The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a recall of more than 4,500 WAYB Pico car seats because the headrest can potentially detach, leading to an increased risk of injury in a crash.

WAYB has received 11 reports of headrests that have detached from their carseats. The problem seems to be that in WAYB’s original design, a 2-pin system holding the headrest can fail. No injuries have been reported.

Defect: The headrest can detach from the carseat.

Seats recalled: All seats manufactured between 3/1/2019 and 5/12/2019. After that time, WAYB began using a new design with a 1-pin system and a reinforced headrest.

Remedy: WAYB plans to replace the headrest on recalled seats, but as of this writing, the details of this plan have not been released. We will update with more information when it becomes available.

What to do: WAYB says that the safety risk is low. The company says it will be obvious if the headrest has detached, and that the product is fine to use as long as the headrest is still in place. However, in a Safety Recall Report, WAYB states, “In some cases, consumers noted that the headrest was loose, causing them to inspect the headrest, at which time it separated from the rest of the product. A loose headrest may indicate that a breakage of at least one of the tubular frame members has occurred. If both tubular frame members in the headrest are broken, pulling up on the headrest will likely lead to a separation of the headrest, making the breakage clear to the consumer.”

This makes it sound like a broken headrest might not be immediately noticeable to the consumer. Because of this, CarseatBlog recommends that owners of affected models contact WAYB at help@wayb.com or text or call them at 888.924.9292 if you have any concerns prior to receiving additional information from WAYB on the recall.  If you are still concerned, you should discontinue use of an affected Pico carseat until the headrest is fixed. 

We will continue to update this report as more information becomes available.

Official Recall Notice:

DEALS TRACKER: We find the lowest prices for September 2019 on car seats, strollers & baby gear. Bookmark this deals page and check back frequently for the latest bargains and promo code offers, so you find them here first before they sell out!

We’re the baby gear deal experts so we know where the really good deals are, on the stuff consumers actually want to buy. We scour Amazon and other retailers to find the best bargains. We don’t just rely on automated tools and other deals pages, so we find the best deals for you first. This is the resource other deal pages use to find deals!

Have you considered an Amazon baby registry? What do you get when you register? A free gift box valued at $35, a 90-day return policy for most items purchased from your registry, group gifting so multiple people can contribute to gifts, and more. Check it out!

What you need to know about Amazon pricing: it’s FICKLE. When a product’s price is reduced we rarely know how long it will remain at that price. Sometimes it’s a few days, sometimes it’s a few hours. The best advice we can offer you is to ACT QUICKLY if you see a great deal on something you really need or just seriously want. Just adding something to your cart does not guarantee you that item at that price – you must complete the checkout process to seal the deal. Most items on our list offer FREE SHIPPING & FREE RETURNS to Prime members but always double check this before you put the item in your cart and checkout. Not a Prime member? There’s a 30-day FREE trial. It’s a no-brainer! Try it out and score some great deals. You can always cancel before the 30 days is up if you’re not sold on the many benefits of an Amazon Prime membership.

Target and Walmart are having their trade-in events in September! Target is accepting carseats from September 3-13 while Walmart is accepting them from September 16-30. We have dedicated an entire article on all the specifics so you know exactly how these trade-ins work.

Looking for more info on a certain carseat or booster? Check out our REVIEWS page. We have in-depth reviews of over 100 carseats and boosters. Prefer to shop at other stores? If you received great advice from us or discovered a good deal here and share it with friends, please mention us and share* our links to Amazon, Albee Baby, Target.com, Walmart.com, Kohl’s, and BuyBuyBaby.

This post and others at CarseatBlog contain affiliate links. Please read About CarseatBlog for our affiliate policy and see our Marketing Disclosure.

Select Editors’ Picks:

These carseats are among our Editor’s Picks and are reader favorites, too!

