The car seat is one place in which experts assure parents and caregivers that babies and small children are safer out of sight. “A properly installed rear-facing car seat is designed to move to help absorb and distribute the crash forces along the back of the car seat while keeping the head, neck, and spinal cord in a straight line,” Jennifer McCue, RRT, BSEd, CPST, injury prevention coordinator of the Trauma Program at Nemours Children’s Health in Delaware, tells Verywell Family. Twenty-three states require all children under the age of 2 to travel in rear-facing car seats. Thankfully, car seat mirrors are widely available to help us take a peek at our precious cargo, and over the past decade, the technology has evolved from simple plastic mirrors that face the baby and are visible in the frame of the rearview mirror, to mirrors that swivel and adjust 360 degrees, to actual dashboard-mounted cameras that can offer a full view of your entire back seat. Depending on your needs and the type of car you have, there are different features to look for when shopping for a baby car mirror, such as the installation method, how much you can adjust the angle, and other bells and whistles. Fortunately, there are options for just about every kind of car and every type of preference. After considering all of the safety measures and special features available, we’re confident that these are the best baby car mirrors available right now. Price at time of publication: $25 The Shynerk Baby Car Mirror is similar in style to the Cozy Greens (our favorite on this list), but with a slightly narrower size, coming it at 11 inches wide by 3.5 inches high, as opposed to Cozy Greens’ larger scope, 11 inches by 7.5 inches high. Price at time of publication: $50 The mirror is constructed from shatter-resistant materials and glare-free LED lights to minimize driving distraction. Installation is also quite simple thanks to criss-crossing straps that can be secured to a headrest. The remote requires a lithium button cell battery (included), and the mirror needs four AAA batteries. Price at time of publication: $37 To minimize driver distraction by eliminating the need to turn around or use your mirrors, it offers a clear view of your baby’s face right in front of you. This does come with the inconvenience of a long cord connecting the camera to the dashboard. If you don’t have a dashboard on which this camera can sit, consider this model from the same company, which comes with other attachment options. Price at time of publication: $50 An added bonus to the colorful design of this mirror is that its outer fabric frame is soft, which means it’s safer in the event of an accident, and the mirror itself has been crash-tested. Price at time of publication: $43 This small, clamp-on mirror attaches to your rearview and can pivot to provide a wide view of almost the entire back seat, despite its small size. And since it can be adjusted to give you a perfect angle of your kids, you don’t need to tweak your rearview mirror or rely on other methods that might otherwise distract you from the road. Price at time of publication: $13 The Munchkin Brica DualSight Baby Car Mirror is one such option, with its pivoting mirror that can be angled in any direction, and the choice of a clip or a suction mount for installation on a window, windshield, or another smooth surface. It can attach to a rearview mirror or visor for forward-facing seats as well. The main caveat here is that suction and clips provide a less secure mounting option, which is an issue in the event of an accident. Price at time of publication: $12 The FunBliss employs all of our key safety features, including a shatter-resistant mirror and frame, and dual adjustable headrest straps, but unlike many of the other options, it actually doesn’t swivel. For some families with kids who like to play with their back-seat mirrors, that’s actually a good thing. Once installed, this mirror won’t budge if your child manages to get a hand (or foot) on it; you can rest assured knowing this mirror won’t move around. Price at time of publication: $12 From there, we narrowed down a few different categories that these products fall into, including a camera option, and considered additional features, such as lights, music, and remote controls. We also thought about where exactly these would be installed in your car and made sure to note the type of headrest needed.
What to Look for in a Baby Car Mirror
Secure Attachment Method
“Anything heavy or loose in a car can become projectile during a crash,” Preeti Parikh, MD, executive medical director at GoodRx, tells Verywell Family. This is why it is essential that a baby car mirror come with secure straps that are assembled properly. Dr. Parikh adds, “Car seat accessories don’t go under the same federal regulations as car seats. These products are not federally regulated, so safety of the products is a big concern.” Look for dual straps that criss-cross and can be tightened both vertically and horizontally over each other to minimize the risk of sliding or becoming projectile.
Installation Options
Be aware of how and where you plan to install your mirror. Many of them are made specifically for headrests that are adjustable, not fixed. If you plan to install your mirror near a seat with a fixed headrest, be aware that you may not be able to achieve proper—and therefore safe—installation.
Size
Bigger is not always better. While we love certain mirrors for offering a broader view and wider angle to see our kids, a bigger mirror might also make it more accessible to your child. This is also something to consider when opting for a rotating or swiveling mirror, which can be adjusted if tiny hands and feet can reach them, unlike fixed mirrors that strap tightly to a headrest.
Durable, Baby-Safe Materials
Finally, look for shatter-proof materials for the mirror as well as the frame. The frame should also have soft, rounded corners. While many basic frames are made of plastic, the softer the frame material the safer it will be if it becomes airborne, so consider rubber or fabric frames when you can.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Liz Kocan is a writer and product tester, and the parent of two boys, ages 9 and 4, whom she has chauffeured for years now. Years of experience dealing with poorly designed baby car mirrors have sent her on a mission to find only the best ones out there.
