3 Best Car Seats Under $100

By Louis DeNicola, Cheapism.com

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From diapers to clothing and all sorts of other necessities, raising a child drains your resources. Already strapped for cash, parents must purchase multiple car seats to comply with safety guidelines as children grow. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should ride in rear-facing seats until they are at least 2 years old -- long after they've outgrown a baby seat. With a convertible car seat, parents can safely ferry children around town facing backward and switch to a front-facing position when they're ready.

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Just having the right car seat doesn't guarantee safety, however. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration links thousands of injuries and deaths to seats that have been installed incorrectly. Nearly all car seats, and all vehicles manufactured since 2002, come with the LATCH system. This allows car seats to be secured using built-in anchors and tethers rather than a seatbelt and should make proper installation easier for parents. If you have any doubts about installation, the NHTSA offers free seat inspections. New regulations set to go into effect this month require manufacturers to label car seats with LATCH weight limits. The NHTSA now rates the LATCH system safe only until the child and seat have reached a combined weight of 65 pounds.

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Cheapism.com's three top picks among convertible car seats are well-reviewed and cost under $100. Click through to see which ones are recommended and learn about each seat's features and performance.

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