How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat

What do you want from your seat? "If you are looking for a car seat to grow with your child, then consider an all-in one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton suggests. It has a lengthy rear facing infant car seat-facing weight limit and is able to convert into an incline-back booster and a backless one.

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

Safety

They are designed to fit smaller babies better, which is why they are more cushioned than convertible car seats. They are also smaller and lighter to remove from the car or connect to a stroller frame which is crucial because you'll need to carry your child in the seat outside of your vehicle frequently. The car seat for infants is also designed to last your child for the first year. This means you won't have to worry about your child exceeding its weight or height limit.

It's a good idea to do some research before you make a purchase. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has strict guidelines for car seats. You should consider reading reviews from other parents and checking out car seat safety guides from organizations like Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have a wealth of crash testing information to give to families.

You should also look into whether a seat has features that can be beneficial to your family, like a one-handed strap release and a harness with no rethread or an adjustable foot with springs. These features make it easier to buckle up your child, but remember that even the safest seats are useless when they are not used correctly.

The weight and width of the car seat are also important. Many infant seats are designed to be narrow enough to be able to sit alongside older car seats in the back of your vehicle Some can grow with your child and then transition to a booster seat at the same time. If you plan to use the car seat to travel or to take taxis, then an infant car seat best car seat which can be fitted using only your vehicle's seatbelt is an ideal choice.

In general it's best to purchase the most secure seat you can afford, since the cheapest models usually do not meet the highest safety standards for crash protection. Beware of models that don't have side impact crash tests and allow manufacturers to self-certify.

Convenience

The best car seats for infants (helpful resources) are ones that fit in the car of your family, are easy to install and include useful features like a built-in jogging stroller or rotation capability. It must also be affordable. Infant seats range in price between $180 and $500. They can be more expensive when they are convertible and used as an infant and toddler seat.

The convenience features include whether the seat can be positioned using the LATCH system, or a seatbelt. Additionally it is possible to adjust the harness and headrest without removing the infant car seats that swivel from the seat. You should be able to install and take it out easily, especially if you switch it between cars often or take Uber rides with your child. The seat should be lightweight, with clearly labeled instructions for installation and bubble levels to assist you in quickly install the car seat.

It should be easy to adjust the buckles and harness and also turn the seat around when it is not in use. When you purchase an infant car seat, it's important to determine the weight and height limits. Also, consider whether your child will outgrow the seat by the time they turn one. As a rule, choose a seat for your child that can grow with them until they reach 90% percentile.

While the safety standards of the federal government are the minimum requirement, some manufacturers go beyond to offer additional crash-testing and other features that are included in their car seats. The Clek Ling, a top choice among our gear editors and Consumer Reports is a great example of a baby seat that offers more than just good crash protection. It also has an element that helps stabilize the seat in crashes, reducing the forces on the child by 40 percent. This feature could save a child's life. It's worth it to invest more in a car seat with added safety and convenience features.

Comfort

Comfort is an important factor to take into consideration when selecting an infant car seat, as babies spend most of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable car seats feature the thick, breathable fabric as well as ample padding on the harness and headrest. They are equipped with simple adjustments, like strap covers, buckles, and headrest adjustments that don't need to be rethread.

The weight and size of a car seat for infants can affect the comfort of your child, particularly in the event that you intend to change cars or travel with the seat often. Some models are more narrow than others, which makes them easier to fit in the back of the car with a car seat or siblings seats. Although all models have weight and height limitations Some are lighter. This can save your biceps from aching when you move it around town or between cars.

Some infant car seats have additional features to make them more versatile. For instance they can be rotated or be clicked into a stroller without need for additional adapters. Other models have top features such as an adjustable no-rethread harness or bars that prevent rebounding to provide extra safety in the event of the possibility of a crash. Although these features aren't essential to the safety of your ride, they can add to the overall experience of using the seat.

Parents want their children to be comfortable and have a clean car seat. They also care about safety and convenience. Select a seat that is machine washable, stain-resistant and easy to remove to clean. Some seats are even dishwasher safe, which makes it easier to keep them looking fresh.

Some models go beyond to ensure their customers' experience is safe and smooth, like the Graco SnugRide(tm) Elite, which boasts an anti-rebound bar and meets Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) standards to withstand rear and front collisions. The seat comes with a Silent Shade canopy to keep your baby calm and comfortable, as well an indicator that lets you know when the seat is securely attached. The seat's adjustable carry handle, harness tightener, and indicator indicate when it is properly attached to the base.

Design

Car seat manufacturers design infant car seats with safety and convenience in mind, but the dizzying array of features available can make it difficult to decide what's the best fit for your family. It is important to take into account factors such as weight and height limits and the number of buckles and belt paths. Other features such as anti-rebound bars, load legs and harnesses with no-rethread straps can increase the price but may improve comfort for baby. Look for features that make it easier to get your child into and out of the car seat, for example rotational mechanisms. Also, be aware of the dimensions and the weight of the seat because not every seat will fit in all cars.

One feature that's especially important is the ease of installation and detaching from the base. The quality of the LATCH connectors, and whether they're flexible or rigid, will influence this. It is also important to consider whether the straps can be easily adjusted and tightened and if they have an easy release mechanism that allows you to install and remove the seat.

Certain models let you use the seat without a base, which is a great option when you frequently take taxis or plan on changing cars often. Make sure you choose a model equipped with a built-in lock, as well as bubble level indicators to make sure that the seat is placed properly.

Other features worth paying extra for include a headrest that grows with the growing baby, a five-position recline and an extended canopy that locks in place. Our product testers also mentioned that having a seat that can be used for highback boosters with belt positioning or a backless booster after the baby has completed using it is an additional benefit.

Doona is an infant car seat that will delight parents. It's loaded with features that address nearly every issue families have with infant car seats, which is why our testers scored it highly in every category. For instance, it's certified for travel on airplanes, features an exclusive handle that doubles as an anti-rebound bar, and transforms directly into strollers (no need to purchase separate stroller adapters). The crash test results are outstanding and it's GREENGUARD Gold Certified.