How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat
Think about what you’d like from your car seat. “If you’re in need of a car seat that can expand with your child, consider an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX,” Saxton says. The seat comes with a long rear-facing weight limit and is able to convert into an incline-back booster and a backless one.
It also scores high for comfort and quality with soft, machine-washable padding. Other helpful features include load legs, which are shock-absorbing elements on the base or car seat that help to limit movement in a crash.
Safety
They are designed to fit smaller babies better, and therefore they are more comfortable than convertible car seats. They are also smaller and lighter to remove from your car or attach to a stroller frame, which is important because you’ll need to carry your child in the car seat out of the vehicle frequently. The car seat for infants is designed to last for your child for the first year. This means you won’t need to worry about your child outgrowing the weight limit or height.
It’s a good idea to do some research before you purchase. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has strict standards for car seats. Take a look at reviews written by other parents and reading car seat safety guides from organizations such as Consumer Reports or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both have crash test results that can be shared with families.
Look for features that will benefit your family. These include a one-handed release of the strap, a no-rethread harness or a foot that can be leveled with spring-loaded mechanisms. These kinds of features could help you buckle your baby faster and easier but remember that even the safest of seats can be a waste if you don’t use them in a proper manner.
Other things to consider are the size and weight of the car seat. Many infant seats are designed to be narrow enough to fit in with older car seats in the back of your car Some can grow with your child and transition to a booster seat while you’re at it. If you are planning to use the car seat to travel or to take taxis or taxis, then an infant carrier seat car seat that can be put in place 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, because the most affordable models don’t meet the most rigorous safety standards for crash safety. For example, it’s best car seat 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 ones that fit in your family vehicle, are easy to install and have convenient extras such as a built-in jogging stroller or a rotation feature. It should be reasonably priced. Infant seats cost between $180 and $500. If they are convertible, and are intended for both infants and toddlers, the price can be higher.
Convenience features include how easy it is to set up the seat using either LATCH system or a seatbelt and whether you are able to adjust the harness and headrest without removing the infant out of the seat. Installing and taking it off should be easy, especially for children who ride Ubers or you frequently switch between cars. The seat should be light, with clearly labeled instructions for installation and bubble levels to assist you in quickly install the car seat.
You must also be able to rotate the seat and lock it when you’re not using it and have access to buckles as well as harness straps. It is also essential to verify the weight and height limits of the infant car seat rear facing car seat before you buy it, and think about whether your baby will outgrow it before the time he turns one. A good guideline is to choose a seat that will grow with your baby until they reach the 90th percentile.
Some manufacturers go beyond the federal safety standards to incorporate other features, such as crash testing as well as comfort and convenience in their car seats. The Clek Liing, a top pick from our gear editors and Consumer Reports, is an excellent example of an infant seat that provides more than just crash protection. It also comes with an extra load leg that can help stabilize the seat in a crash and reduces forces on the child’s body by 40 percent. This alone could save the life of a child, which is why it’s worth the extra cost for a car seat that is safe and has additional safety features.
Comfort
The comfort factor is one of the most important factors to take into consideration when selecting an infant newborn car seat seat as babies spend most of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable ones are made of large, breathable fabrics as well as plenty of padding on the harness and headrest. They come with easy-to-use adjustments like strap covers, buckles and headrest adjustment mechanisms which don’t require to be rethread.
The size and weight of a baby car seat can also impact comfort, particularly when you are planning to switch cars or travel with the seat often. Some models are more narrow than others, which makes them easier to fit into the back seat alongside another car seat or other siblings’ seats. While all have minimum and maximum heights and weight limits, certain models are lighter than others–which can help save your biceps from getting sore when carrying it around town or between vehicles.
Certain infant car seats come with additional features that make them more adaptable, such as rotating options or the ability to click into a stroller without the need for extra adapters. Other models have premium features like an adjustable harness with no-rethread straps or anti-rebound bars to add extra safety in the event of a crash. These features aren’t necessary for safe riding, however they can improve the overall experience.
In addition to convenience and safety factors, many parents also need a clean and comfortable car seat for their baby. Look for a model that’s machine washable and stain-resistant and also easy to clean. Some seats are dishwasher safe, making it even easier to keep them looking new.
Some models go above and beyond to ensure that their customers get an enjoyable and safe experience. For example, the Graco SnugRide ™ Elite has an anti-rebounding bar that is able to meet Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) which is designed to withstand both rear and front collisions. The seat features a Silent Shade canopy to keep your baby comfortable and quiet, as well an indicator that lets you know that the seat is securely attached. The adjustable harness tightener and carry handle provide easy single-handed adjustments.
Design
Car seat manufacturers design infant car seats with safety and comfort in mind, but the variety of features available can make it difficult to decide what’s the best car seat for newborn fit for your family. Consider factors such as the weight and height limit and the number of belt routes and buckles. Additional features like anti-rebound bars, load legs and harnesses that do not have a rethread can increase the cost, but they can also improve the comfort of babies. You might also consider features that help you get your child into and out of the seat, such as rotating mechanisms. Also, pay attention to dimensions and base weight, as not all seats fit in every vehicle.
The ease of attaching and detaching the base is an aspect that is crucial. This is affected by the quality of the LATCH connectors and whether they are rigid or flexible. You’ll also want to consider whether the straps are simple to loosen and tighten, and whether there’s a single hand release mechanism for installing and uninstalling the seat.
Certain models allow you to use the seat with no footrest, which is convenient for those who plan to change cars or take taxis frequently. Look for models that come with a built-in lock as well as bubble level indicators to ensure that your seat is set correctly.
Certain features could be worth the extra expense like the headrest that grows with your child, a five-position recline feature and a canopy that extends and secures in the position. Our product testers also noted that having a seat that can be used as a highback booster using belt positioning or a backless booster when the baby is no longer using it is an added bonus.
Doona is an infant car seat that will pamper parents. It’s got many features that solve almost every complaint families have regarding infant car seats. This is the reason our test participants have rated it highly across the range. It’s approved for travel on air, has an anti-rebound handle and can be converted into a stroller. The crash test results are top-quality and it’s GREENGUARD Gold certified.