Motherhood

20+ Car Seats on Amazon for Under $150

Car seats have become quite the topic in the past few years.

With new recommendations and laws being put in place, it can be a daunting task to find a car seat for your little one.  It can seem even more difficult when you’re on a budget, because society has planted the misconception that cheap = not good.

To clear the air: every car seat on the market has to pass the same safety tests. So, whether you spend $50 or $250, rest assured that your child will be safe in any seat you choose. The only way your child would be unsafe is if you use the seat incorrectly.

Here are the current American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines on car seats:

20+ Car Seats on Amazon for Under $150 - Mama State of Mind

This post isn’t technically about car seat safety, but I want to stress the importance of following current guidelines and laws. For more info, check out these links:

 

Car Seats: Information for Parents
Product Listing for 2018
Car Seat Checkup
Car Seat Laws by State

Okay, on to the main topic of this post!

When it comes to shopping for car seats, Amazon is the last place I thought of. But it turns out that Amazon actually has some of the lowest prices (not to mention their fast shipping).

Searching for and comparing seats can be quite the task, so I put together this round up of the highest rated car seats under $150 for those of you looking for a great seat on a budget! The seats are categorized by type and are in order from most to least expensive. I’ve also listed some key stats for each seat, including the height and weight limits.

 

 

Infant Seats – rear facing only, for infants from birth to 22-40 lbs (depending on the seat)

Rear-facing from 4 to 35 lbs. and up to 32″

Adjustable base with 6 recline positions

Seat weight: 7.5 lbs.

 

 

 

 

Rear-facing from 5 to 22 lbs. and up to 29″

Seat weight: 8 lbs.

 

 

 

 

 

Rear-facing from 4 to 30 lbs. and up to 30″

Adjustable base with 4 recline positions

Seat Weight: 13.2 lbs.

 

 

 

 

Rear-facing from 4 to 35 lbs. and up to 32″

Adjustable base

Seat Weight: 14.99 lbs.

 

 

 

 

Rear-facing from 4 to 35 lbs. and up to 32″

Adjustable base with 4 recline positions

Seat Weight: 16 lbs.

 

 

 

 


 

Convertible Seats – rear facing/forward facing, for infants & children from birth to 50 lbs (rear facing) and 22 to 85 lbs. (forward facing, depending on the seat)

Rear-facing 9 to 40 lbs.

Forward-facing 22 to 65 lbs. and up to 52″

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rear-facing from 5 to 40 lbs. and up until head reaches 1″ below handle

Forward-facing from 20 to 65 lbs. and up to 49″

Adjustable harness and headrest with 8 positions

 

 

 

 

Rear-facing from 5 to 40 lbs. and up to 40″

Forward-facing from 22 to 65 lbs. and up to 52″

Belt-positioning booster from 40 to 100 lbs. and up to 52″

Adjustable harness and headrest

3 position recline

 

 

Rear-facing from 5 to 40 lbs. and 37″

Forward-facing from 22 to 65 lbs. and 50″

Adjustable harness

Multi-position recline

 

 

 

Rear-facing from 5 to 40 lbs.

Forward-facing from 22 to 40 lbs. and up to 43″

Lightweight

 

 

 

 

 


 

Harness Booster Seats – forward-facing only, for toddlers & children from 22 to 120 lbs. (depending on the seat)

 5-Point Harness: from 22 to 65 lbs. and up to 50″

Belt Positioning Booster: from 40 to 120 lbs. and up to 57″

No Back Booster: from 40 to 120 lbs. and up to 57″

Adjustable harness and headrest

One position recline

 

 

 5-Point Harness: from 22 to 65 lbs. and up to 49″

High Back Booster: from 30 to 100 lbs. and up to 57″

No Back Booster: from 40 to 100 lbs. and up to 57″

Adjustable harness and headrest with 8 positions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 5-Point Harness: from 22 to 50 lbs. and up to 50″

Belt Positioning Booster: from 40 to 100 lbs. and up to 57″

Adjustable harness

 

 

 

 

 5-Point Harness: from 30 to 65 lbs. and up to 49″

Belt Positioning Booster: from 40 to 100 lbs. and up to 52″

Fits 3 across in most vehicles

Lightweight

 

 

 

 


 

High Back Booster Seats – forward facing only, for children ages 4+ who weigh 40 lbs. or more

 Weight: 30 to 110 lbs.

Height: 38 to 57″

SuperCinch LATCH tightener

10 position side protection

2 position backrest

Fold away cup holders

 

 Weight: 40 to 120 lbs.

Height: 38 to 63″

ISOFLEX LATCH system

SecureGuard Belt Positioning Clip

Quick-adjust headrest

Retractable cup holders

 

Weight: 30 to 100 lbs.

Height: 38 to 57″

Adjustable headrest

Hide away cup holders

Padded armrests

 

 

Weight: 30 to 110 lbs.

Height: 40 to 57″

Adjustable height

Dual cup holders

Built-in belt guides

 

 

 

 

 


 

Backless Booster Seats – forward-facing only, for children ages 4+ who weigh 40 lbs. or more. these seats are to be used until your child meets ALL criteria to stop using a booster seat.

*check to see if your child passes the 5 step test here.

Age: 4+

Weight: 40 to 120 lbs.

Height: 40 to 57″

Rigid LATCH Connectors

Additional layer of padding for extra comfort

 

 

 Age: 4+

Weight: 40 to 100 lbs.

Height: 43 to 57″

Folds 50% smaller via the Fast Action Fold

Space saving cup holders

 

 

 Age: 4+

Weight: 40 to 110 lbs.

Height: 38 to 57″

Removable, fold away cup holders

Convenient carry handle

 

 

 Age: 4+

Weight: 40 to 110 lbs.

Height: 40 to 57″

Built-in belt clip

Dual cup holders

 

 

 Age: 4+

Weight: 40 to 100 lbs.

Height: 43 to 57″

Fits 3 across in most vehicles

Lightweight

 

 


 

 

Now, keep in mind that these are just a few of the hundreds of car seats on the market. Each seat is a bit different, so be sure to compare a few and make sure they meet all your “must haves”. Also, many of these seats are able to grow with your child, so you can save a bit of money that way. Before picking a seat, be sure to get your child’s current height and weight. You’ll also want to check your car and see what seats may or may not fit!

 

I hope this post was helpful for those of you trying to find that “perfect” car seat for your little one!

 

Trying to find the perfect car seat for your little one can be a daunting task, especially if you're on a budget. So, I've rounded up over 20 highly rated car seats (in every stage category) available on Amazon for under $150 to make the task a little easier!