• Nuna Pipa Infant Seat for $299.95
• Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Seat from $199
• Chicco NextFit Zip Convertible from $299
• Graco 4Ever DLX All-in-One from $269.99
• Graco Extend2Fit from $159.99
• Britax Boulevard ClickTight Convertible from $247.99
• Graco Nautilus SnugLock LX from $199.99

 

  

Infant (Rear-Facing Only) Car Seat Deals:

☆ Indicates a CarseatBlog Recommended Carseat 

Britax B-Safe Ultra in most fashions for $229.99 

Chicco KeyFit 30 in all fashions for $159.99 ☆

Chicco KeyFit 30 in most fashions for $199.99 ☆

Chicco Keyfit 30 Zip in “Eclipse” for $179.99 ☆ 22% Off No Free Returns

Chicco Fit2 Infant & Toddler for $279.99 ☆

Evenflo LiteMax DLX (with load leg) in “Meteorite” for $118.99 ☆

Gracobaby.com 20% Off – Use Code SAVE20CS 

Graco SnugRide SnugLock LX with 1-hand adjust in “Pierce” or “Tansy” for $122.99 ☆ 28% Off

Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 Elite in “Oakley” for $149.99 ☆ 32% Off  

Graco SnugRide SnugLock 30 in “Tasha” for $111.99 20% Off

Graco SnugRide Click Connect LX *Extra Base* (with lockoff) for $14.99 75% Off

Graco SnugRide SnugLock *Extra Base* (with lockoff) for $31.50 47% Off

 

 

Convertible & All-in-One Deals:

☆ Indicates a CarseatBlog Recommended Carseat

Britax Advocate ClickTight in “Mosaic” and “Venti” for $287.99 ☆ 20% Off

Britax Boulevard ClickTight in all fashions for $249.99 ☆ 20% Off

Britax Boulevard ClickTight with ARB in all fashions for $279.99 ☆ 20% Off

Britax Marathon ClickTight in all fashions for $223.99 ☆ 20% Off

Britax Marathon ClickTight in “Tempo” for $219.99 ☆ No Free Returns

Britax Marathon ClickTight with ARB in all fashions for $255.99 ☆ 20% Off 

Britax Allegiance in “Azul” for $159.99 

Britax ClickTight Anti-Rebound Bar Accessory for $39.99

Chicco NextFit Zip for $239.99 ☆

Clek Fllo 2018 in “Noire” for $299.99 ☆ 6% Off

Cosco Scenera NEXT DLX from $43.65 ☆ 

Diono Angle Adjuster for $9.99

Diono Rainier 2AX in select fashions for $179.99 40% Off

Diono Radian 3RX in “Light Grey” for $196.05 20% Off Plus $3.94 Coupon

Diono Radian 3RXT in “Black” for $254.99

Evenflo EveryStage DLX All-in-One in select fashions for $159.99 ☆ 

Evenflo EveryStage DLX All-in-One in all fashions for $159.99 ☆

Evenflo Stratos 65 in “Boulder” and “Pikes Peak” for $114.99 ☆

Evenflo Stratos 65 in “Pink Sunset” for $104.24 ☆

Evenflo SureRide DLX in “Carson” for $99.61

Evenflo Tribute in “Neptune” for $49.99

Gracobaby.com 20% Off – Use Code SAVE20CS

Graco 4Ever in “Cameron” ☆ SOLD OUT

Graco 4Ever in “Matrix” and “Studio” for $269.99 ☆ 10% Off

Graco 4Ever DLX in all fashions for $269.99 ☆ 10% Off

Graco 4Ever with Safety Surround in “Jacks” for $263.99 20% Off

Graco Extend2Fit in “Gotham” for $127.99 ☆ 36% Off 

Graco Extend2Fit in “Campaign” for $127.99 ☆ 20% Off 

Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 in “Garner” for $249.99

Graco Contender 65 in “Black Carbon” for $99.99 ☆ 30% Off

Graco Contender 65 in “Glacier” for $107.79 ☆ 23% Off

Graco Grows4Me in “Vega” for $224.99 10% Off

Graco Sequence 65 for in “Annabelle” for $147.99 8% Off 

Graco Sequence Platinum for $159.99 20% Off  No Free Returns

Graco SlimFit 3-in-1 in “Annabelle” for $149.99 ☆ 35% Off BACKORDER

Maxi-Cosi Pria 65 3-in-1 in all fashions for $237.99 15% Off

Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 in “Mallorca Blue” or “Havana Pink” for $161.99 45% Off   No Free Returns

