Children, by nature, damage things. There are broken things when they are older. Then, there are some things that seem to just come with the territory, like those indents that car seats leave on the leather interior.
I love the leather interior in a car. I’ve watched it get damaged beyond repair by car seats, and I’ve discovered the perfect solution.
In this article
Why Do You Need To Protect Leather Interiors From Car Seats?
Car seats are designed to protect children in the event of an accident. Because of this, they have to fit tightly against the car’s interior when strapped into place.
However, this is also what causes damage to leather interiors. The parts of the car seat that stick out are pressed so tightly against the leather that it can leave indents in the interior.
Over time, these turn into cracks. Give it a little bit more time, and you’ll slowly see those cracks turn into irreparable tears.
Prevention Is Key To Preventing Damage To Leather Interior
Once you’ve got the indents in your car, it can take quite a while for them to smooth out. If there are cracks or rips, it can be impossible to repair them.
That’s why it’s important to prevent the damage before it happens. These tips will help you keep your car looking like new the entire time that your little one is in a car seat.
Opt For A Car Seat With A Base
Car seats with a base on the bottom do not involve the car seat itself being strapped tightly against the back seat of your car. Instead, you strap the base into the car. Then, the car seat fits snugly into the base.
Typically, the base has a flat, smooth bottom. (This will leave indents, so you’ll need another protection method. However, those indents won’t be sharp so you do not have to worry about cracks or tears in your interior.)
The car seat tilts back more when you’re using a product that has a base, so it does not press into the interior as much as other seats do.
- #1-Rated infant car seat in America. The base only dimensions are 20 x 15 x 8 inches
- Easiest to install with ReclineSure levelling, ride Right bubble levels, and super Cinch LATCH tightened
- Removable newborn head and body support. 5-point harness with one-pull tightener
- 5-Point harness with one-pull tightened
- Compatible with Chicco strollers for travel system use
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Don’t Leave The Car Seat In The Same Spot
Indentions in the leather happen because the car seat is consistently pressed against the leather in the same spot. It’s this consistent pressure and friction that ruins the leather.
You can help prevent damage, or at least make it less severe, by not putting the car seat in the same seat. Switch sides if you can.
Remember that the middle is safest for a baby, so if you put the car seat by a door with airbags, you’ll want to pick a car seat that can protect against that like the one above.
Put Towels Against The Back Of The Seat
This DIY leather protector idea will not cost you a dime. Grab some towels and place them gently in between where the car seat pushes into the leather.
The car seat will then push into the towels instead of the leather. If you do this, make sure that the towels are firmly in place when the car seat is in the car.
You also need to make sure that the car seat still fits tightly into the car. If there is too much cushion in between the car seat and the back of the seat, and those towels move, the car seat will not fit snugly into place.
This is a great, cost-effective option, but you’ll need to take extra care to make sure that your little one is still safe.
Car Seat Protectors
Picking up a thick car seat protector is the best option. Car seat protectors that are specially designed to protect leather interiors are thicker than others to prevent intentions and other damage to the interior.
The thick padding prevents anything from pushing into the leather at all. They won’t become dislodged or affect the way that your child’s car seat functions either.
I really like this one because it covers the back and seat part of the seat (some models only cover one part or the other.) The padding is also thick enough that you know the car seat is not going to damage your interior.
- EXTEND YOUR CARS UPHOLSTERY LIFE: If you are looking for a stylish yet highly resilient car seat protector, then you should end your search here. We have the greatest car seat cover that will protect your cars upholstery, extend the life of your vehicle and make it look like brand new! Avoid excessive wear and tear, minimize pet scratches or drooling, without having to spend a small fortune.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
What If There Is Already Damage To The Leather?
If there’s already damage to the leather, it might not be too late. You can get intentions out of leather by following the tips in this article. Indentions will come out easier than creases will.
While you’re trying to get the indentions out, it’s important to note that it might take a while. If you have to go somewhere before you get them out, you can put the car seat in a different spot to avoid making them worse.
A crease in the leather can be removed in some cases. To do this, you want to use the same heat method that is discussed for removing indention marks from the leather.
In others, it might be impossible if the leather is already damaged. It is not possible to repair ripped leather. This is why prevention is so important.
In Conclusion
When you have leather seats, you can quickly learn that damage can become irreparable rather quickly. This is why it’s important to prevent damage before it happens.
Pick up a car seat with a base and a cover to protect your seats so that your interior still looks brand new, even if you have kids.
