Despite the fact that buying a car is a significant financial commitment, we normally go through several during our lives. We go through different life stages where our needs and income levels change.
One stage that often requires car shopping is early parenthood when the focus shifts from horsepower and sound system to safety and functionality. Once you have kids, what you need the most from a car is something that will help you shuttle everyone safely without losing your mind.
You might be expecting your first child, or you might already be on your third. You’ll have to make adjustments in either case and getting a family car is an important step. Luckily, finding a good family car has never been easier. You just need to know what to look for.
Size
One of the factors that new or expecting parents consider when shopping for a family vehicle is size. Driving a compact city car may have been just fine before, but babies, despite how small there are, need a lot of things that take up space diaper bags, strollers, toys, portable playpens, and the list goes on.
It’s not just about the size. You will also need to consider the interior design. For example, at first, you’ll need to fit a child safety seat that is installed in the reverse position. This type of seat requires more space than forward-facing seats. Plus, you need to have enough room so an adult can sit beside the baby.
Once your child is old enough to switch to a forward-facing seat, you’ll be amazed at how much they like kicking the car seat in front of them, so you’ll want a car large enough that their short legs can’t reach.
Once they get older, you’ll still need cargo space for their school bags, sports equipment, and the luggage you will carry on family trips.
Safety
When it comes to buying a family car, safety is always a top priority. Fortunately, most cars on today’s market are very safe. Technology has come a long way.
The quickest way to determine a car’s safety rating is to use the NHTSA’s Vehicle Comparison Tool. Because the crash test assessments focus on child safety, it’s also worth considering the Euro NCAP rating.
Usually, the newer the car, the better the safety features, and this will also be an advantage when buying car insurance. Many of the more recent models have the maximum five-star safety rating. This means that they retain the integrity of the cabin and protect occupants from the forces caused by a collision.
Interior
If you think you can keep the interior of your car clean after having kids, you’ll be disappointed. The only way you can do that is if you never let them inside, but that defies the purpose of buying a family car.
The best approach is simply to accept it and look for upholstery that can accommodate children’s natural tendencies to cause a mess. You’ll want to stay away from cloth upholstery since that’s vulnerable to stains and absorbs odors two things you really don’t want.
Leather will be easier to clean, but fake leather is your best choice. It’s more affordable and also more resilient, and easier to clean.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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