A car seat is something every family needs. But there are tons of options out there, and picking a car seat is a highly personal decision. This guide introduces the different types of car seats and who they work best for, so you can make the right choice for your family.
Rear-Facing: Use a rear-facing car seat in the back seat until your child reaches that seat’s height or weight limit. Keep them rear-facing as long as the seat allows for the best head, neck and spine protection.
Forward-Facing: After outgrowing rear-facing, move to a forward-facing seat with a 5-point harness and always attach the top tether; stay in this stage until your child reaches the seat’s height or weight limit.
Booster Seat: When the harness is outgrown, use a belt-positioning booster until your child passes the 5-Step Seat Belt Fit Test (see below for more details)*.
Seat Belt: Switch to just the vehicle seat belt only when it fits properly, and keep kids properly buckled in the back seat until age 13.
💡 For more information on car seat stages and how to know when your little one is ready for the next stage, check out our guide on When to Change Car Seats.
**5-Step Seat Belt Fit Test:
Your child’s back rests fully against the back of the seat.
Their feet lay flat on the floor,
Their knees bent comfortably at the edge of the seat.
The lap belt lies low across their upper hips and thighs (not abdomen).
The shoulder belt sits firmly across the center of the chest and shoulder, not pressing on the neck or slipping off toward the arm.
Your child should be able to maintain this safe seating posture for the entire ride without slouching, sliding, or shifting the belt out of place.
Before we begin… let’s cover some important car seat questions and info:
What is the average cost of a car seat? The average cost of a car seat varies greatly depending on type and features; however, most car seats range from $60 to $800. There are perfectly safe budget-friendly models as inexpensive as $60, but there are also more sophisticated models that can run as much as $800 or more.
How many car seats do I need? How many car seats your little one will need will depends on the initial seat you buy and the expiration of that seat. However, most kiddos will need around three car seats: an infant seat, combination seat and a backless booster seat.
When should you buy a car seat? You should buy a car seat before your little one is even born, since you’ll need a properly-installed car seat to take your baby home from the hospital.
Stage
Rear-facing only
Typical Age Range
0-1 year
GoodBuy Gear Pricing
$30-$585
Best for: Families with infants who want the convenience of a car seat that clicks right into their stroller
Infant car seats are designed specifically for newborns and small babies and can only be used rear-facing. Most babies outgrow their infant seats before their first birthday, but many parents find them to be a highly convenient first car seat. That’s because infant car seats typically have both a base and a seat, so you can take baby out of the car without unstrapping them from the seat—a big time-saver that also allows your kiddo to keep snoozing while you’re on the go. What’s more, most infant car seats click into stroller systems for even more convenience. (Some require adapters, sold separately.)
Stage
Rear & Forward-facing (Must use 5-point harness the whole time)
Typical Age Range
0-7 years
GoodBuy Gear Pricing
$55-$850
Best for: Families with infants who outgrew their infant seat—keeps your kiddo rear-facing
As a child grows, convertible car seats can be changed from rear-facing to forward-facing. And although the seats themselves are on the larger side, many convertible car seats can be used for infants as small as 5 pounds. To save money, some parents opt to purchase only a convertible car seat rather than invest in an infant car seat, too.
Stage
Forward-facing & booster
Typical Age Range
4-12 years
GoodBuy Gear Pricing
$60 - $350
Best for: Families who want a forward-facing seat that will last for many years
Combination car seats are forward-facing only, but have a five-point harness to keep kids ages 2 and older secure. Once kids exceed the harness height and weight requirements (usually around 49 inches and 65 pounds, but always consult your own car seat’s manual for specifics), combination seats can be converted to a belt-positioning booster seat that can be used with the vehicle lap and shoulder belt.
Stage
Rear & forward facing, booster
Typical Age Range
0-12 years
GoodBuy Gear Pricing
$115-$600
Best for: Families who want to purchase only one car seat that will grow with their little one through every stage
An all-in-one car seat is a type of convertible seat that’s meant to serve as a one-stop shop for your kiddo until well beyond their toddler years. All-in-one car seats generally come in one of two options: a 3-in-1 that functions as a rear-facing car seat, a forward-facing car seat and a high-back booster and a 4-in-1 that functions as all of that, plus a backless booster. Depending on what seats you’re eyeing, an all-in-one may be more expensive, but they’re meant to be a better investment in the long run.
