommended is front-facing car seats.
The article below will help you find out the best forward facing car seats based on our top 5 criteria.
Top 5 Criteria To Choose The Best Forward Facing Car Seats
You may find the best ride for your children by searching for the product that meets the following requirements.
1. Tested Quality
As a parent, you must choose a car seat approved by one of two different rules: ECE R44 and UNR 129-Size. ECE-R44-approved car seats have been tested for both front and rear impact, while the ones accepted by UNR 129 have also had side-impact tests.
Moreover, the kind of car seat meeting the first rule has passed the latest, maximum set requirements. Hence, it will help parents feel more secure when deciding to buy a suitable one.
2. Size & Weight
These forward-facing car seats look fairly upright compared to convertibles, and for this reason, they are well-suited to even the smallest rear seats. Also, in terms of price, the forward-facing car seats that are more expensive will be better reinforced with steel and are heavier than you’d expect.
3. Type Of Car Seat
It’s very important to understand the differences between many types of forward-facing car seats. They include three groups: Child car seat, car seat, and Highback booster seat.
Your child’s age and length will determine which model is suitable. You may refer to the stages below to choose the right chair for your child by age.
Stage 1: Infant Car Seat
This group is for infants up to more or less than 12 months old depending on height. It would be best if you moved on to the next stage when noticing that the child’s head’s top reaches the car seat’s highest point.
Stage 2: Convertible Car Seat
Up next, it is a toddler car seat.
According to UNR 129 regulations, children are expected to use a rear-facing one for at least 15 months, but we recommend that your kids be at least four years old for better protection.
Some of the seats in this group can be rear-facing or facing forward. And it’s time to change the type if the top point of your child’s ear reaches the highest point of the car seat headrest when fully adjusted.
Stage 3: High Back Seat
The final stage is the high back chair. This is the kind of car seat your child will use for the long term. According to the law, your kid must sit in an approved car seat when he/she is at least 135 cm or when he/she turns 12 years old, whichever is the earliest.
4. Choose The Right Store
Some retailers will allow you to test-install a seat in your car. This is great because we’ve found that the cushion angle or seat belt placement can make cars and child seats incompatible.
Also, it would help if you kept in mind that returns should be accepted in those stores.
Major department stores like Target and Walmart offer a limited number of products in stores and more online options. Online retailers such as Albee Baby, Amazon, Buy Buy Baby, and Diapers.com provide a wider selection of trademarks and seat models.
A lot of manufacturers also offer free car seat shipping. And remember only to buy online after you’ve seen models in real life. You can find more upscale models at those stores above.
5. Secure Installation
When it’s time to install your car seat, it’s important to make it done properly!
Before installing, you had better always double-checked to ensure that your car seat is not out of date or is damaged.
And remember to use a suitable mechanism to secure the car seat. You should only use the LATCH system (lower anchor and child lanyard) or the way to fasten a seat belt in your car.
Whether you use the LATCH system or the seat belt option to secure the forward-facing car seat, it is important to always wear the top lanyard. This adds important stability to the forward-facing car seat.
As for the other option, make sure to secure the seat belt buckle for a snug fit. In newer cars, let’s pull out the seat belt fully and allow it to retract to achieve this!
When using a booster, remember always to use a lap and shoulder belt, never just a lap one.
No matter how you fix the chair, make sure it’s at the right angle! Do not worry, as many car seats will have markers to help you determine this.
Primarily, do not forget to have your seat checked by a certified child passenger safety technician (CPST) or at least watching a tutorial video to examine your work thoroughly.
And remember to use a car seat each time your child is in the car with the seat belt snugly. Please do not place your child on a car seat while he/she is wearing a bulky winter coat as this can create too much space between the harness and their body.
It will limit the maximum protection for your kid. If the car is cold, consider letting your children wear the jacket after they are seated.
Car seats are designed for use at a specific angle. They are not intended for sleeping outside the car. You must always remember to put your baby on their back to sleep on a flat surface for safety.
Top 5 Best-Seller Forward Facing Car Seats Of 2021
The criteria above should have given you some basic information about the product. So it’s time to take a look at the list of best-seller products of this year.
- Graco Extend2Fit Convertible Car Seat
- Graco SlimFit 3 In 1 Convertible Car Seat
- Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat
- Graco Contender 65 Convertible Car Seat
- Cosco Apt 50 Convertible Car Seat
Conclusion
Well, that’s it, folks. We all know that you always want the best for our little ones. Hence, we hope you have found your own best forward-facing seats that will last you through the long haul after reading this article.
Thanks for reading, and good luck with your desired product!
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