You never know what might get when you go shopping for handmade and custom products on . Following are some helpful tips and things to look for when buying custom infant and toddler car seat covers.

First - I know you can’t feel the fabrics but if you could you wouldn’t buy most of the seat covers you see. Generally sellers use the cheapest fabrics they can find - think Walmart for $4 a yard. Thin cotton quilting fabric really isn’t suitable for a seat cover - especially with the wear and tear it will take from your little one. Make sure you are buying a cover made from quality fabric. Generally these are described as heavy woven cotton, home decor fabric, upholstery fabric, broadcloth, etc. Chenille and minky will hold up pretty well also.

Remember you get what you pay for - some of the least expensive covers have no padding and some are even made from nylon fabric. Yes, sturdy - but that will get blazing hot in a hot car. Check the fit - does the cover look sloppy in the photo? Are there obvious signs of the photo having been cropped around the edges to make the cover look like it fits better? If the fits is sloppy in the photo it will be even worse on your seat - and a sloppy fit means a cover that comes off every time you take your child out of the car seat. And if the seller tries to convince you that it will fit a smaller seat walk away - it won’t fit.

An easy way to tell if the seller is an experienced seamstress and that the seats are high quality is to look at the placement of the strap openings if you can - if they look uneven and sloppy - some are higher than others, they aren’t centered and such - those are signs of poor workmanship. Also beware of mass-produced. It’s easy to have things manufactured in china - if the seller is listing lots and lots - they are likely manufactured.

Other things to ask about are the backing material used, pre-washing to make sure the fabric doesn’t shrink, that it’s made in a smoke-free environment, serger finished seams, and quality elastic. I recently had a customer tell me they ordered 4 seat covers custom made (by someone on I won’t say) only to have the elastic give out after the first washing so that the cover won’t stay on.

All said, there are great handmade covers available on . Covers made with expensive and heavy designer fabric, quality thick batting, superior craftsmanship and great fit. You can still save quite a bit of money over the $200 covers found in boutiques and get the same quality if not better. You also get personalized service and lots of options!

See our seat covers in our store at www.bananasoupbaby.com