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Best dog car seat 2018 – [Buyer’s Guide]
Last Updated September 1, 2023
Hi there, my name is Willard Lawson and the first thing I would like to say is thanks for stopping by my website. After more than 35 hours of research, including interviewing two experts and spending 10 hours testing 23 popular dog car seat, I found the best dog car seat of 2018.
In this article, I will be categorizing the items according to their functions and most typical features. So, you will find reviews on some models of dog car seat that impressed me (and a good many other people), and you will find a few informational pages as well.
Best dog car seat of 2018
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your comfort, style, or accessibility, we have picks to fit a variety of needs and budgets. Check them out and decide which one suits you the best to splurge upon.
There is a wide range of products available on the market today, and below I have reviewed 3 of the very best options. I want to find something that’s designed well (both for aesthetic purposes and efficiency).
Test Results and Ratings
| Rank | №1 | №2 | №3 |
| Product |  |
 |
 |
| Total | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Design |
4 points
|
4 points
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4 points
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| Size |
5 points
|
5 points
|
4 points
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| Performance |
5 points
|
5 points
|
5 points
|
| Quality |
5 points
|
4 points
|
4 points
|
| Awards |  |
||
 |
|
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|
 |
|
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How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the dog car seat by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
№1 – Pettom Pet Car Seat Carrier for Dog Cat
| Total: |
4.8
|
Why did this dog car seat win the first place?
I am very happy with the purchase. It is definitely worth its money. The product is top-notch! I don’t know anything about other models from this brand, but I am fully satisfied with this product. The rear part fits perfectly! It is mounted really tight and reliable. The product is very strong. Its material is stable and doesn’t crack.
4
|
5
|
5
|
5
|
№2 – Dog Seatbelt Strap by 2PET – Adjustable Dog Seat Belt for all for All Dog Breeds & Sizes Universal Dog Seat Belts Fit Seatbelt Latches of All Car Makes 21” to 32” Dog Seatbelt – 2 Pack Choose Color
| Total: |
4.5
|
Why did this dog car seat come in second place?
I recommend you to consider buying this model, it definitely worth its money. I really liked it. It is amazing in every aspect. It did even exceed my expectations for a bit, considering the affordable price. The design quality is top notch and the color is nice. The material is pretty strong and easy to wash if needed.
4
|
5
|
5
|
4
|
№3 – NACOCO 2 in 1 Pet Seat Cover Waterproof Dog Car Front Seat Crate Cover Protector Mat
| Total: |
4.3
|
Why did this dog car seat take third place?
It doesn’t squeaks nor bents. Looks great in my apartment. This price is appropriate since the product is very well built. I hope that the good reputation of the manufacturer will guarantee a long-term work. I liked the design. We’ve been using it for 2 months and it still looks like brand new.
4
|
4
|
5
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4
|
dog car seat Buyer’s Guide
Dog Car Seat Covers protection for vehicle seats
It help to protect your car from your dog’s toenails, paws, teeth, and just general wear from the size of your pet. It can also keep your dog safely on your seats.
There are more than a few models on the market, including different types of harnesses for car belts, dog car seats, and even puppy seats for your car. Each one is design specifically for a different size animal, so be sure to pay attention to that.
Picking a doggie auto seat can be difficult, which is why we have broken it down into individual reviews so that you can choose which models will work for you, your family, and your pet. Since your pet is so important, you really should take your time to choose a dog car seat just like you would any other type of car seat. After all, they are part of your family.
The best car seats for dogs help to keep your dog in place while you are traveling and keeps him or her safe so that you can get from one place to another. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 10% of all fatal crashes and 18% of injury crashes involve some type of distraction.
Even worse, nearly 25% of pet owners have used their hands or arms to hold the pet in place while applying brakes and 19% have used their hands or arms to keep their pet from climbing into the front seat. These behaviors may require both hands being taken off the wheel which has been shown to result in variability in vehicle lane position and drifting into adjacent lanes. Booster seats for pets keep that distraction to a minimum.
The rate of motor vehicle collisions for older drivers who always drive with their pet was nearly double that of drivers who never drove with their pet. They are also among the least likely to use a pet restraint system.