💬 “Something to note is that almost every car seat has an expiration date. So, they may not last the entire time depending on the expiration date and what stage your little one starts using the car seat. Always check the date or manufacture and expiration date before purchasing a car seat.”
– Amanda Brown, In-House Child Passenger Safety Technician and Chief of Staff
💡 For more information on car seat expiration, check out our guide to when and why car seats expire, and what to do.
Stage
Booster (high back or backless or both)
Typical Age Range
8-12 years
GoodBuy Gear Pricing
$12-$192
Best for: Families with older kids who are ready to move to the booster stage
Once your child outgrows harnessed seats, they’ll move to a booster, which raises and positions them so the vehicle’s lap-and-shoulder belt fits properly over the hips and across the chest. There are two types of boosters: high-back and backless.
High-back boosters provide additional neck and head support and are ideal for smaller children or in cars that don’t have headrests or high seat backs. Backless boosters don’t offer additional neck and head support and the vehicle seat must have a headrest. Both high-back and backless booster seats are designed so your child has the correct position of the seatbelt.
Stage
Stroller + infant car seat combo (rear-facing only car seat)
Typical Age Range
0-1+ years
GoodBuy Gear Pricing
$119-$1,200
Best for: Families who want a seamless click-in/click-out setup from car to stroller with a newborn, plus a full-featured stroller to keep using after baby moves to a different seat
A travel system pairs a stroller with a compatible infant car seat, so you can move your sleeping little one from the car straight onto the stroller—no unbuckling required. Look for easy, secure attachment, smooth maneuverability, storage and a car seat with strong safety/installation ratings.
Stage
Harness
Typical Age Range
0+
GoodBuy Gear Pricing
N/A
Best for: Families with little ones who need more support than the average seat can provide
Specialized seats, sometimes referred to as pediatric car seats, properly position children who need extra head, trunk and leg support. They tend to be more expensive, but they’re vital safety equipment for children with health or behavioral needs.
When shopping for a car seat, safety is paramount, but you can rest easy knowing that all car seats sold in the US pass the same minimum standard testing. It really boils down to fit and installation, as well as your lifestyle and budget.
When picking out the best car seat, here are the top things you’ll want to look for and keep in mind:
Your Child’s Height/Weight: First and foremost, you should always check height and weight minimums and maximums. To ensure your little one’s safety, it’s vitally important they are sitting in a seat that’s age-, weight- and height-appropriate.
Lifestyle: Are you constantly in and out of the car? You’ll love the convenience of an infant car seat during the first year of your little one’s life. But, if you don’t drive very much, you might prefer to save money by investing in an all-in-one or convertible car seat right from the start.
Your Car: Not all car seats fit all cars. Consult your vehicle owner’s manual for specifics to ensure proper fit and installation—also vital for safety reasons. If a car seat doesn’t fit and is not installed properly, it will not adequately protect your child in the event of a motor vehicle crash.
Compatibility: Do you have more than one child riding in your car? Make sure the seats can safely fit together—particularly if you have three across one row. Car seats should never be installed side by side with overlapping belts. If you’re shopping for an infant car seat, you may also want to consider stroller compatibility. Some models click right into strollers, while others may require adapters (sold separately). Check out our guide below for more information.
Portability: Infant car seats are much more portable than convertible seats, especially since you can purchase more than one base for multiple cars. This is particularly helpful if your child has multiple caregivers who regularly drive them around—to and from daycare, for example.
Features: While all seats pass the same safety tests, some of the more expensive seats have added safety features like reinforced steel frames, added side impact protection and more. Some seats also have additional features that are nice to have, like more breathable fabrics and multiple cup holders.
Installation: Your child’s safety is at stake if the car seat is not installed properly. Before installing your kiddo’s car seat, read the car seat and vehicle owner’s manual on how to install the car seat using the seat belt or lower anchors and a tether, if applicable. If you still have questions or have any concerns, you can visit the Safe Kids website to find a CPST in your area.
Price: Budget-friendly car seats are perfectly safe—they pass all of the same safety standards as more expensive models. That said, the pricier models may have more sophisticated features, including a reinforced steel frame, added side impact protection and more comfortable fabrics. If you want a sophisticated model with all the added safety features but without the high price tag, consider shopping secondhand.
💡 Wondering if your car seat will fit with the stroller you plan to buy? Check out our guide to Car Seat Compatibility.
Buying an open box or gently used car seat is an affordable and sustainable alternative to buying new. According to NHTSA, a secondhand car seat may be safe to use only if it has never been in a moderate to severe motor vehicle crash, has labels with the date of manufacture and model number, is free of recalls, has all its parts and comes with the instruction manual.
