Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies

While convertible car seats are ideal for kids who are growing, an infant seat is the best choice for infants and newborns. They're also smaller and easier to snap into a stroller than their larger counterparts.

CPST instructor Kecia Healy liked the Chicco KeyFit's recline foot that is spring-loaded and bubble indicator on the base, and its ease of use (the more user-friendly a car seat can be and is, the more likely parents will be to put it in the correct position). This model also fits three across in a variety of mid-sized vehicles.

1. Clek Liing Infant Car Seat

Clek, an Canadian manufacturer, is well-known for its top-rated convertible car seat. The infant Liing is among their best infant seats. The Liing seat is designed to offer top-of-the-line safety features like a metal load leg, which is easy to install. user-friendly installation, and 7 different recline positions to adjust to the slope of your vehicle seat. A bubble indicator helps you determine if the seat is at the correct angle prior to letting your child ride in it.

The base of the Liing is easily installed with the help of LATCH connectors that fit into the lower anchors of your vehicle, making it easier to fix the seat. This makes the Liing a great option for families that plan to switch vehicles frequently or who require a quick and secure method of installing their child's car seat. You can also utilize the belt-tensioning system that comes with it to buckle your child.

The Liing's 2-piece newborn car seat insert System is one of the features that sets it apart from other infant car seat models. It includes a lower insert that slides over the crotch buckle, and an attachment for the head that connects to the harness to help to prevent babies from slumbering or pushing their heads forward when they're in the seat. This is an amazing feature for tiny babies and preemies. It's also among the few rear-facing infant car seats that offers this level of support.

The Liing's metal crash-test framework reduces the force of crash by 40% when compared to other infant seats. The seat's shell is reinforced with EPP foam, which protects your child's head and body during a crash. The base of the seat has a load leg made of metal that absorbs energy and helps to reduce the risk of collisions.

2. Chicco KeyFit

This is a top-rated infant car seat. It's easy to install, easy to use and can grow with your baby. It also pairs well with strollers as an overall travel system.

The KeyFit is a good pick for parents looking for an easy-to-use and safe versatile seat. It was a top performer in crash tests and is lightweight and easy to carry. It also offers a wide range of weight and height limits. It is also designed with the comfort of babies in mind. The click-in point is surrounded by soft materials to prevent your baby from being burned by metal. The insert for newborns has a head cover which protects their heads. And the seat pad, on which the baby sits on, is able to nestle them in energy absorbing foam cushions.

Installing it correctly is also simple. This is crucial because improperly installed infant seats increase the chance of injury for your child. The KeyFit's top LATCH connectors with a SuperCinch tightener create an extremely secure fit with little effort. The base also has a ReclineSure leveling foot as well as two RideRight bubble level-indicators that help ensure the correct angle of the vehicle and a fast installation. And for alternate installation with the seat belt of the vehicle clear belt routing and lock-offs make it easy to position, install and tighten the car seat belt.

However, it isn't as good in the user-friendliness category due to the rethread style harness height adjustment, a feature that is common on a lot of Chicco seats (and as well on their OG Keyfit model). This means you have to manually re-thread the straps to move them from one level to the next. This is a minor disadvantage for the ease of this seat.

3. Joie i-Snug 2

The lightweight Joie i-Snug 2 infant car seat is built to the highest safety standards. It comes with a no-rethread strap and is compatible with Joie Strollers that can accept Maxi Cosi style adapters. It's simple to use with clearly labeled installation guides as well as built-in bubble levels that aid in alignment. The car seat has plenty of padding and is comfortable. It also has a useful canopy that shields your baby from the sun.

The i-Snug comes with an ISOFIX vehicle base that allows a secure vehicle attachment. It can also be used with an appropriate stroller to create an entire travel system. This rear-facing infant seat offers maximum head and cervical protection for infants. The exclusive Tri-Protect headrest has an additional layer of Intelli-Fit memory foam to protect your baby from side-impact collisions.

You'll need a brand new infant car seat as soon as your child is at the weight and height limits, or their first birthday. Then, you can upgrade to a convertible, or an all-in-one car seat, which allows children to be rear-facing for longer and is safer for them.

A convertible car seat has a greater rear-facing weight and height limit than an infant car seat and generally has a bigger and more spacious interior. To stop your child from becoming too big for the seat too quickly, it's best to move to a seat that converts as soon as you are able to. In some instances, parents can even transition their child into an all-in-one car seat, without ever having to purchase another new car seat for their infant. For that reason, it's crucial to pick the best convertible car seat newborn insert seat for your family. Our comprehensive guide will provide all the details you require to make a good choice.

4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX

The Nuna Pipa Aire RX is among the most highly-rated infant car seat for travel car seats because of its safety, lightweight design and its versatility. It can be used with rigid lower anchors in the seats that are outboard of most cars, and with the seat belts of vehicles using Euro Routing (which utilizes all of its length to anchor the seat). It also includes an organic cotton infant insert, which makes it a great option for environmentally conscious parents who are looking for organic options for their child.

At only 6 lbs without the canopy and inserts, the Pipa Aire RX is among the most lightweight infant car seats on the market. Aeroflex foam is a lightweight material that is robust, but also extremely light helps reduce the force transferred to your child in an accident. Other security features include a five-second steel-reinforced True lock base installation, side impact protection, and a multi-position steel stability leg with crumple zones that limit forward rotation, resulting in greater rear-facing security.

The ergonomic aluminum handle is light and luxurious, adorned with leatherette accents that provide an ergonomic grip and a great method to carry the bag. The magnetic buckle holders keep straps out of from the way while you buckle your child, and color-coded indicators to ensure proper connections. The low-profile base enables rapid loading, and the wide belt pathway with lock-off secures shoulder and lap belts.

The process of parenting can be messy, but cleaning up shouldn't be a chore. The inserts and fabrics of the Pipa Aire RX can be washed by machine so that your car seat looks like it did after each use.

5. Nuna Pipa Urbn

Nuna's PIPA air Rx and PIPA Rx car seats are great options. However, the new Pipa Urbn is a step above. This ultralight infant car seat cheap seat is easy to carry and weighs less than 7 pounds once the canopy and insert are attached. It is user-friendly and elegant design, with features such as magnetic buckle holders that keep straps from getting in from the way when buckling in baby and a green/red indication to tell you if the installation is secure. ).

The innovative pipaFIX system allows it to be used without a base, unlike the Pipa RX or other base-compatible PIPAs that require one to be installed. This makes it the ideal option for parents who regularly take taxis or rideshares for travel, or simply want the ability to transfer their car seat more easily and quickly.

Like other Nuna products, the Pipa Urbn is designed with environmentally-friendly materials that are free of added fire retardant chemicals, and is GREENGUARD Gold certified. The green-friendly materials include a Merino wool and Tencel branded lyocell fiber blend headrest, as well as a machine washable, water-resistant cover and body insert.

The biggest drawback to the Pipa Urbn is that it has the rear-facing weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds. This means you may need to change to a convertible car seat earlier than other brands. However, it is still a top-rated option for most infants. This car seat is travel system-ready and pairs seamlessly with any of Nuna's strollers. Just click it on or connect via the ring adapter.