In a recent survey of drivers, interaction with pets was one of the top three most frequently reported distracting behaviors that participants admitted did result in an accident or near-miss. They either start barking at something that you cannot see, they want to be petted, or they just pull your attention in some other way.
Hammocks are special covers that hang between the back of the front seat and the front of the back seat, creating a literal hammock in the back of your car. These do triple duty as they protect your seat, keep your dog from falling in the footwell, and help prevent your dog from jumping into the front seat. Most hammocks will also let you zip them down the middle so your dogs can share the seat with human passengers.
Simply put – we see the wrong things, we think they are right, so we repeat them.
Our car seat buying guide will help you to better understand how to choose a car seat, which car seat the best for your family, and how long you can use a car seat for. To do this, we looked at the pros and cons of each car seat, the customer reviews, and the specs.
Of course, you also have to ensure that you install the car seat properly, or all of the research in the world isn’t going to keep your child safe. You don’t have to spend a ton of money. You don’t have to travel far and wide. You don’t have to get something that doesn’t fit your car or buy a new car just so you can keep your child safe. Instead, you just need to use your head.
When your baby is born, he or she might need something special. Some babies are born really small. Some are born very light. Some have special requirements because of health conditions. While you can’t really wait until your baby is born, you should be proactive in determining if you will have any of these issues. Not all car seat models work for extremely small babies.
Convertible Seat
Once your child grows out of the infant seat, most parents will move to a convertible seat. Some people will start with a convertible seat, but there are very few that provide enough support for smaller infants. By your child’s first birthday, a convertible seat is likely what you will have, installed either forward-facing or rear-facing. Some parents prefer to keep their child rear-facing for as long as possible, but it really depends on your car, your seat, and your child.
If your child is younger than a year old and weighs less than twenty pounds, you should keep him or her in rear facing mode. Some of the tougher convertible seats allow you to go up to 50 pounds in the rear facing mode, but you would need to get a special system that accounts for the length of your child’s legs, especially if you plan on taking longer trips. For short trips, they could be fine. However, if you are in an accident and your child’s legs are squished, it could be a huge problem.
Your child will let you know if he or she is uncomfortable. Better yet, you should pay attention to when it looks like you can safely move your child from a rear-facing car seat to a forward facing mode.
Most convertible seats will have a convertible harness system, but the weight limit is higher, meaning that the system is tougher.
All-In-One Car Seats
If you don’t want to keep shopping for new seats every time your child grows (and they grow very quickly), you can get an all-in-one seat. Note that they do save money and they are easier, but they aren’t typically as safe and effective at each stage like the individual seats are. Since these seats work with infants starting at pounds going all the way up to 120 pounds, that is too wide of a margin to really support every stage equally.
Another reason many people don’t go for the all-in-on car seats? They are extremely bulky and lack the convenience in the different stages.
Still, they can be a great option for grandparents or people who won’t transport your child all that often.
Pet Wear
He might be your best friend, but Fido is no ally of your car seats. Between muddy pet paws, sharp claws, and dog hair, the damage your pets can wreak on your interior is immeasurable. Equip your interior with a set of foam-lined pet seat protectors, and your dog can ride shotgun without ruining the front seat.
The Materials
Neoprene: From CalTrend to Coverking seat covers, manufacturers across the world have lauded neoprene for its waterproofing abilities. Constructed from the same material used to make scuba suits, Neoprene seat covers offer total protection against against water damage. Neoprene is an especially good material for off-road enthusiasts who like to get messy; that’s why many Jeep Seat Covers are made from it.
Ballistic Nylon: It isn’t the most comfortable fabric in the world, but Ballistic covers provide your seats with a heavy-duty shield against water and UV damage. Ballistic seat covers are among the most durable covers on the market, and they can take on attacks from spilled drinks, muddy pet paws, and other messes without breaking a sweat. In fact, this material was originally used to make flak jackets for WWII fighter pilots.
Velour: Velour is a plush knitted fabric usually made from cotton or polyester. Similar to velvet, this material features an extra-soft finish and offers unmatched comfort for you and your passengers. It doesn’t offer much in the form of water resistance, but for clean drivers looking for added comfort and style, velour is the best bang for your buck. For the luxurious look and feel of velour, check out Saddleman Seat Covers.