Maxi-Cosi Pria 85 in all fashions for $229.49 ☆ 15% Off

Peg Perego Primo Viaggio Convertible in “Atmosphere” for $279.98 20% Off

Safety 1st Grow and Go in all fashions for $134.99 25% Off

Safety 1st Guide 65 in “Chambers,” “Chateau,” or “Victorian Lace” for $89.99 10% Off

 

 

Combination Seat Deals:

(Forward-Facing with Harness + Booster) 

☆ Indicates a CarseatBlog Recommended Carseat

Britax Frontier ClickTight in “Cowmooflage” for $223.99 20% Off

Britax Pinnacle ClickTight in “Mosaic” and “Venti” for $239.99 20% Off

Chicco MyFit in “Indigo” and “Gardenia” for $159.99 ☆ 20% Off

Chicco MyFit in “Fathom” for $199.99 ☆

Chicco MyFit LE in “Starlet” for $179.99 ☆ Extra 10% Off in Cart – No Free Returns

Chicco MyFit LE (with SuperCinch LATCH) in “Anthem” ☆

Evenflo Maestro Sport in “Crestone Peaks” for $69.99 ☆ 13% Off

Gracobaby.com 20% Off  – Use Code SAVE20CS

Graco Atlas in “Glacier” for $89.99 31% Off

Graco Atlas in “Nyssa” for $109.99 15% Off 

Graco Nautilus with SafetySurround in “Jacks” for $143.99 20% Off

Graco Nautilus SnugLock LX in “Zale” for $175.99 ☆ 20% Off 

Graco Tranzitions in “Proof” or “Kyte” for $79.99 20% Off

Graco Tranzitions in “Proof” for $79.99 20% Off

Graco Tranzitions in “Kyte” for $89.99 10% Off

 

 

Booster Deals:

☆ Indicates a CarseatBlog Recommended Carseat

Britax Midpoint for $119.99 ☆ 16% Off

Chicco GoFit Plus (with LATCH) for $39.99

Chicco KidFit in all fashions from $89.99

Chicco KidFit Zip Air in “Surf” for $98.99 21% Off Plus Extra 10% Off  No Free Returns

Clek Oobr in “Drift” (with Rigid LATCH) for $196.05 ☆ 20% Off Plus $3.94 Coupon  BACKORDER

Diono Monterey XT in “Teal” for $69.99 30% Off  No Free Returns

Gracobaby.com 20% Off – Use Code SAVE20CS

Graco Affix (with LATCH) in “Atomic” and “Pierce” from $52.99 ☆ 34% Off

Graco RightGuide Portable Seat Belt Trainer for $31.99 20% Off – Use Code SAVE20CS 

Graco Turbo GO in all fashions for $19.99 

Graco TurboBooster in “Atticus” for $29.98 40% Off  No Free Returns

Graco TurboBooster LX with SafetySurround in “Stark” for $48.99 ☆

Graco TurboBooster Grow with Me (with LATCH) Highback in “West Point” for $129.99 ☆  

Graco TurboBooster TakeAlong Backless in “Sonic” for $36.27 ☆ 26% Off Plus $0.73 Coupon

Graco TurboBooster TakeAlong Highback in “Sylvan” for $64.99 35% Off 

Graco TurboBooster TakeAlong Highback in “Krista” for $79.99 20% Off

Evenflo Big Kid AMP in select fashions from $32.99 18% Off

Evenflo Spectrum in various fashions from $54.99 ☆ 

 

   

Travel System Deals:

(Infant Carseat + Stroller)

Britax Pathway Travel System with B-Safe 35 Infant Carseat in all fashions for $399.99 

