Best Vehicle Seat Protectors For Car Seats

Best Vehicle Seat Protectors For Car Seats
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Latest posts by Eran Jones, Child Passenger Safety Technician and Advocate (see all)

As a certified child passenger safety Advocate and technician, I regularly see folks arrive at clinics with their car seats installed on vehicle seat protectors. What I don’t like to do is tell a caregiver they are potentially putting their child in danger. It is a tough position to be in.

When asked what the best vehicle seat protectors are, I have difficulty answering for clients. It is kind of a loaded question. Because, technically speaking, seat protectors are not recommended. What happens is they fall under the category of aftermarket products.

What is an aftermarket product you ask? Well, an aftermarket product is exactly as it sounds, it is a product that was made after the production of your child’s seat. Although they claim to be crash-tested, chances are they are not tested with every single model of a seat on the market.

carseat backwards

With thousands of different brands that produce vehicle seat protector or cover it is difficult to list every single one.

Here are a few items to consider before shopping.

  • Read Your Manual. Every manufacturer has its own rules and regulations for the use of its seats. Not every manufacturer allows it. Some manufacturers only allow the use of their own branded seat protectors, a thin towel, or nothing at all. This includes reading your vehicle manual as well.
  • Some seat protectors mask a poor installation. This means you protecting your vehicle seats but putting your child in danger with an unsafe installation.
  • Know that your seat protector will become a cesspool of bacteria, mold, and the never-ending black hole of goldfish crackers.

Read Your Manual

Let’s Break it Down

As a technician, I know it is hard for me to convince caregivers and clients that their seat does not need a mat. However, having this handy chart can help folks decide for themselves what they are permitted to use.

Manufacture   Yes No Brand Specific Single layer towel Special exceptions special Special Notes
Baby Trend     *     * Only Protect & Secure Models
Britax       *     Only Britax Mat
BubbleBum   *          
Chicco     *       Chicco Mat is also not approved by
Clek       *     Only with Clek Mat Thingy
Combi   *          
Cosco         *    
Cybex     *        
Diono       *     Eddie Bauer Mat is also not approved
Eddie Bauer     *        
Evenflo       * *   Only Evenflo Undermat Permitted
GB     *        
Graco   *          
Harmony     *        
Kiddie USA     *        
KIDSEmbrace   *          
Maxi-Cosi         *    
Nuna           * Not recommended but not prohibited
Orbit Baby     *        
Peg-Pergo     *        
Phil&Teds     *       Phil&Teds protector not approved for use with seats
Recaro     *        
Safety 1st         *    
Uppa Baby           * Only approved with; Brica, Munchkin Auto Seat Protector, and Diono’s Super Mat and Ultra Mat
Urbini     *        

As you can see, the majority of these manufacturers do not permit the use of a mat or even a thin towel under their seats.  Those that do allow it, range from requiring you to use their own branded mats or very specific mats.

Clek Mat-Thingy Only approved with Clek Seats

Rear-Facing Muddy Boots

  • Kick mat: With many folks protecting their babies’ spines by rear-facing longer comes the struggle of muddy boots and the back of the vehicle seat.  A dynamic duo in the province of Quebec, Canada has come up with a great solution. Les Deux Frisées has invented a kick mat that goes on the back of your seat attached to your headrest. It comes in various colors and patterns. It is thin and won’t interfere with your seat’s installation.
  • Old T-Shirt: You can also take an old t-shirt and slide it over your vehicle seat to have the same effect as a kick-mat. This falls into the recycle re-use category.
  • Towel: A simple towel over the headrest can also help with those muddy boots.
  • Take boots off: If your children are like mine, shoes and boots go flying all over the car when on long trips.

As with any aftermarket product please verify with your manufacturer that the product being used does not interfere with anything safety-wise.

FAQs

Question: How is a thin mat going to interfere with anything?

Answer: When it comes to car seats, only the professionals can say yay or nay to what is permitted. A lot goes into the testing of seats to pass the Federal Test Standards.  If your seat states that nothing can be used, it is because it was not tested with that extra inch or layer under the seat. That extra layer could be what makes or breaks the momentum approved in a collision.

Question: I just bought a $100k sports car, what can I use to protect my seats?

Answer: If you have to use this vehicle for your family every day, you should know the risks involved with going against the manufacturer’s instructions. There is only so much I as a technician can do to educate caregivers on what is permitted and what is not. There comes a point where I must say use at your own risk.
I just bought one of those fitted seat covers with a mini mouse all over it for my back seat. It has LATCH placement holes I should be fine. They wouldn’t make it if it’s not safe. 
Unfortunately, there is no regulation on the sale of aftermarket products. All I as a technician can do is tell you to reach out to your car seat manufacturer for instructions. Folks need to also take into account that those added covers possibly go against your vehicle requirements also. They pose a risk to sensors for airbags. Always check your manuals.