Leather: Leather seat covers offer more protection than you may think. Unlike cloth, leather doesn’t absorb spills. Instead, most liquids sit on top of the surface, making them easy to clean. However, leather Hyundai Elantra seat covers, for instance, can get sticky on hot days and are more vulnerable to wear than other materials.
Suede: A cost-effective alternative to leather, suede seat covers are tougher and less susceptible to wear. But like leather, suede isn’t naturally resistant to UV rays or water damage. When looking at suede seat covers, make sure you select a cover that’s treated with weather resistant materials.
Tweed: Tweed provides you with a similar level of comfort as velour, but it’s significantly more resistant to wear and won’t stain as easily. Plus, if you’re looking for a textured pattern for your seats, tweed is the only way to go.
Saddle Blanket: If you’re looking for a durable seat cover with a rugged “western” look, check out Saddle Blanket Seat Covers. These covers feature a tightly-woven fabric that stands up to heavy-duty use and is easy to clean. With Saddle Blanket Car Seat Covers you can enjoy a comfortable ride, a stylish interior, and reliable protection from stains and tears.
The Fit
Custom Seat Covers: As any tailor worth their salt will tell you: in the end, it’s all about the fit. Custom car seat covers are ideal for a true, seamless look and fit. Formed to fit the exact dimensions of your Scion’s car seats, Scion tC seat covers protect every nook and cranny of the seating area, from the headrests and arm-restss to the center console.
Semi-Custom Seat Covers: Sure, custom seat protectors are great, but if you’re on a budget, you may want a set of semi-custom car seat covers instead. Semi-custom covers offer the same level of protection as custom seat covers, and they do it without the hefty price tag. You may lose some style points, but they’re just fine for the daily driver.
How To Install Car Seat Covers
The convenience of storage is another thing that you need to check to get the best car seat for your dog. Is the product collapsible? This question is what you need to ask yourself to ensure that you get the best product that will not give you problems when it comes to storing. You should always remember that you are not going to use the seat always. That means sometimes you have to store and therefore, there should be a convenience to reduce bulk and to occupy the least space possible. In that connection, when checking out for the best dog car seat, you need to be aware of the same fact so that you can find the best product that will not give you problems.
Cost of the product
Of course, this fact should always be the last to consider after you have selected the products that you are comparing. Once you have the products that suit your needs and the ones that meet everything that you want, then the last thing that you need to check on is the price. If you are on a strict budget, then you can go for the one that comes with a low price among the ones that you already picked for comparison purposes.
The Insider Pick
Many dog owners like to take their dogs wherever they go, which often involves a ride in the car. Some dogs absolutely love the trill of a car ride while others prefer to stay at home. Regardless which category your dog fits into, you want to make sure that he is safe when you do take him in the car. This may require you to buy some dog car accessories.
When it comes to car safety for dogs, there are a number of products you can use. For example, car safety harnesses help keep your dog secure so he doesn’t wander around the car while you’re driving — some harnesses are even crash-tested. Other options include seat belt tethers if you prefer to use your own harness and booster seats for smaller dogs, though some dogs may prefer the comfort and security of a travel carrier. If you’re going to be taking your dog in the car a lot, you may also want a seat cover to protect your leather from sharp claws or your upholstered seats from dog hair.
In each of these categories, there are many options to choose from — so many that the thought of choosing just one may become overwhelming. Lucky for you, we’ve done the research and have scoured the reviews to bring you our top picks for the best dog car accessories.
Material
One of the important factors that need to be checked wile buying a dog seat cover is the type of material it is made up of. It should withstand all kinds of paw prints, scratching of the claws and all other kind of nasty things that your dog is capable of. Only if it is made using some sturdy and high quality material, it can endure all the wear and tear and provide a longer lifetime. When it comes to dog seat cover material, vinyl or polyester are ideal that won’t get ruptured easily. If you invest in a dog seat cover made using cheap materials, then you need to be ready to buy another in less than six months or so.