Britax Dual Comfort Travel System for $399.99 

Chicco Viaro Travel System with KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat in “Techna” for $319.98 20% Off

Evenflo Pivot Modular Travel System with SafeMax Infant Carseat in “Casual Gray” for $245.26 

Gracobaby.com 25% Off Use SALE25 Code

Graco Fastaction Fold Jogger with SnugRide 35 Travel System in “Coconut” $249.99 17% Off

Nuna 2019 MIXX Stroller & PIPA Lite LX Travel System in “Bleu” for $849.90 15% Off

Nuna 2019 MIXX Stroller & PIPA Lite LX Travel System in “Verona Caviar” for $849.90 15% Off

 

 

Stroller Deals:

Single strollers

Baby Jogger City Tour in “Garnet” and “Juniper” for $139.99 30% Off

Baby Jogger 2016 City Mini 3W in “Gray” for $181.99 30% Off  No Free Returns

Baby Jogger City Mini GT in “Crimson” and “Evergreen/Gray” for $251.99 30% Off  No Free Returns

Baby Jogger 2018 City Select in “Red” or “Teal” for $370.99  

BabyTrend Snap-N-Go EX for $60.31

BOB Revolution Flex 2.0 Jogger in “Black” for $311.99 31% Off

BOB Revolution Flex 2.0 Jogger in “Meadow” for $311.99 31% Off

BOB Revolution Flex 2.0 Jogger in “Lunar” for $327.99 20% Off

Evenflo Pivot Xpand modular stroller for $237.99

gb Pockit Air All Terrain Stroller in “Velvet Black” and “Night Blue” for $159.95

Gracobaby.com 25% Off Use SALE25 Code

Graco Fastaction Fold Jogger in “Gotham” $179.99

Graco Fastaction Fold Jogger in “Pierce” $179.99

Graco Snugrider Elite Stroller Frame $74.99 25% Off 

Nuna MIXX2 Three Mode Stroller with All Terrain Tires in “Indigo” for $449.95 25% Off

Nuna MIXX2 Stroller & Bassinet Set in “Caviar” for $599.95 20% Off

Thule Sleek City Stroller in all fashions for $799.95

Double Strollers  

* accepts one infant carseat; ** accepts two infant carseats; @ requires adapter sold separately

Babby Jogger City Select Lux with Second Seat in Slate for $829.99 ** 

BOB Handlebar Console for Duallie Jogging Strollers for $18.61 38% Off

BOB Revolution Flex Duallie Jogging Stroller in “Canyon” for  $479.99 25% Off

Gracobaby.com 25% Off Use SALE25 Code

Graco Modes Duo Stroller in “Balancing Act” for $234.20  ** 32% Off Plus $4.80 Coupon

Graco Modes Duo Stroller in “Basin” for $167.99 ** 52% Off  BACKORDER

Graco Roomfor2 Stand and Ride Stroller in “Gotham” for $143.96 * 

Graco Ready2Grow Click Connect LX Stroller in “Glacier” for $179.95 ** 18% Off 

Graco Ready2grow Click Connect LX Stroller in “Gotham” for $197.09 ** 10% Off

 

   

 

Other Baby Gear Deals:

ALL CHICCO Baby Deals Discount at Checkout

Gracobaby.com 20% Off – Use Code SAVE20CS

ALL GRACO Baby Deals Discount at Checkout 

ANMEATE Digital 2.4Ghz Wireless Video Monitor with Temperature Monitor for $74.99

Brica Smart Move Car Seat Travel Cart for $71.47 14% Off Plus $1.44 Coupon

Britax Carseat Travel Cart for $62.99 21% Off

Elvie Double Breast Pump from $499.99

Go-Go BABYZ Travelmate Cart for $68.89 23% Off

Graco Blossom Highchair in “Sapphire” for $113.74 40% Off

Graco Pack ‘n Play Playard with full-size bassinet in Pasadena for $59.99 

Graco Quick Connect Portable Napper in “Asher” for $151.99 20% Off

Graco Sense2Soothe Swing with Cry Detection Technology in “Sailor” for $199.99 20% Off

