The informed parent will always be shopping around for the best deals, sniffing out sales and other money saving events in order not to break the bank.  This applies just as much to cheap car seats as it does to any other parenting-related item.  With the current economic situation, this frugality is completely understandable, but it is also important to keep in mind which features are mere fluff versus those that are completely indispensable to any car seat, no matter how inexpensive.

Out of all of the most important features to look for in a car seat, perhaps the most important is the “five point harness.”  This harness is so named due to the presence of 5 protective straps that tether the child safely and comfortably to the seat.  Two of the straps go around the hips, two around the shoulders, and the last one is a crotch strap.  With these five “points” of security in place, the chances of the child being thrown around the car in the unfortunate event of an accident are cut down considerably.  Add to that the simply peace of mind that comes with providing your child the safest equipment possible, and you can see why the five point harness is extremely important and should be present on any car seat that you are considering for purchase!

Another important feature to consider is one that is often overlooked, perhaps because it is too obvious:  Durable construction.  The last thing you want is a sub-par car seat that is built from dubious quality materials.  This would certainly do away with that peace of mind that the frugal parent worked so hard to cultivate.  You definitely owe it to yourself to read some reviews on any cheap toddler car seat that you are thinking of purchasing in order to determine how other people are getting along with the car seat.

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