How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat

Consider what you'd like from your car seat. "If you want a car seat that can expand with your child, then consider an all-in one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton advises. The seat can be converted into a high-back booster or an unbackless booster. It has a large rear-facing weight limitation.

It also scores highly for comfort and quality with soft and machine-washable padding. Load legs are a useful feature. They are shock-absorbing components that are affixed to the base or car seats and help to limit movement in the event of a crash.

Safety

They are designed to fit babies with smaller sizes better, and therefore they have more padding than convertible car seats. They are also smaller and lighter to remove from the car or connect to a stroller frame, which is important because you will need to transport your child's seat outside of your vehicle frequently. The infant car seat is also designed to last your child through the first year. This means you won't need to be concerned about your child growing beyond its weight or height limit.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's standards for car seats are rigorous, but it is still a good idea to do your own research prior to purchasing. Take a look at reviews written by other parents and looking at car seat safety guides from organizations like Consumer Reports or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both have crash test data that can be shared with families.

You should also look into whether a seat has features that could be particularly helpful for your family, such as a one-handed strap release or a harness that doesn't need rethreads, or a spring-loaded leveling foot. These features can make it easier to buckle up your child, but keep in mind that even the most safe seats can be dangerous in the event that they aren't used properly.

Other things to keep in mind are the weight and width of the car seat. A lot of infant car seat newborn seats are designed to be narrow enough to fit alongside older car seats in the back of your car Some can grow with your child and transition to an adult seat at the same time. If you intend to use the car seat to travel or take taxis and taxis, then an infant car seat that can be fitted using only your vehicle's seatbelt will be a convenient choice.

In general it's a good idea to buy the safest seat you can afford, as the cheapest models usually don't meet the most rigorous crash safety standards. For example, it's best to stay clear of models that do not include side crash testing and allow companies to self-certify their products.

Convenience

The best car seats for infants are those that fit in your family vehicle They are also easy to install and have convenient extras such as a built-in jogging stroller or rotation capability. It must also be affordable. Infant seats can range between $180 to $500. They may cost more when they're convertible and will be used as a toddler and infant car seats on sale seat.

The convenience features include whether the seat can be installed using the LATCH system or a seatbelt. Additionally it is possible to adjust the headrest and harness without having to remove the baby from the seat. Installing and taking it off is not difficult, particularly for children who ride Ubers or you frequently switch between cars. The seat must also be lightweight and come with clearly labeled installation guides and bubble levels to ensure you can quickly install the car seat properly installed.

It should be easy to adjust the buckles and harness and move the seat when not in use. It is also essential to verify the weight and height limits of the infant car seat before you purchase it, and then consider whether your baby will outgrow it before the time he turns one. As a rule, choose a car seat for your child that will grow with them until they reach the 90% percentile.

Some manufacturers go beyond the federal safety standards to incorporate other features, such as crash testing, convenience and comfort in their car seats. The Clek Liing one of the top picks among our gear editors and Consumer Reports, is an excellent example of a highly rated infant seat that offers more than just great crash protection. It also has a load leg, which can help stabilize the seat in the event of a crash and reduces the forces exerted on the child's body by 40 percent. This feature could save a child’s life. It's worth spending more on car seats that have convenience features and safety.

Comfort

One of the most important considerations when selecting an infant car seat is comfort, since babies spend a lot of time in their car seats. The most comfortable car seats have thick, breathable fabric and ample padding on the harness and headrest. They come with easy-to-use adjustments like strap covers, buckles and headrest adjustment mechanisms that don't require to be rethread.

The weight and size of the car seat for infants can also impact comfort, especially if it is going to be used in multiple vehicles or for frequent travel. Some models are more narrow than others, making them more suited to be placed in the back of the car with a car seat or your siblings seats. While all models come with height and weight restrictions Some are lighter. This can save you from having sore biceps when you move it around town or between cars.

Certain infant car seats come with extra features that make them more flexible including rotational options or the ability to convert into strollers without the need for additional adapters. Some models are equipped with high-end features, such as an adjustable strap that doesn't rethread or bar that prevents rebound to give you extra safety in case of the possibility of a crash. While these additional features aren't essential to the safety of your ride, they can contribute to the overall experience of using the seat.

In addition to safety and convenience factors, many parents want a clean, comfortable car seat for their baby. Select a seat that is machine washable, stain resistant and easy to remove for cleaning. Some seats can be cleaned using the dishwasher, making it easier to keep them looking new.

Certain models go over and beyond to ensure their customers have a safe and comfortable experience. For instance the Graco SnugRide (tm) Elite has an anti-rebounding bar and meets Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm), which is designed to withstand rear and front collisions. The seat also includes a Silent Shade canopy that keeps your baby car seat calm and comfortable, as well as an indicator that lets you know whether it's securely attached to the base. The seat's carry handle is adjustable the harness tightener and indicator will let you know that it's properly connected to the base.

Design

The manufacturers of infant car seats make them with safety and comfort as their primary goals. However, the broad selection of features makes it difficult to determine which one is the best fit for your family. You'll want to consider factors such as weight and height limits as well as the number of buckles and belt paths. Other features like anti-rebound bar, load legs and no-rethread straps could increase the cost of the seat, but they will improve the comfort of your infant. Look for features that make it easier to get your child into and out of the car seat, like rotational mechanisms. You should also pay attention to dimensions and base weight as not all seats are suitable for every newborn car seat.

One aspect that is particularly important is the ease of installing and disconnecting from the base. This can be affected by the quality of the LATCH connectors as well as whether they're strong or flexible. Also, you should consider whether the straps can be easily tightened and loosened and if they have a one-hand release mechanism to remove and install the seat.

Some models allow you to use the seat without a base which is useful if you take taxis often or plan on switching cars often. To ensure that your seat is securely installed, look for models with bubble level indicators and built-in locking mechanism.

Certain features might be worth the extra expense, such as a headrest which grows with your child, a five-position recline feature, or the canopy that expands and locks in place. Our product testers have also observed that having a seat that can be used as a high-back belt-positioning booster, or a backless one after the baby has finished using it is an advantage.

The Doona is the type of infant car seat that delights parents. It's loaded with features that solve nearly every issue families have with infant car seats, which is the reason our testers scored it highly across all categories. It's affixed for air travel, has an anti-rebound handle and can be converted directly into a stroller. Its crash test results are top-quality and it's GREENGUARD Gold certified.