Graco Slim Snacker High Chair for $44.99 25% Off

Graco Simple Sway Baby Swing in “Abbington” for $85.10 15% Off

Haakaa Manual Breast Pump from $12.98

Halo Basinettes from $169.99

Kiinde Breast Milk Storage Twist Starter Kit for $17.99 55% Off

Lansinoh Breastmilk Storage Bags from $13.19

Nanit Plus Smart Baby Monitor for $298.82

Owlet Smart Sock 2 Baby Monitor for $299.00 

Owlet Smart Sock + Cam for $399.00 

Philips Avent Manual Comfort Breast Pump for $32.99

SNOO Smart Sleeper for $906.50

Spectra S2 Breast Pump from $159.00

Stokke Tripp Trapp Chair in Walnut/Hazy Tweed for $259.00

UnbuckleMe for $14.99

 

This list will be updated any time we see a great deal or promotion code below recent average prices, so you don’t have to wade through dozens of normally priced models to find the bargains. You can help us (and your fellow shoppers) by leaving us a comment if you find a deal on a carseat, booster, or popular stroller that isn’t posted yet. We recommend that you bookmark this post, as we will update it regularly! We work hard to make sure you get the best deal! If we see a bargain price on a popular model from our Recommended Carseats List, we’ll update as soon as possible!

More deals will be posted as they become available. Find a deal that isn’t listed here? Leave us a comment and let us know what you found! If you found a great deal here and share it with friends and social media, please be courteous and mention us and please consider using and sharing our links to Amazon, Albee Baby, Diapers.com, Target.com, Walmart.com, Kohl’s, and BuyBuyBaby.

This post and others at CarseatBlog contain affiliate links.  Please read About CarseatBlog for our affiliate policy and see our Marketing Disclosure.

Last updated 9/9/2019

*If you monitor our page and share, please consider mentioning us. We spend a lot of time searching out deals and compiling the best ones. We’re happy if you spread the word, but please be courteous and use our links and credit our website when you do. Thank you! 

September 2019 Carseat Trade-In Events—Updated 09/09/19

Most towns and cities don’t have recycling programs for carseats*. When you’ve been in a crash, many carseat manufacturers want the carseat to be replaced, whether or not it was occupied during the crash (your manual will always specify what to do). Crash forces can do damage to the plastic we can’t see and engineers design carseats to absorb forces, just like our vehicles have crumple zones to mitigate, or lessen, crash forces. Many of us are left to throw out carseats when they expire or they’re crashed or we’re otherwise through with them—until trade-in events started. Babies R Us started the trend in 2010, partly to get recalled items out of circulation, and Target got in on the fun in 2016. This fall, Walmart joins in to offer discounts to those of us who want to ditch some seats for some coupons.

*Clek has a recycling program for their carseats and price is determined by seat.

So how do these events work anyway? I’ll break it down by store to make it easier since the rules differ slightly. The beautiful thing is that an old, broken, recalled, or otherwise nasty carseat is being recycled so a child won’t be put in danger! And no need to worry about cutting straps or writing “do not use” on these carseats—stores assure us that once carseats are in their bins, they are out of circulation as carseats are on their way to new life in other forms.

Target (September 3-13, 2019)

To celebrate Baby Safety Month, from Tuesday, September 3-13, 2019, Target will accept any carseat at the Guest Services counter. They can be expired, damaged, recalled, or perfectly good (hey, we can be enablers here!). All carseats will be recycled by the Waste Management company.

What do they take:

• Rear-facing only infant seats (bases only have been allowed in the past)
• Convertible seats
• All-in-ones
• Harness-to-booster (combination) seats
• Belt-positioning boosters

What do they give you:

• A coupon for 20% off a new carseat, stroller, or select baby gear for each seat turned in

The coupon is valid through Saturday, September 14, 2019, and the code can be used online if the brick and mortar store doesn’t have your preferred item.