Another important thing that needs to be checked before buying a dog seat cover is to see if it can fit properly in your car. Many people complain after buying a seat cover and see that it doesn’t fit in their cars. It is upto you to have it properly checked before buying so that you don’t have any issues later in fitting the cover in your car’s back seat. It can’t be too small or too large too, as it would expose your seats if it is small and it can easily fall-off if it is too large. So it needs to be of the correct size to safeguard your car’s seat from al the scratches and claw marks.
Waterproof
It is always better to go for a waterproof cover, that even if you have a “potty trained” dog, you can’t expect it to be disciplined always. And you can’t really put the blame on the dog once it happens, as cleaning a waterproof cover is pretty much easy and simple. And moreover, many companies sell set covers as waterproof ones when they are not 100waterproof. So try to read some customer reviews before investing in one.
Machine washable
Another important aspect is whether the seat cover is suitable for machine washing. If it is not, then you are in trouble as you need to clean it manually. First it is time consuming and also a bit difficult to wash with hands. But when you wash through machines, the stains are removed to a great extent and also the fabric is cleaned to a greater depth.
Some of the cool fea
This dog backseat cover features include; strong adjustable straps, seat anchors, and non-slip rubber padding to ensure that it stays in place. The dog hammock option to prevent the entry of your dogs to the control area.
We know you’ll love this cover. Just in case, if you are not satisfied for any reason, please Contact us. We offer a 100% Money Back Guarantee.
If you want to keep your car seats nice and clean, then this seat cover will make it right for you. We are dog lovers and have no interest in seeing people waste their money.
The Epica is backed with a water resistant lining that will keep your car free of all stains and grime.
Directions
Extra side flaps on both sides to protect the entire back seat. And the seat belt slits with velcro closures allows the seat belt buckles easily get through and keeps unwanted pet hair out.
NOTE: We suggest you to measure the bench seat from left to right to choose the right size.
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Front Seat or Back Seat Dog Cover
Front seat “dog seat cover” do exactly what it says on the tin – covers your front passenger seat and is a great option for those dogs that get travel sick or are anxious travelers and prefer to be near their owners.
Back seat dog covers generally drape over the rear seat offering good coverage and keeping them fur-free.
One consideration is that we recommend dogs are restrained whether they travel in the front or rear seat using a harness or a dog seat belt to prevent the driver from being distracted and ensure safety for both you and your travel buddy. So ensure seat belt holes are provided and that they line up for ease of access and are not obstructed in any way.
Features
The hugely popular NAC & ZAC bench seat covers are specifically designed to fit trucks, pick ups and large SUVs. They strap on to your vehicle’s headrests, covers the whole seat since it has extra side flaps and elastic strips for each corner. Plus, if you have leather seats, the cover has rubber backing to keep it in place and has seat belt openings with velcro.
If you’ve been looking for a cover that anchors on the back seat corners and under seat corners and is NOT a hammock style, this top-notch product is for you. We also like the lifetime warranty and the user satisfaction this product keeps on receiving.
If you are car shopping and expecting a child or know you eventually want to expect a child, don’t make the same mistakes I made. What mistakes did I make? Oh, thank you for asking. Let me tell you.
When I was five months pregnant, it seemed like a good idea to replace our fifteen-year-old car. Price and safety were our number one concerns. I owned my previous car for the majority of my driving years and I planned on owning the next one for just as long.
So I researched and researched and researched (and cried a little under the pressure of making my first major purchase just before having my first child) and I bought my perfect new car (a 201Ford Fusion, a mid-size sedan) and I loved it… for four months. Then I had a baby, a deliciously chunky baby girl (a pleasant way of saying I had a big, heavy baby), and that car turned on me – and not in the way a car is supposed to turn.
The safest place for a rear-facing car seat in that sedan (as in most cars) was the middle of the back seat. That’s not an easy space to get to, especially if you’re tall. Imagine crawling on your knees into a three foot space while holding an awkward twenty-pound seat. And while the back of your head bangs the roof (as you try to secure said seat without waking the baby inside) you have a perfect view of your hunched mid-section rolling over maternity jeans (which you still wear post pregnancy because your “normal” jeans aren’t built for climbing in and out of a three foot space). Add direct sunlight hitting you from the slanted back windshield and the sweat that comes along with that and you’ll have a general idea of what getting my baby in and out of the low-back seat of that sedan felt like.