Whether or not to purchase a gently used car seat is completely up to you, the caregiver. If you do decide to buy a gently used car seat, you can do so confidently with us, thanks to our extensive safety and quality check process: The GoodBuy™ Car Seat Safety Check.
At GoodBuy Gear, we mostly sell open box car seats. However, we do accept quality used car seats for resale as long as they pass our proprietary inspection process.
In addition to our standard quality checks, we developed the first-ever proprietary Car Seat Safety Check, a rigorous 30+ point inspection system created in partnership with leading car seat manufacturers, NHTSA safety consultants and certified CPSTs. It offers parents a secure, transparent, affordable alternative to buying new. The inspection process includes checking for wear and tear, certifying the seat is not recalled or expired and ensuring all necessary parts are present and the seat has not been modified. On top of this, all sellers must sign a legally binding attestation certifying they are the original owner of the car seat and that it has no crash history.
Our Chief of Staff and in-house Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST), Amanda Brown, oversees this process, which is performed by GoodBuy Gear certified technicians on every gently used car seat before they are listed for resale. Learn more about the GoodBuy™ Car Seat Safety Check here.
💡 Interested in selling your quality used car seat with us? Learn if your seat is eligible for resale here.
A priority of ours has been, and will always be, to provide parents with the information they need to make an informed purchase decision. If you have any questions regarding our GoodBuy™ Car Seat Safety Check please reach out to: connect@goodbuygear.com
Car seat lingo can be confusing, but it’s important to know the basic features and parts to ensure proper installation and usage—vital for safety. Below are some of the top features to keep in mind. Remember that this can vary per seat; always check your manufacturer’s manual beforehand.
Harness Slots: These are slots in the car seat that hold and position the harness in the correct position for the seat.
Harness Straps: Also called “webbing,” this is the part of the harness that restrains your little one and helps protect them in the event of a crash or sudden stop.
Chest Clip: Found in two parts—one half on each harness strap—the chest clip is a clasp that holds the shoulder straps together over your kiddo’s chest at armpit level.
Buckle: This is the mechanism that secures the harness straps between your little one’s legs. It comes in three parts—one belt buckle on each harness strap and one locking piece between the legs.
Tether Strap: Like the harness, the tether strap is a piece of webbing, but the tether strap has a hook on the end that secures to an anchor behind your vehicle’s seat. This is typically used with forward-facing seats because it significantly reduces head movement in a crash. Attach the top tether to the vehicle’s tether anchor.
Center Front Adjuster: This little button can be found in the front middle portion of the car seat, generally under a little flap of fabric. When pressed, this button releases the harness webbing so you can loosen it. Conversely, if you pull the “tail” of the extra webbing threaded through the button, you can tighten the harness straps.
Lower Anchor Attachments: Car seats have two lower anchor attachments, which are pieces of webbing that each have a hook or connector piece that attaches the car seat to the two lower LATCH system anchors in the vehicle. This secures your little one’s seat in place. Some car seats may not include using lower anchors, so always refer to the car seat and vehicle manual for the best installation.
Belt Path: This is the hollow area on the car seat designed for your vehicle’s seat belt to pass through if you’re installing the seat via the car’s seat belt.
💡 Your car seat will also come with labels that include information on how to use the seat properly. To decode what these common labels mean, read out guide to Deciphering Car Seat Labels.
Simply having the right car seat for your little one isn’t enough to keep them safe while on the road. It’s important to heed these important safety tips to maximize their safety:
Read the car seat manual: Always read your specific car seat manufacturer’s instructions in its entirety, paying close attention to height and weight limits, as well as the installation process.
Read the vehicle owner's manual: Read your vehicle owner’s manual to make sure your chosen car seat is suitable for your car. It will also provide guidance on installation using the lower anchors, the seat belt and a tether, if applicable.
Check your state laws: Always check your specific state car seat laws, as these differ by state. However, these laws should be considered minimum standards. To maximize safety, keep your little one in a rear-facing position for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer’s weight and height limits.
Register the seat: It’s important to register your car seat with the manufacturer to receive pertinent recalls and safety notices. You can also sign up to receive email alerts from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about any car seat and booster seat recalls.
💬 “The safest car seat is one that fits the vehicle, the child and can be installed correctly every single time.” – Amanda Brown, In-House Child Passenger Safety Technician and Chief of Staff