Will they actually give you 1 coupon per carseat turned in if you have a bunch of carseats? Maybe. It seems to depend on the individual store and management. There’s a written policy, but the actual implementation of it is fuzzy.

Can I combine/stack coupons?

You can only use one (1) 20% off coupon per carseat or baby gear purchase, but you can stack the coupon with other discounts like Target’s Cartwheel and the 5% discount (and free shipping!) you get when you use your Target REDcard. Registry coupons have not been able to be combined with the 20% off coupon, but YMMV.

Once you have your coupon, spend it fast. For the last several trade-in events, stock has been low and sold out fast so it pays to do your research now and be ready to use that 20% off since Target won’t issue rainchecks. Amazon generally does lower its prices at this time, but there are Target-exclusive fashions, especially with Graco products. If you need help with your research, you can start with our Recommended Carseats List!

Do be careful with your coupon, though. Once you’ve spent it, it’s spent. If you return an item, you can’t get the discount back.

Walmart (September 16-30, 2019)

Walmart couldn’t help themselves and joined Target to recycle carseats during Baby Safety Month. WM (US stores only) is teaming up with TerraCycle (Check out all their recycling programs near you. They recycle *everything*, even hair!) from Monday, September 16-30, to recycle most carseats. Take your expired, damaged, recalled, or carseats you’re finished using to Customer Service and they’ll give you a $30 gift card with a limit of 2.

There has been some confusion regarding the turn-in dates. When you enter your zip code to see participating stores, it shows the start date only, not the only date they are participating. Can you imagine the lines if that was the only date they were taking carseats? I have alerted them to the confusion and they are looking into how to make the dates clearer.

What do they take:

• Rear-facing only infant seats (NO bases are being accepted separately)
• Convertible seats
• All-in-ones
• Harness-to-booster (combination) seats

Note that WM is NOT accepting belt-positioning booster seats during this trade-in event.

What do they give you:

• A $30 gift card (limit 2)

It’s a gift card, so it can be used online as well as in-store on anything and it doesn’t expire. Hey!

Not every Walmart is participating in the event. The Walmart Neighborhood Market grocery stores aren’t, but you can check if your local store is by clicking here and entering your location.

We don’t know anything about what’s going to actually happen with the Walmart trade-in event other than what’s been written about in the press release since this is the first time it’s happened. Actual implementation remains to be seen, so we don’t know if they’ll run out of stock.

Can I combine/stack coupons?

Yes. WM is giving out regular gift cards, which broadens the appeal of this trade-in event.

Which Is the Better Carseat Trade-In Event? Target vs. Walmart

Is a 20% off coupon better than a $30 gift card? Let’s take a look at actual numbers on some popular carseats.

Rear-Facing Only Infant Seat

Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 in Tenley

Current Amazon price: $132.01

Target price: $99.99

Target price after 20% off plus 5% REDcard discount: $75.99

Walmart price: $99.99

Walmart price after $30 giftcard discount: $69.99

 

Convertible Carseat

Graco Extend2Fit in Gotham

Current Amazon price: $127.99

Target price: $159.99

Target price after 20% off plus 5% REDcard discount: $121.59

Walmart price: $137.99

Walmart price after $30 giftcard discount: $129.99

 

All-in-One Carseat

Graco 4Ever DLX

Current Amazon price: $269.99

Target price: $269.99

Target price after 20% off plus 5% REDcard discount: $205.19

Walmart price: $269.99

Walmart price after $30 giftcard discount: $239.99

 

Harness-to-Booster (Combination) Carseat

Chicco MyFit in Fathom

Current Amazon price: $199.99

Target price: $159.99

Target price after 20% off plus 5% REDcard discount: $121.60

Walmart price: $199.99

Walmart price after $30 giftcard discount: $169.99

This wasn’t necessarily a fair comparison because the online Target price for this carseat was already discounted at $159.99.