When our son was born and we were trying to get two kids in that low back seat, we decided to stop paying for a car that we didn’t love. So we sold our first major purchase after only two years and leased a small sport utility hatchback (a 201Mazda CX5). Our current car is a big improvement but, for our budget, we still couldn’t get everything we wanted. So I’m sharing insight from owning two different cars.
Beware the back windshield.
A large slanted back windshield plus a rear facing car seat equals a baby tanning bed. The light was so bright and hot in the back seat of our sedan, we didn’t arrive anywhere without a red, sweaty baby. Her only options were to stare directly into the sun or stare into the dark under a blanket. The hatchback has worked much better with our rear facing car seat because the window doesn’t slant over the baby.
Look for air vents.
Air conditioning is a given but you need vents in the back seat. If you’ve never thought about it before, you’ll be amazed how many cars don’t have this. At the least, you need a great AC with well placed front vents so air can be felt in the back. And you’re probably going to have to freeze yourself out to try to get air to your poor babe in the rear facing seat. That’s where we are with our sport utility but it’s more manageable since we’re not battling heat from the back windshield.
I also encourage you to put the AC on full blast and see how loud it is. I can’t hear my toddler talking in the back seat when I have the air on high. I have to turn it down to have a conversation with her. Unfortunately, this just wasn’t something I knew to look for.
Study the middle of the back seat.
There are two considerations here. As I mentioned above, the safest place for a car seat in most cars is the middle of the back seat. You can check the car’s manual or website to be sure. The middle seat in our sedan was a hump and it made it very difficult to get the car seat in, level and tight enough.
Also, if you plan on more than one child, you’ll want to make sure that there is room for someone to sit in the middle of the back seat between two car seats. If we have a friend in town, I have to contort myself to fit between my kids’ car seats. It’s a friendly little reminder to exercise more. This is actually one of the few things I miss about the sedan. There was more space between the kids’ car seats for me.
Go with keyless entry.
Now I only dig in my purse once a day when I have to open the front door to our house, as opposed to needing to find my keys every time I start the car.
Also, look for the ability to open the hatch or trunk from the driver’s seat. I assumed all cars would have this but I was very wrong. It’s much more convenient when hands are full of kids and bags to have the back already open, but my current car doesn’t have a hatch release inside or on the key.
Pull Quote
We hired MGA Research, a Wisconsin laboratory that runs much of the car seat crash testing in the country, to conduct front-impact and side-impact crash tests specifically for this story.
Personally, I am familiar with government rules and regulations, after spending almost a decade working on Capitol Hill and at the Department of Commerce. I’m a former reporter for CQ Roll Call, and my stories about policy and parenting have appeared in The Washington Post, Health Affairs, and Marie Claire. For this review, I traveled to Burlington, Wisconsin, to witness a team of engineers at MGA Research crash-test several top-rated infant car seats. My two boys, ages 1½ and 4 years, both still ride rear-facing in their car seats.
Who should get this
Amid all the lengthy lists of “baby must-haves,” the one item not up for debate is an infant car seat. If you’re going to be driving in a car with your baby, you need one. Most hospitals, complying with the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, do not discharge newborns until a staff member visually confirms the presence of an infant car seat to transport the baby safely home.
Several qualities distinguish infant car seats from larger “convertible” car seats, many of which have weight and height ranges that include most newborn infants (we plan to review convertible car seats later this year). Most important, an infant seat is designed to be used only rear-facing, the position that is known to be far safer for small children. Unlike convertible car seats, infant seats also come with a detachable base, allowing parents to easily click the seat in and out of the vehicle and to carry the baby in the seat (or attach it to a stroller). Babies outgrow most infant car seats by the time they reach 30 or 3inches tall or between 30 and 3pounds, whichever comes first. The typical kid reaches that height range at 1to 1months and will be nearly years old by the time they weigh 3pounds, so for most people the height limit is more relevant than the weight limit.
