Car Seats are expensive. I said what I said.
Unless you are able to hold out until baby items go on clearance, buying a car seat is definitely one of those big ticket items.
With that being said, not all parents are able to afford car seats especially high-quality car seats without breaking the bank.
Thankfully, there are programs that provide free and reduced-priced car seats to families in need!
How Parents Can Get Free Car Seats For Their Children
Below is a list of programs that offer parents free car seats for their children. Many of these programs have income limits and require you to take a car seat safety course prior to receiving a free car seat.
For those who qualify, Medicaid offers a free car seat after taking a short car seat safety ?course. Also check with your insurance company to see if they offer a similar benefit.
If you’re enrolled in WIC (a supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children), they also have a program that provides vouchers that can be used to purchase a car seat. Keep in mind you may be required to take a short class on car seat safety first.
Buckle Up for Life is a child passenger safety education program that has donated over 60,000 car seats to low-income families. If you qualify, you can take one of the organization’s child passenger safety classes to get a free car seat.
Lastly, check your State Programs. This list offers the different free or reduced car seat programs in your state.
What if you don’t qualify?
Make sure to check your local store’s clearance. Baby clearance typically happens in July-August at major retailers like Walmart and Target. I’ve personally been able to purchase baby car seat/stroller combos for less than $60 during baby clearance so it’s worth checking!