 

Belt-Positioning Booster Carseat

Chicco KidFit in Atmosphere

Current Amazon price: $99.99

Target price: $99.99

Target price after 20% off plus 5% REDcard discount: $75.99

Walmart price: $99.99

Walmart price after $30 giftcard discount: $69.99

 

For regular priced items over $123, Target is the winner if you are comparing the 20% coupon and 5% REDcard discount to one WM $30 gift card. But it may come down to which store has the carseat you want in stock.

 

A brief word about our links: CarseatBlog.com shares affiliate links to Amazon, Target, Walmart, and others. When you click our links, we earn commissions on what you buy—at NO cost to you. We try to do this in the least offensive way as possible because we’re consumers too. These commissions allow us to travel to conferences and trade shows to learn more about child passenger safety and products and share our knowledge with you, and to pay our fantastic writers without whom CarseatBlog wouldn’t exist. So by clicking our links, you’re supporting our mission to keep you up-to-date on the latest CPS info. Thank you!

CarseatBlog Helps You Find the Safest and Best Car Seats for 2019

Once or twice a year we make incremental updates to our Recommended Carseats award list. A couple of aging products are usually removed, and some new ones added. There are jump links and an improved pull-down menu for easier access to each section of the list. The intent of this list is not to exclude the many fine carseats that didn’t make our cut, but instead to help consumers narrow down their choices to models we personally recommend. These are likely to work well with the widest range of children and vehicles. In order to have a reasonable list that doesn’t include dozens of products in each category, we make tough choices to include fewer products in each category that we feel are the best places to start your search.

We also have a shortlist of Editors’ Picks, an award for our favorite models. This more exclusive list narrows down our larger number of Recommended Carseats to our top choices. For most categories, we also select our top picks by budget category, limiting the selections to just one or two seats in each price range. If you are in a hurry or are feeling overwhelmed by too many options, this is the place to start! While premium carseats usually offer more features and tend to be easier to use, our midrange and budget picks are also very safe choices that we would use without hesitation for our own children.

If your favorite carseat didn’t make our list, please don’t worry! We’re not saying these are the best choices for every parent or caregiver in every situation. Our lists are simply a good starting point for consumers who are shopping for a carseat or booster. And since there are no guarantees, we always recommend purchasing from a retailer with a no-questions-asked free return policy of at least 30 days, or an online retailer like Amazon that offers free shipping and free returns on most carseats they sell directly. If a seat doesn’t work out for whatever reason, you don’t want to pay a restocking fee or $50 to ship it back!

We acknowledge that many certified child passenger safety technicians have had it ingrained upon them that they are supposed to act completely neutral toward child restraints. All current seats pass the same FMVSS 213 testing standards, they are all safe when used correctly, etc., etc. In the course to become certified, most techs were told never to tell a parent that one child seat or brand is better than any other. Instead, technicians are encouraged to tell parents that the best seat is the one that fits their child, installs well in their vehicle and is easy for them to use correctly. We agree.

However, the reality is that once you’ve installed even a dozen different seats, you quickly learn that there are real differences. Some child restraints do tend to install better in general, while some really are easier to use in general. Features like lockoffs for seatbelt installations and premium push-on lower LATCH connectors do make a difference in the vast majority of installations, but that doesn’t mean that every seat that lacks those features is not worthy of your consideration.

With all that said, please take our recommendations with a grain of salt. They are merely opinions, after all, and our criteria may vary from yours. Despite our best efforts, we recognize that no list of this type can be completely objective. And while our team of child passenger safety experts thoughtfully considered the pros and cons of each seat and combined that with our considerable hands-on experience with each product – there’s no crash testing involved. Some seats were omitted only because we opted to include a similar model from the same manufacturer. For others, we simply didn’t have enough experience with the product yet to form an opinion. There are a number of great products that we have reviewed, that missed the cut for our awards but are still worthy of consideration. Conversely, we recognize that some models we recommend won’t work well for everyone.

We hope you will use and share our recommendations as useful shopping advice in your search for the best carseat or booster for your needs!