How we picked
We started by researching the most popular infant car seats, about 30 models in all. We looked at online customer reviews and media coverage, including by Consumer Reports, BabyGearLab, Mommyhood101, BabyCenter, Fatherly, and The Car Seat Lady. We interviewed nearly 20 experts on car seat safety, policy, and installation, and we looked closely at the results of government (NHTSA) testing, as well as at the findings of Consumer Reports and BabyGearLab, the two other media outlets that have conducted independent laboratory crash testing of infant car seats. BabyGearLab tested to NHTSA standards for front impact in 201and 2017; Consumer Reports modifies the NHTSA standards (PDF) and conducts tests that simulate a crash at 35 mph instead of 30 mph (the most recent results are from September 2016), among other differences.
All car seats sold in the US are self-certified by the manufacturers to pass strict NHTSA standards (PDF) for safety testing. The NHTSA conducts what it terms “safety compliance testing” of multiple seats each year and presents the database of results (parsing out the test results for each seat requires some additional digging). Proper installation is generally a far bigger problem for people than seat safety, so we searched the NHTSA ease-of-use installation database to determine which seats offered easy installation and came with clear instructions.
Our 20 total hours of background research helped us conclude that the ideal infant car seat should have several features and attributes.
Among the safest seats available: In our early analysis, we relied heavily on data from the NHTSA, particularly the results of the front-impact crash testing that the federal agency performs annually. However, infant car seats are self-certified, meaning they are not required to pass the NHTSA’s formal tests before going on sale. Each year, the NHTSA conducts crash testing on some of the car seats currently for sale in the US. However, since car seats are not required to be certified, several of the seats we looked at did not have government crash-test data.
Easy to install: Most parents will tell you that the most frustrating thing about dealing with car seats is the installation, and the experts we interviewed said that proper installation is the most common barrier to car seat safety. So we knew that a good car seat must be easy to install correctly, both with and without a LATCH system, so that a diligent adult following directions could manage a correct installation within a few minutes without expert assistance. (LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, a system that allows you to install a car seat with metal clips that attach to hooks built into the car, forgoing the lap belt. All cars and car seats manufactured after Sept 1, 200include the LATCH option.) Any harried parent who has had to install a car seat in a relative’s car or in a rental knows that an intuitive installation system trumps a well-crafted set of directions, though those are good to have, too.
Straps that are easy to buckle and adjust: A car seat’s straps should be easy to tighten, loosen, and buckle, ideally without your having to refer back to the written instructions.
A reasonably high height and weight limit: You don’t want your child to outgrow the seat before you’re ready and willing to switch to a convertible car seat. Aside from a Consumer Reports test, there has been little documented difference between the safety of an infant seat versus a rear-facing convertible seat. The primary reasons that parents we spoke to cited for keeping a child in an infant seat longer were the convenience of clicking them in and out of the car and easy access to a compatible stroller. Even without a stroller, a click-in car seat provides a fast way to transport a child into the car while keeping them warm and dry. As many parents can attest, coaxing a kid into a car seat while standing outside in the pouring rain is far less appealing than using a quick click-and-go—and that’s why some parents want to use an infant seat for as long as possible.
Widely available, ideally in different colors or patterns: We wanted seats that you could purchase easily from multiple big retailers, and had design options that appealed to a wide swath of parents.
How we tested
To distinguish among the top infant car seats, we commissioned front- and side-impact crash tests, the latter of which are not currently required under federal law. Here, in footage from the independent lab tests we commissioned for this guide, the 1-year-old-sized dummy in the Chicco KeyFit 30 does not make impact with the door in a simulated 30 mph crash, which means a passing grade for the Chicco.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The Chicco KeyFit 30 can hold a child up to 30 inches tall or 30 pounds. Those limits are inches shorter and pounds lighter than the limits of several of the other seats we tested, notably the Britax B-Safe 3and the Uppababy Mesa, which are each rated to 32 inches and 3pounds. Car seat technicians we spoke with agreed that a child is likely to reach the height limit of an infant seat before the weight limit. However, “the primary factor in a child outgrowing a car seat’s height limit has to do with the ‘tush to top of head’ length,” which is the distance between the bottom of the seat shell interior and the top of the baby’s head, said Lani Harrison, a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) based in Los Angeles. The Chicco KeyFit 30 has a 21-inch tush-to-top-of-head length, versus 19½ inches for the Britax and 1inches for the Uppababy (Harrison provided the measurements). On a practical level, though the Chicco KeyFit 30 has a lower overall inch rating than competing seats, it may actually fit your child longer than a seat with a height limit a couple of inches higher.
