How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat

What do you want from your seat? "If you're looking for a car seat that can adapt to your child's needs look into an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton says. The seat can be transformed into a high-back booster or an unbackless booster. It comes with a huge rear-forward facing infant car seat weight limit.

The soft, machine-washable cushioning is also an added benefit. Load legs are another beneficial feature. They are shock-absorbing components that are affixed to the base or car seats and help to limit movement in an accident.

Safety

Dedicated infant car seats are designed to fit tiny babies best, so they usually come with more padding and cushioning than convertible carseats. They are also lighter and easier to get out of the car, or put onto a stroller frame, unlike convertible car seats, which is vital since you'll likely be required to transport your baby in the car seat frequently out of your vehicle. Dedicated infant car seats also have the advantage of often 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 as fast as a convertible car seat may.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's standards for car seats are stringent but it's an excellent idea to conduct your own research before buying. Consider reading reviews from other parents and looking through safety guides from organizations like Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have a wealth of crash test data to share with families.

Find features that can be useful to your family. These include the ability to release the strap, a no rethread harness or a leveling foot with spring-loaded mechanism. 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 properly.

Other factors to be aware of are the width and weight of the car seat. Many infant car seats can be placed in your vehicle along with older car seats. Others can grow with your child, and convert to a booster at the same time. If you intend to use the car seat to travel or take taxis, then an infant car seat that can be put in place using only the seat belt of your vehicle is an ideal choice.

In general it's best to buy the most secure car seat you can afford, because the cheapest models typically don't meet the highest safety standards for crash protection. For instance, it's recommended to stay clear of models that do not include side impact crash testing and allow companies to self-certify their products.

Convenience

The ideal infant car seat for you is one that will fit in the vehicle of your family It is simple to install and use, and comes with handy features such as the built-in stroller or rotating capability. It should be reasonably priced. Infant seats range in price 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 headrest and harness without removing the infant out of the seat. You need to be able to install and remove the seat with ease, especially if you switch it between cars frequently or take Uber rides with your child. The seat should also be light and have clearly labeled installation guides and bubble levels to ensure you can swiftly get the car seat correctly installed.

It should be easy to adjust the buckles and harness and also move the seat when not in use. It is also essential to verify the weight and height limits of the infant car seat prior to you buy it, and think about whether your baby will outgrow it before its first birthday. A good guideline is to select a seat that will grow with your child until they reach the 90th percentile.

While federal safety standards are the minimum, a few manufacturers go above and over to provide additional crash testing and convenience features 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 a baby seat that offers more than just excellent crash protection. It also comes with load legs, which stabilizes the seat in a crash, and reduces the force on the child's body by 40%. This feature could save a child's life. It's worth spending more on car seats with added safety and convenience features.

Comfort

Comfort is an important factor to take into consideration when selecting an infant car seats that swivel car seat, since babies spend the majority of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable car seats are made of thick, breathable fabric and generous padding on the harness and headrest. They also come with easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms, such as strap covers, buckles, and headrest adjustments that do not require rethreading.

The size and weight of an infant car seat can also impact comfort, particularly in the event that you intend to change cars or take the seat with you on a regular basis. Some models are tinier which makes it easier to fit in the backseat alongside other car seats or siblings seats. While all models come with weight and height restrictions, some are lighter. This will help you from having sore biceps when you carry it around town or between cars.

Some infant car seats offer extra features that make them more adaptable, such as rotating options or the ability to convert into strollers without the need for extra adapters. Some models are equipped with top-quality features like an adjustable strap that doesn't rethread or bar that prevents rebound to give you additional security in the event of an accident. These features aren't required to ensure safety, but they can improve the overall experience.

In addition to safety and convenience factors, many parents also require a clean, comfortable car seat for their infant. Look for a model that's machine washable and stain-resistant, and also easy to remove for cleaning. Some seats are dishwasher safe, which makes it easier to keep them looking new.

Certain models go further to ensure that their customers get the most secure and comfortable ride. For instance the Graco SnugRide (tm) Elite has an anti-rebounding bar, and is compatible with Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm), which is designed to withstand front and rear collisions. The seat comes with a Silent Shade canopy to keep baby quiet and comfortable and has an indicator that lets you know when the seat is securely attached. The seat's adjustable carry handle, harness tightener, and indicator indicate whether it's securely attached to the base.

Design

Car seat manufacturers design infant car seats with safety and ease of use in mind, however the myriad of features available can make it difficult to decide what's best car seat infant for your family. It is important to take into account factors such as weight and height limits, as well as the number of belt buckles and belt paths. Additional features like anti-rebound bars, load legs and harnesses with no-rethread straps can increase the price but may improve the comfort of your baby. Consider features that make it simple to get your child in and out of the car seat, such as rotational mechanisms. Also, be aware of the dimensions and weight of the base as not all seats fit in every vehicle.

The ease of attaching and detaching the base is one feature that is important. The quality of the LATCH connectors and whether they're flexible or rigid, can affect this. It is also important to be aware of whether the straps can be easily adjusted and tightened and if there is an easy release mechanism that allows you to remove and install the seat.

Some models let you use the seat without a base which is useful for those who frequently use taxis or plan on switching cars frequently. To make sure that your seat is correctly installed, look for models with bubble level indicators as well as a built-in locking mechanism.

Other features worth paying extra for include a headrest that increases with the baby as well as a recline that can be adjusted to five positions and an extended canopy that locks in place. Our product testers also said the fact that a seat can be used for highback boosters with belt positioning or a backless booster once the infant has finished using it is an additional bonus.

The Doona is the type of infant car seat that spoils parents. It's packed with features that address nearly every issue families have with infant car seats uk car seats, which is the reason our test participants gave it top marks in every category. It's approved for air travel, has an anti-rebound handle, and can be converted into a stroller. Its crash test results are excellent and it is GREENGUARD Gold certified.