The Best Car Seat Mirrors (Review) in 2023 | Autance

When everything is going smoothly and the traffic is moving at a good pace, taking your baby or young child out for a ride in the car can be a refreshing and happy experience. However, it takes very little for that to all change. Your child can become upset or fussy, or you start worrying because she gets quiet, her breathing has changed, or she just isn’t happy anymore. Worrying about your child or trying to comfort her without being able to make visual contact can severely impair your concentration and the quality of your driving. This puts you, your child, and other road users at risk.

The answer does not have to be pulling over constantly or not taking your child out in the car. A simple answer that avoids all of this is investing in a car seat mirror. However, with so many different types, styles, and brands to choose from, how do you know which one is right for your needs? Our panel of automotive experts and experienced parent drivers have created a shortlist of the best car seat mirrors to point you in the right direction.

The Best Car Seat Mirror

Best Car Seat Mirror Buying Guide & FAQ

A car seat mirror is the ideal way to be able to communicate with your baby or young child during a car journey. One of the many benefits of this approach is that it allows you to do this without taking your focus off the road. However, this only remains true if you have a baby mirror that is suitable for its intended purpose. In this section of the buying guide, we explore the key things to look for in car seat mirrors, the benefit of using such a mirror, and how to install a baby car seat mirror in your vehicle. We also answer some of the most frequently asked questions about baby car seat mirrors.

What to Look for in Car Seat Mirrors

The main purpose of a car seat mirror is to allow you to see your child clearly while you are driving, and to allow your child to see you. This makes the clarity and size of the image very important. But it is not all about having a large mirror surface. Other considerations include:

• The shape of the mirror

A convex lens will give you the greatest possible viewing area. However, check the angle of convex to ensure that the image is not distorted, particularly from your child’s perspective as this could cause more problems than it solves.

• A pivot point

You need to be able to angle the mirror so that you can see your child effortlessly without taking your eyes off the road. The mirrors position should also allow your child to see you with relative ease. Mirrors that are intended to fit over the interior rearview mirror will not have pivot points, they can be adjusted by gently adjusting the existing factory fitted mirror.

• Sturdy attachment straps

Most of the best car seat mirrors have dual attachment straps that fit over and around the rear headrest closest to where your baby is sat. This stops the mirror from slipping, rattling, or falling while you are driving. It gives you additional peace of mind, reduces the risk of harm to your child, and cuts down on potentially annoying noises that could distress your baby. Nylon reinforced straps are ideal for this purpose. Where you are using a mirror that fits over your internal rearview mirror, then instead of straps you should have sturdy clips, possibly sprung for ease of fitting and to ensure no damage is done to your factory fitted mirror.

• A shatterproof mirror

No one likes to think of themselves being involved in an accident, but it can happen. In this event, you need to know that the mirror will not cause your baby any injury. Shatterproof, acrylic glass that has been crash tested to US standards or better still to the more stringent EU standards is the best way to go.

• Simple installation

Ideally the mirror should be ready to go with no assembly being required. All you should need to do is strap it to the headrest and adjust as necessary. If you are using a mirror that fits over your interior rearview mirror, then installation should involve simply clipping it over your factory installed mirror.

Benefits of a Baby Car Mirror

Rear-facing car seats are essential for the safety of babies. However, it is very difficult to see them and check on their wellbeing for the front drivers’ seat. A baby car mirror provides you with a great view of your child without you needing to turn your head or take your attention away from the road. This improves the safety of everyone concerned, including other road users. The mirror also allows baby to see you, this can be all that is needed to provide comfort to a tired or fussy baby.

Even once your child is in a forward facing car seat, seeing and interacting with them can be difficult while you are driving. A car seat mirror again makes things easier and safer. Children can speak to you using the mirror, reducing the risk of them trying to unbuckle safety restraints or leaning forward out of their seats. Again, you can reply, provide instructions, and even join in with games and sing songs, while keeping your eyes and your focus firmly on the road.

How to Install a Baby Car Seat Mirror

Installation of a baby car seat mirror depends on the type of mirror you have purchased. There are two main types – one that sits over the rear headrest and one that sits over the factory installed interior rearview mirror.

If you have purchased the former, then to install it, you need to use the two straps that are connected to the rear of the mirror to attach the mirror to the rear headrest. With a rear-facing car seat this can be the headrest directly above your child. More commonly the middle headrest is used. If your car does not have a middle headrest then the headrest on the other side can be used depending on the pivot angle of the mirror.

Once you have chosen the correct headrest, one strap should be fed under and over the headrest and the other around it from side to side. Tighten the straps to ensure there is no slippage or sideways movement in the mirror. This will also stop it from rattling while the vehicle is moving.

Once the straps are connected and tightened, adjust the mirror so that your child’s reflection can be seen by you in your interior rearview mirror and your reflection can be seen in the car seat mirror. Once you are happy that the angle is right and you have a clear view, you are good to go.

These types of car seat mirrors require you to have moveable rear headrests; they cannot be installed onto fixed headrests. If this is the type you have or you have no headrests at all, then you might want to consider a mirror that fits over your interior rearview mirror. This type of mirror simply clips over the existing mirror, providing you with a larger viewing area to reduce blind spots in your car’s interior. While this type of mirror is great for forward facing car seats, multiple children, and older children, it will not give you a full view of a baby in a rear-facing car seat.

Best Car Seat Mirror FAQ:

Our Top Pick

Our top pick is the Baby Backseat Mirror for Car by So Peep. It is created from baby-safe shatterproof acrylic glass and includes an ultra-strong double strap system to ensure that the mirror stays exactly where you position it. The strap system also ensures that the mirror doesn’t shake or rattle while the car is in transit. This means that you are less likely to be distracted and your child will be not be disturbed by unusually noises or movement.  The simple to install mirror requires no assembly and the extra-large convex mirror gives you the best possible view of your child. The mirror also pivots so that it can be adjusted to meet your specific needs. The mirror is not suitable for use with fixed headrests.

Sources:

1. How to Replace a Rear View Mirror – DoItYourself
2. How to Use a Rear View Mirror – WikiHow