How to Choose a Car Seat
How to decide when spoiled for choice
Becoming a parent feels like a rollercoaster ride marked by joy, sleepless nights, and an avalanche of decisions. Among the myriad choices, one stands out as non-negotiable from day one: the car seat.
With so many car seat options, choosing the right one can be daunting. Your choice is more than a mere purchase; it's an investment in your child's safety and comfort.
Buckle up (literally!) as we lay out the different car seats to help you find the perfect fit for your precious cargo. Discover how to choose a car seat for your child below!
The Convenient Capsule
A capsule is an excellent option for a young baby as it's portable – letting you easily lift it in or out of the car and carry it by the handle. You can connect a capsule to a stroller to avoid waking your sleeping baby, enabling you to head out and about while the baby rests.
Your newborn can use a capsule until they reach the maximum height and weight stated by the manufacturer (typically 13kg).
You may only be able to use a capsule for your little one's first year, but parenting is a juggle, and we'd call anything that makes it easier a win!
When choosing between different capsules, you'll want to pick one with a top safety rating that offers comfort and support.
The optimal position for a baby is when their spine is relatively flat. For long journeys or naps on the go, you may want to go for a capsule that can recline. Check out the Nuna Arra Next, the Cybex Cloud T, and the Maxi Cosi Pebble 360 Pro.
Capsule weight is also a vital factor if you're planning to carry it. The Nuna Pipa Next is one of the lightest, weighing only 2.8kg.
Most capsules we sell clip onto a base (sold separately) that stays installed in your car. This makes it super easy to click the capsule in and out. It also ensures it's secured in the vehicle correctly every time.
But if you want to be flexible to travel in taxis or ride shares, you might want to consider one like the Nuna Urbn, which has a quick baseless install either by ISOFIX or a car seatbelt.
In a category all of its own is the Nuna Cari Next. It's both a carrycot and a car seat. This is a lie-flat car seat with a three-point harness that connects to the Nuna Base Next. The Cari can also connect to a stroller so you can move from home to car to pushchair without interrupting their sleep. They can lie peacefully at a full recline - the best position for a developing spine.
The Convertible Car Seat – Changing with Your Child
A convertible car seat can be a more economical option as it adjusts to your growing child, so you can use it for longer.
The seat starts safely rear-facing for your newborn and is later turned front-facing with a more upright position for toddlers. It's recommended to rear-face your child up until they're two years old. This position supports your child's head, neck, and spine in the event of a near accident or accident.
A convertible car seat is installed either by a seat belt or Isofix.
When comparing seats, you might want to factor in the different height/weight limits to see which will give you the longest use. Then again, if you have other children, each might graduate into the older one's seat, meaning a seat for each stage works just fine for your family.
Some convertible seats rotate on a base, so you can turn them towards the door, making it easier to get your child in and out of the car. Options to check out with this feature include the Nuna Revv, Nuna Todl and Cybex Sirona T.
All in One - Convertible Seat That's a Booster Too
There are convertible car seats you can use for longer because they can serve as booster seats for older kids.
A couple of the longest-lasting options is the Nuna Exec (which can be used rear-facing from birth, then as a forward-facing convertible and finally used as a booster until they reach 148cm/54kg) and the Britax One 4 Life (with the booster up to 160cm/54.4kg)
Boosters for Bigger Kids
A stand-alone booster seat works safely using the vehicle seat belt and gives your child a good view of the passing scenery.
Some booster options include the Nuna AACE LX, Britax Skyline and Maxi Cosi Titan Pro.
A Couple of Other Things to Factor into Your Decision
Not all car seats fit all vehicles, as the contours of the vehicle seat and the length of the seat belt may differ.
You must also consider the number of seats you need to fit in your car. If you need to fit three across, you'll need to consider the width and bulkiness of the car seat restraints.
Dimples is Here to Help
If can’t decide how to choose a car seat for your child’s needs, visit one of our NZ stores today, and we'll gladly help. We have qualified car seat technicians in-store who can help with all your queries and make your buying decision easier. We also offer a free car seat fitting if you buy the seat from us – giving you peace of mind that your car seats are installed correctly.
Whichever car seat you choose, the number one priority is safety. Second and almost as important is your little one's comfort - you'll find both with any of our car seats.
Wishing you happy and safe travels!
