If you vehicle is really small read the manual before you go and make sure you can brace the car seat against the back of the seat of the car. Some vehicles prohibit this as well as some child safety seats – so you want to find a seat that allows it (and hopefully your vehicle will too). Some seats/cars require 1″+ distance between the installed seat and the back of the passenger/driver seat.

Other seats may also allow bracing but I know for a fact that Britax seats encourage bracing – in my mini van I actually move the passenger seat back and the captains chair forward so my son’s rear facing seat is braced securely against the passenger seat back.

Other key features to look for – a rear facing weight limit of 33-35 pounds (rear facing is infinitely safer and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends keeping children rear facing to the limits of their seat (not just 20 pounds and 12 months), a high forward facing limits (65 pounds) and high top harness slots (to give them room to grow taller).