Thanks to updated guidelines and our growing knowledge of car seat safety, kids are staying in booster seats longer than ever before. It's not uncommon these days to see a 6- or 7-year-old still rocking a five-point harness. But even though it's the best thing for them, kids aren't always so enthusiastic to still be hopping in a car seat once they hit kindergarten or first grade. That's why parents are loving these seriously cool car seats featuring kids' favorite characters.
The seats are manufactured by Kids Embrace, a company that's changing the game when it comes to themed baby and kid gear.
The seats are approved for forward-facing use for kids between 22-65 pounds and 29-49 inches in height. They can also be converted to a belt-positioning booster seat for kids between 30-100 pounds and 38-57 inches in height. The seats meet the safety standards set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and were voted a "best bet booster" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. But the coolest part — to kids, at least — is all the different character options that are available.
The $149 seats feature everyone from Disney princesses to superheroes to Dora and the Paw Patrol pups.
They have adjustable headrests, two cup holders, a two-position recline, and the covers are machine washable, so Belle won't end up permanently covered in boogers and Goldfish crumbs.
Some of the seats even have capes!
The characters on the seats are officially licensed, and the company also sells themed strollers, high chairs, and baby carriers, so parents can keep the character love going outside the car as well. The full line is available online, or through popular retailers like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Buy Buy Baby.
The icing on the cake is that kids are crazy about them.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, kids should stay rear-facing until they're at least 2 years old, and then they should switch to a forward-facing car seat with a harness "for as long as possible" — until they outgrow the seat's height and weight limits. But we've all had those long car rides with our kids screaming in the back seat because they'd rather be anywhere else than buckled into that chair.
No one can promise a cool Batman seat is going to change that for good, but having a seat they're excited about could certainly help. Writes one reviewer on Amazon, "Once my son, 2 1/2 years old, received this gift, not wanting to sit in his car seat has not been an issue. He feels like a big boy … He says Batman is with him sitting down."
One mom even said her daughter thanks her every time they get in the car.
Um, adorable! Where do we sign up for that?
Just don't forget you've got a princess or a Ninja Turtle in the car, or you might be in for a shock!
