A toddler car seat is every parent’s best friend when driving. It keeps your toddler safe and happy so you no do not have to constantly check on him and lose your focus on the road. With all the choices available today, how will you pick the best one? Here are five basic features of a good toddler car seat.

Five-point Safety Harness

The first feature you should look for is a 5-point safety harness. Although a 3-point harness is okay, it does not offer ample protection for your child. These are straps that will hold your toddler in place without obstructing movement. There should be straps for each of your toddler’s shoulders, one each for his thighs and in between your toddler’s legs. This will provide your baby security as well as give protection against ejection (in case of  a head-on collision).

Head Protection

Every toddler car seat must have a head protection feature. This will give your toddler extra safety when it comes to side-impact collisions. The amount of head protection offered depends on the seat so go for toddler car seats with TSIP (True Side Impact Protection) or car seats with a layer of EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) foam.

Easy Installation

The third feature is the ease of installation. A good toddler car seat must be easy to install yet secure. Reports show that accidents in children mostly happen inside the car due to an improperly installed car seat. A toddler car seat wrongly installed can lead to injury and even death. The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) website has a list of car seat ratings that will help you look for car seats that are easy to install and at the same time safe. Some car seat brands feature buckles on the backside for easy modification. You should avoid seats like these and go for a car seat with automatic adjusting features or front adjustment systems instead.

Comfortable

A good toddler car seat should be comfortable. Your toddler has to enjoy his stay in the car especially during long hours of driving. A well-padded car seat that will support your little one’s head, neck and back will help him stay comfy and relaxed for hours. In addition, the car seat should permit your baby to move his arms and legs and also watch the view from the window.

Easy To Clean

Last but not the least, a toddler car seat should be easy to clean. A toddler cat seat is used frequently and toddlers tend to be messy. As a result, the car seat easily collects dust and grime, therefore, it needs to be cleaned regularly. A car seat should have removable parts and a cover that you can take off easily. Also, you should be able to clean it just by vacuuming, brushing, wiping or placing it in the washing machine. Toddler car seats are quite expensive and a car seat that breaks easily or those that cannot withstand constant usage and washing is a waste of money.

There are a lot of toddler car seat brands available. They key to getting the perfect one for your toddler is to not get overwhelmed and prioritize what is most important – the well-being of your precious one.