Christmas arrived early for my little one this weekend.  The grandparents arrived in town bearing a fabulous gift:  a Britax car seat.  Perfect timing, considering that it’s already difficult to fit my baby into her infant seat, especially when she’s wearing bulky winter clothing.  

I’ve learned along the parenting path that you simply can’t underestimate the value of having a great car seat for your child.  Of course, safety is the first priority when selecting a car seat.  But after that, a car seat designed with the latest bells and whistles–like recline options or plush car seat covers–can go a long way in terms of child comfort and adult happiness while on the road.  Sure, those features may cost a bit more initially, but they are the kind of gift that keeps on giving. 

Picture this: happy child vs. screaming child.  Relaxed parent vs. frazzled parent.

I’ve heard parents all too often say, “my child screams whenever I put him in his car seat.”  While the car seat isn’t always to blame for unhappiness on the road, sometimes it is responsible for those distressing cries.  I learned that from experience–I know a quality, comfortable car seat can completely transform car rides.  I’ll take a happy ride over the alternative any day.

Jump on over to baby-wise.com for a great selection of safe and cozy car seats.