Of course, a child will outgrow their infant seat. Since a convertible/toddler seat is inevitably the next step, we think it is not a dealbreaker for a child to outgrow a seat on the slightly earlier end, especially as we found that most parents opt to switch to a convertible seat before the child officially outgrows their infant one anyway.
Unlike other car seats we tested, the Chicco KeyFit 30 does not have any of the options we identified as being enticing to parents but unnecessary, such as self-ratcheting latches (a distinguishing feature on the Uppababy Mesa), a no-rethread harness, or central lock-off plates on the base. These features can add a level of convenience, but ultimately they are not required for a quality seat.
When using the Chicco KeyFit 30 without its base, you slide the seat belt through tabs at the front of the seat rather than wrapping it around the back of the seat as well.
For installation without a base, the Chicco KeyFit 30 relies on the “American belt pass,” which places the seat belt across the top front of the bucket, above the baby’s legs. The European belt pass, which places the shoulder belt around the back of the seat in addition to across the top, is considered safer and works with seats such as the Cybex Aton and Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-3(you can find a helpful list from The Car Seat Lady). Families who regularly rely on taxis or car services, or who otherwise travel regularly with the infant seat without its base, may prefer a seat with a European belt pass. While this difference is worth noting, since most families will be using the infant seat in conjunction with the base, we still believe that the Chicco KeyFit 30 is clearly the best overall choice for most families.
Chicco KeyFit 22
Sometimes referred to simply as the Chicco KeyFit, the KeyFit 2has a weight limit that’s pounds less than that of the more popular KeyFit 30. We judged this weight to be low enough to limit the usability of this seat, which as of August 201also had poor availability. A spokesperson for Chicco confirmed that the seat was temporarily out of stock but would continue to be manufactured.
Chicco Fit2
The Chicco Fitis rated to 3pounds or 3inches—the tallest height limit of all the car seats we considered. The seat is intended to hold kids up to years old, and could be particularly appealing to parents or caregivers who appreciate the convenience of an infant car seat and want to delay switching to a convertible seat. The Fit2’s base has an additional “toddler” position, so the seat will properly fit an older child at a more upright angle, and it has an extendable headrest and a removable canopy. Like the KeyFit 30, the Fitis compatible with Chicco strollers. BabyGearLab listed this seat as an Editors’ Choice, and though the NHTSA has not yet rated the Fitfor ease of installation, it has a base similar to that of the KeyFit 30, which we found to be very easy to install.
Cybex Aton 2
Of the seven car seats we tested at home, the Cybex Aton was the most difficult to click in and out of its base (it required placing different fingers on two release panels, and then pushing in at the same time). We also found the Cybex seat’s handle adjustment—which required gripping the widest part of the handle—frustrating. After a day of making adjustments to the Cybex handles, I could feel the strain in my forearms and wrists. But the NHTSA awarded this Cybex model four out of five stars for ease of installation, and at 9.pounds it’s lighter than most comparable seats.
The Cybex Aton comes in colors, including hues more bright than those of the Chicco KeyFit 30, and has a two-year warranty.
Peg Perego Primo Viaggio 4-35
4-3had handles that were relatively difficult to shift, a flimsy chest clip, and hard-to-adjust straps. The button to adjust the straps is tucked beneath car seat material, and like the Cybex Aton 2, this Peg Perego model requires pressure from the thumbs, not the hands, to adjust the handles. Though the seat scored above the mean in the NHTSA’s safety-compliance ratings for head and chest pressure—see page of this PDF report—the agency gave it just three out of five stars for installation (we didn’t judge its installation as harshly). It comes in 1colors and has a two-year warranty.
Cybex Cloud Q
The pricey Cybex Cloud Q has a full-recline feature, which may be useful for parents who use their infant seat with a stroller and want their baby to be able to lie flat when sleeping rather than sitting up in the normal car-seat position. The Cybex Cloud Q comes with a load leg, and the NHTSA gave it four of out five stars for ease of installation.
