Caregivers often ask if it’s safe to use a seat protector between the vehicle seat and the car seat.
Our stance on this issue? Avoid using a seat protector if at all possible. Why?
Our article on Seat Protectors takes an in-depth look at the issues and offers some information on keeping your vehicle seats neat and tidy.
If you absolutely must use a seat protector, we’ve created this quick reference guide so you can quickly determine whether your car seat permits the use of a protector (and if so, which one), or thin towel, or nothing at all between the vehicle seat and the car seat.
Key Points
- Don’t add anything to make it “feel” like the car seat is installed properly if you’re having trouble getting a tight installation at the belt path.
- Avoid mats or protectors with deceptive grippy material on the bottom.
Seat Protectors
Manufacturer Name Seat Mats or Towel/Blanket Special Notes Baby Trend Allowed only with the PROtect models and Secure models. All other models do not allow anything to be placed under the car seat or booster. Britax Only the Britax Vehicle Seat Protector is allowed BubbleBum Yes (either is allowed) Chicco No IMPORTANT: Chicco-branded seat protectors are not approved for use by Chicco. Clek Only the Clek Mat-thingy is allowed Cosco Single layered towel Cybex No Diono Only Diono brand mats are allowed Evenflo The Evenflo Undermat Seat Protector or a towel is allowed. GB No Graco Yes (either is allowed) Harmony No KIDSEmbrace Yes (either is allowed) Maxi-Cosi Single layered towel Nuna Not recommended, but not prohibited "The RAVA was designed with a smooth seat back and seat bottom, so using a vehicle seat protector is not necessary..." Read more on Nuna's site. Orbit Baby No Peg-Pérego No Safety 1st Single layered towel UPPAbaby No (updated 2024, when all mats were disallowed)
