Frequently Asked Questions

We tested the NIKO for every safety qualification we could think of! Our safety certifications include:

Safety is our number-one priority, and the NIKO has passed all tests with flying colors!

 

 

CAR SEAT SAFETY
Car seat manufacturers work hard to ensure that their products are used correctly. They don’t want people making changes to the five-part harness systems, or adding accessories that might keep the car seat from doing the work of protecting a child.

We designed the NIKO to be completely compatible with all safety requirements, and we conducted extensive crash tests with the help of Cal Span Labs, who certified that the NIKO does NOT interfere with the car seat’s effectiveness. For safety reasons, car seat manufacturers don’t want you to place anything thick (like cushions or puffy coats) between the child and the car seat. With this in mind, we intentionally designed our cotton style to be about one millimeter thick. As a result, the NIKO has about the same impact on car seat safety as your child’s clothing (in other words, practically none).
 

Note that car seat manufacturers discourage the use of accessories that work with or attach to a car seat, including after-market cup holders, toys, lanyards, head cushions, etc. We understand their concern, but our independent lab tests prove that the NIKO does NOTHING to interfere with the car seat’s function.
 

We’re proud to report that in addition to all of our safety tests, the NIKO’s innovative design was awarded a utility patent in 2021.
 

Of all the car seat covers on the market, the NIKO Easy Wash Car Seat Cover is the most tested, the most trusted, and the most beloved car seat cover you will find.

With practice, you can install a NIKO in 10 seconds, and take the NIKO off in two!

 

The NIKO fits over a car seat a lot like a fitted sheet goes over a mattress. Our high-quality elastic edging fits snugly around almost every front-facing car seat, keeping the NIKO in place for comfortable, cozy car trips.
 

DIRECTIONS
Find the pockets on the NIKO, and hold the NIKO up so the pockets hang towards the bottom of the product—they will drape off the sides of the seat area when the NIKO is in place.
 

Secure the NIKO around the edges of the car seat and arrange it so it’s centered on the car seat. Find the buckle openings in the seat panel of the NIKO. Choose the opening closest to your car seat’s buckle placement and pull the buckle through the opening.
 

Reach through the long, vertical Velcro strips in the back surface of the NIKO. Pull the car seat’s chest harness through these openings, then fasten the Velcro back together behind the straps so that the NIKO is covering as much of the car seat as possible.
 

It’s easier than it sounds! Check out this video and see for yourself!

The seat of the NIKO has a water-resistant lining to protect against carsickness, diaper blowouts, potty training accidents and beverage spills.
 

In the beginning, we tested a fully water-resistant NIKO, and we found it wasn’t comfortable. Since water-resistant fabric doesn’t breathe, a fully water-resistant NIKO was too warm, especially in hot weather.
 

We decided to prioritize your child’s comfort. Your car seat is still protected from a lot of seepage by the water-resistant panel in the seat area, while the NIKO’s breathable fabric snuggles your child in comfort every time they get in the car.

We designed the NIKO to be flexible and fit MOST children’s car seats during the front-facing stage. If your car seat is one of the widest or tallest ones on the market, it may not fit.
 

One of our favorite ways to use the NIKO is on rented car seats, which are usually average size. Keep one in your suitcase so you can shield your child from the accumulated grime and dirt on rental car seats during your next family vacation.

Treat the NIKO like you would all of your child’s clothing–toss it in the washer and dryer. We recommend cool or medium heat settings. While we don’t recommend chlorine bleach, we’re big fans of non-chlorine bleach and stain removers.

How often do you wash your child’s sheets? How often do you wash their clothes? We all want our children to be healthy and happy, and hygiene is a big part of this. We recommend washing the NIKO when it gets grimy, about as often as you would wash your child’s sheets.
 

A study by the University of Birmingham found that children’s car seats could be dirtier than toilets. This makes sense when you consider that most car seats are almost impossible to clean. A maze of plastic, fabric, and foam inserts that attach with special hooks, buttons, snaps, loops, and hidden attachments…it takes 30 minutes to get all of it apart, and many hours to hand wash and air dry the components. It’s no wonder that people give up and live with the germs and dirt. (Check out the beach sand disaster that inspired the NIKO here.)
 

Just like your child has multiple outfits or sets of bedsheets, we recommend owning a few NIKOs. This way, you know your car seat is still covered if the other NIKO is in the laundry.

With proper care, the NIKO will last as long as your child’s favorite snuggly blanket. We chose the highest quality materials and sturdy construction, resulting in a product that usually lasts for years. In our laundry tests, the independent lab reported that the NIKO looked almost new after dozens of rounds through the wash.
 

Life with kids is messy and rough, so we can’t guarantee the NIKO will last forever. But you can expect many car trips, many washes, and many adventures with your NIKO.
 

A note on older, dirty car seats…
 

Have you ever replaced a car seat simply because it was too dirty? Your NIKO car seat covers don’t just keep your child cozy and clean in the car—they can save you hundreds of dollars in car seat replacements.

The NIKO has clever openings that close with snaps [link to new photo of snaps] to reveal the car seat’s cup holders. The snaps allow you to customize the opening to match the car seat’s design, helping you keep more of your car seat covered AND giving your child easy access to their drink.
 

Additionally, every NIKO car seat cover has a total of four side pockets. These are deep enough to hold most sippy cups and water bottles, or they can be used to keep snacks, small toys, and other useful items in your child’s reach (and off of your car’s floorboards).

NO. Our fabrics are naturally flame retardant. Our customer research showed that concerned parents do not want their children exposed to clothing or linens that are treated with flame retardants.
 

We hope we answered all of your questions! If we missed something, don’t hesitate to drop us a line at info@nikocarseatcover.com