How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat

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

It also scores highly for comfort and quality thanks to soft cushioning that is machine washable. Other features that are helpful include load legs, which are shock-absorbing elements on the base of the car seat that limit the movement of the car seat in a crash.

Safety

They are designed to fit smaller babies better, and therefore they are more comfortable than convertible car seats. They also tend to be lighter and easier to get out of the car or set on a stroller frame rather than convertible car seats, which is important since you'll likely have to transport your child in the car seat frequently out of your vehicle. Car seats for infants have the advantage of being designed to last for the first year of your child's life so you don't have to worry about them exceeding their height or weight limits in the same way that the convertible car seat might.

It's a good idea to do some research prior to you make a purchase. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has strict standards for car seats. Take a look at reviews written by other parents, and also looking through car seat safety guides from organizations like Consumer Reports or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both have crash test results that can be shared with families.

Find features that will benefit your family. These include the ability to release the strap, a no rethread harness or a leveling foot with a spring-loaded mechanism. These types of features can help you buckle your baby faster and easier but remember that even the safest seats are useless if you don't use them in a proper manner.

Other factors to be aware of are the width and weight of the car seat. A lot of infant car seats are designed to fit in with older car seats in the back of your car, while others can grow with your child and then transition to a booster seat at the same time. If you intend to use the car seat to travel or to take taxis and taxis, then an infant car seat which can be installed by using only your car's seatbelt is an ideal choice.

In general it's best to buy the safest seat you can afford, as the most affordable models do not meet the highest crash safety standards. For instance, it's recommended to avoid models that don't include side impact crash testing and allow companies to self-certify their seats.

Convenience

The best car seats for infants are ones that fit inside your vehicle with your family They are also easy to install, and include useful features such as a built-in running stroller or the ability to rotate. It should also be affordable. Infant seats cost between $180 and $500. If they are convertible, and are designed to be used by toddlers and infants the cost could be higher.

Convenience features include how simple it is to set up the seat with either the LATCH system or a seatbelt, and whether you are able to adjust the harness and headrest without taking the baby out of the seat. You need to be able to put in and remove the seat easily, especially if you switch it between cars often or take Uber rides with your child. The seat should be lightweight and clearly labeled with instructions for installation and bubble levels to help you quickly install the car seat.

You should be able easily to adjust the buckles and harness and also rotate the seat when not in use. When you purchase an infant car seat, be sure to check its weight and height limits. Also, consider whether your child will outgrow the seat before they turn one. A good guideline is to select a car seat that grows with your child until they reach the 90th percentile.

While federal safety standards are the minimum, a few manufacturers go above and beyond to offer additional crash-testing and features for convenience in their car seats. The Clek Ling is a top pick of our gear editors as well as Consumer Reports is a great example of an infant seat that offers more than just good crash protection. It also has an element that helps stabilize the seat during an accident, reducing the force on the child by 40%. 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 consider when choosing an infant car seat since babies spend the majority of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable ones feature thick, breathable fabrics and plenty of padding on the headrest and harness. They also come with easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms, such as strap covers, buckles, and headrest adjustments that don't require the rethreading.

The weight and size of the infant car seat cheap car seat can also impact comfort especially if it's being used in multiple vehicles or for frequent travel. Some models are tinier making it easier to fit them in the back seat with other car seats or even siblings seats. Although all have minimum and maximum height and weight restrictions, some are a bit lighter than others. This can help save your biceps from aching when you carry it around town or between vehicles.

Certain infant car seats come with additional features that make them more adaptable. For example they can rotate or be converted into a stroller with no need for adapters. Other models have top features such as harnesses that are adjustable and do not rethread or anti-rebound bars for additional security in the event of the possibility of a crash. While these additional features aren't essential to an enjoyable ride, they can contribute to the overall experience using the seat.

In addition to safety and convenience factors, many parents require a clean, comfortable car seat for their child. Pick a car seat that is machine washable, stain-resistant and easy to remove for cleaning. Some seats are dishwasher safe, making it even easier to keep them looking fresh.

Certain models go over and beyond to ensure that their customers enjoy a safe and comfortable experience. For instance, the Graco SnugRide (tm) Elite has an anti-rebounding bar, and is compatible with Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) which is designed to stand up to rear and front collisions. The seat also includes a Silent Shade canopy that keeps baby safe and quiet and also an indicator that lets you know when it's properly attached to the base. Its adjustable carry handle and harness tightener provide simple one-handed adjustments.

Design

Car seat manufacturers create infant car seat travel car seats with safety and ease of use in mind, but the myriad of features available can make it hard to determine what's best car seat newborn uk for your family. Consider factors like the weight and height limits and the number of belt paths and buckles. Additional features such as load legs, anti-rebound bars and no-rethread straps could increase the price of the seat, but will increase the comfort of your baby. Consider features that make it easy to get your child in and out of the car seat, like rotational mechanisms. You should also be aware of the dimensions and weight of the seat, because not every seat can be used in all cars.

One feature that's especially important is the ease of installation and disconnecting from the base. This is affected by the quality of the LATCH connectors as well as whether they are rigid or flexible. You'll also want to consider whether the straps are simple to tighten and loosen, and whether there's a single hand release mechanism to install and remove the seat.

Some models let you use the seat with no footrest, which can be useful when you plan to change cars or take taxis often. To make sure that your seat is correctly installed make sure you choose models with bubble level indicators and built-in locking mechanism.

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

Doona is a car seat for infants that will delight parents. It's loaded with features that address nearly every complaint families have about infant car seat best car seats, which is why our test participants gave it top marks across all categories. For instance, it's certified for use on planes, and has an exclusive handle that doubles as an anti-rebound bar, and converts directly into strollers (no need to buy a separate stroller adapters). Its crash test results are top-quality and it's GREENGUARD Gold certified.