Mats for under car seats?

Question

Are there actually safe covers/mats out there for use under car seats and boosters? Or is this something people buy thatsnot really safe?

Answer

Depends on the seat actually. Check your car seat manual. Some allow mats, sometimes it can be any mat, others limit to a specific mat designed for that particular seat, and others do not allow the use of mats at all.

Answer

I'm on a group on Facebook called carseats for the littles. The CPSTs say it depends on the seat. You need to check your manual.

Answer

I have Britax car seats and have the corresponding mats too. I’m always surprised how nasty they get and more than once my baby has thrown up in the car seat and the mat saved my leather

Answer

Depends on the seat. Generally, after-market items (inserts, protective mats, shoulder pads) are unsafe as they have not been crash tested with those items and could potentially cause the seat to not do its job in the event of a crash.
BUT- if you check within the same brand (Chicco with Chicco, Britax with Britax, etc.), you can sometimes find a product like that that HAS been tested with that seat. 
My mom uses the Britax seat protector (with our Britax B Safe) for when she drives, and I do not. The car seat doesn’t damage my seats anyway 🤷🏻‍♀️

Answer

The woman that taught our parenting class before my son was born said absolutely nothing under the car seat. If it doesn’t come in the box, don’t add it. But then I took his car seat to the Fire station and they put a rubber shelf pad like you’d use on your kitchen shelves. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Answer

You can check with your car seat manufacturer and see if they have any approved for use with your seat. I know britax makes one so I assume it’s tested with their seats but it may not be.

Answer

No nothing should be under the carseat besides the seat

Answer

Fitted crib sheet.  👍🏼 best thing possible

Answer

I always put a flat towel under mine to protect the seat.