With so many car seats to choose from, it can seem overwhelming. It is easy to resort to letting a salesperson at a local store talk you into a budget-busting seat with features you don’t really need. Here are some steps for finding the right car seat for you without the impulse purchase price.

Determine your Needs

The first step to getting a great deal is to identify what kind of seat you are looking for. Here are some questions to get you started. How will you use it? Is this your primary car seat or a back-up for the babysitter’s car? Are there special size requirements for your vehicle? Do you need an infant seat, toddler seat, booster seat, or convertible? Will you use this for more than one child? How long and how often will you use this seat? What is your budget for a seat?

Don’t Waste Your Dollars

Once you determine how you want to use the seat, you will begin to quickly determine what kind you should get. Getting the right car seat the first time is a key step to finding the best value on a car seat. If you buy a seat, use it for a month and hate it or your child outgrows right away then your deal turns into a wasted expense and you have to buy a new one.

Do Your Homework

Now begin searching online for seats that fit your needs. In an online search you could put terms like convertible car seat to see what comes up. The first place I always check for items is Amazon.com. Write down Amazon’s price and the suggested list price and read several of the most helpful reviews. I also like to read the 1-star reviews if there are any to look for common trends. Sometimes the issues reviewers are frustrated about will not apply in my situation. For instance, reviewers may rank the seat lower because it doesn’t have a cup holder or other special features.  You may also want to check other vendor’s websites to get a good idea about the quality of the seat.

Get a Deal

After doing your homework, you should rank the seats in order of preference on paper. This will help you know what to look for and determine if you are willing to pay a little extra to get your top choice. Now, go to a website that specializes in car seats for children.  For example, our website Findmycarseat.com has several different seats to choose from, and can really help you narrow down what you’re looking for at a great price!

When it comes to finding the perfect car seat, you want to make sure you get a great deal, find the right type of car seat for your child, and you want to get one that has all the features you and baby need.