Features Child car & booster seats
Fabric. Today's car seats cater to every possible taste--plain colors, plaids, animal and paw-print motifs, and patriotic red, white, and blue. Remember that, style aside, babies tend to be messy, so washable fabric is a plus, especially if your car seat will be with you beyond the first year, when sippy cups and eating on the go can kick into high gear. Car-seat upholstery from some leading brands, however, requires hand washing and line drying. Most coverings are rigged through the harness-strap system and are held in place with elastic so they can be removed for laundering, but in some cases extracting the fabric from the seat can require extensive dismantling. Check the seat's manual for how-to's.
Extras. Add-on seat covers ("boots"), thicker padding, and adjustable head-support cushions may offer greater comfort. But buy them only if they are sold by the same maker as the seat and for that specific seat. Some models have elastic side pockets for toys, bottles, or snacks. As your baby grows, they can come in handy, but they're not absolutely necessary.
Harness slots. Look for seats with more than one harness slot so your baby has room to grow. The harness fits properly in rear-facing seats when it's at or below your child's shoulders and in forward-facing seats when it's in the slots at or above your child's shoulders.
Recline adjustment. When used rear-facing, some convertible seats recline to up to five positions, which come in handy for when your child decides to nap in the car.
Snack accessories. Many convertible and booster seats come with cup holder and snack trays. These are nice, but not necessary, especially if your car is equipped with cup holders in the back seat.
Fabric. Today's car seats cater to every possible taste--plain colors, plaids, animal and paw-print motifs, and patriotic red, white, and blue. Remember that, style aside, babies tend to be messy, so washable fabric is a plus, especially if your car seat will be with you beyond the first year, when sippy cups and eating on the go can kick into high gear. Car-seat upholstery from some leading brands, however, requires hand washing and line drying. Most coverings are rigged through the harness-strap system and are held in place with elastic so they can be removed for laundering, but in some cases extracting the fabric from the seat can require extensive dismantling. Check the seat's manual for how-to's.
Extras. Add-on seat covers ("boots"), thicker padding, and adjustable head-support cushions may offer greater comfort. But buy them only if they are sold by the same maker as the seat and for that specific seat. Some models have elastic side pockets for toys, bottles, or snacks. As your baby grows, they can come in handy, but they're not absolutely necessary.
Harness slots. Look for seats with more than one harness slot so your baby has room to grow. The harness fits properly in rear-facing seats when it's at or below your child's shoulders and in forward-facing seats when it's in the slots at or above your child's shoulders.
Recline adjustment. When used rear-facing, some convertible seats recline to up to five positions, which come in handy for when your child decides to nap in the car.
Snack accessories. Many convertible and booster seats come with cup holder and snack trays. These are nice, but not necessary, especially if your car is equipped with cup holders in the back seat.