Nuna Pipa
The Nuna Pipa features rigid lower anchor connectors that you rotate forward and click into the vehicle’s lower LATCH hooks, a design that CPST Lani Harrison told us adds to the safety of the seat. Consumer Reports gave the Pipa a “best” crash-test rating, and BabyList lauded its “primo design”; this model also earned a score of four stars (out of five) for ease of installation from the NHTSA. But it’s more expensive than our pick, and not as widely available or as well-reviewed as the seats we tested.
Current federal requirements for manufacturers
While individual states are responsible for regulating how car seats are used, any car seat sold in the US must meet federal safety standards set by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The NHTSA requires that all car seats meet certain benchmarks in crash tests that determine the force on the head and chest in a simulated front-facing crash. The NHTSA also tests car seats for ease of installation, as industry experts estimate that most car seats are improperly installed.
Current front-impact crash testing relies on three measurements to judge safety performance: HIC (head injury criterion), a composite measure that combines time and acceleration to measure the likelihood of a head injury in a car crash, and must be under 1,000; G-clip (also called the ms chest clip), the chest-acceleration measurement, which should be under 60 g; and maximum seat-back angle (to provide adequate neck support in a crash), which should be less than 70 degrees from vertical. Lower numbers are better: With all three tests, the lower the number is, the farther it is from exceeding the NHTSA’s front-impact injury-criteria limits.
Cot mattresses
Many mothers said while they would buy a preloved cot, they wouldn’t buy a second-hand cot mattress due to hygiene issues. The SIDS and Kids website doesn’t specifically recommend that parents buy a new cot mattress, but it does have some good advice about how to help your baby sleep safely. There’s also safety advice on cots here.
Feeding equipment
For one in five mothers, having brand new bottles, teats and breast pumps was important, while others said it was OK to buy second-hand if they were sterilised. Some mums mentioned that they’d buy dummies new, too. Choice has information on what to look for when buying bottles, teats and dummies.
Prams and strollers
A new pram was an important priority for 1percent of mothers, who said they would pay premium prices for a pram they knew would last more than one baby. But other mums said they were happy to purchase second-hand prams, as long as they were in good condition. Australian independent reviewer Choice has some good advice for what to look for in a stroller or pram. There’s also advice on safety standards for prams here.
What some of our mums said
Serious injury or death of unrestrained dogs in car crashes, is sadly not uncommon.
Here at German Shepherd Corner, I’ve been researching the growing selection of safety harnesses out there. And even tried one out for my dogs.
Design and Comfort
A quality controlled, sturdy, durable harness available in varying sizes from Bergan, a pedigree American company.
So Bergan have been creating innovative pet safety products for almost a half century now and so these guys know a thing or two about how to keep our hounds safe.
Their Auto Harness with Tether is made from good quality materials and many users report that their dogs seem comfortable wearing it.
The adjustable tethers are to the back preventing Fido from attempting to undo them and the low anchor point means that the harness keeps your dog secure but allows for some comfortable movement.
A leash can be easily attached for those all important toilet breaks on a long road trip.
How to save up to 86%? Here is little trick.
You must visit the page of sales. Here is the link. If you don’t care about which brand is better, then you can choose the dog car seat by the price and buy from the one who will offer the greatest discount.
Final Word
First of all thanks for reading my article to the end! I hope you find my reviews listed here useful and that it allows you to make a proper comparison of what is best to fit your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to try more than one product if your first pick doesn’t do the trick.
Most important, have fun and choose your dog car seat wisely! Good luck!
So, TOP3 of dog car seat
- №1 — Pettom Pet Car Seat Carrier for Dog Cat
- №2 — Dog Seatbelt Strap by 2PET – Adjustable Dog Seat Belt for all for All Dog Breeds & Sizes Universal Dog Seat Belts Fit Seatbelt Latches of All Car Makes 21” to 32” Dog Seatbelt – 2 Pack Choose Color
- №3 — NACOCO 2 in 1 Pet Seat Cover Waterproof Dog Car Front Seat Crate Cover Protector Mat
Questions? Leave a comment below!
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