10 Things Competitors Teach You About Best Infant Car Seat

How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat

What do you want from your seat? "If you need an automobile seat that can expand with your child, consider an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton says. The seat has a long rear-facing weight limit and is able to be converted into the high-back and backless booster.

It also scores highly for comfort and quality thanks to soft and machine-washable padding. Load legs are a useful feature. These are shock-absorbing elements that are affixed to the base or car seats and help to limit movement in the event of a crash.

Safety

They are designed to fit smaller babies better, which is why they are more comfortable than convertible car seats. They are also lighter and easier to get out of the car or put onto a stroller frame, unlike convertible car seats, which is crucial since you'll likely be required to transport your baby in the seat frequently outside of your vehicle. Car seats for infants offer the benefit of being designed to last for the first year of your child's life which means you don't have to worry about them growing beyond their height or weight limits as quickly as the convertible car seat might.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's standards for car seats are stringent but it's recommended to conduct your own research before buying. Take a look at reviews written by other parents, and also looking through car seat safety guidelines 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 the ability to release the strap, a no rethread harness or a leveling foot with spring-loaded mechanisms. These features make it easier to buckle up your child, but remember that even the safest seats will not be useful if they are not used correctly.

The weight and the width of the car seat are equally crucial. Many infant seats are designed to be small enough to fit alongside older car seats in the back of your car Some can grow with your child and transition to an adult seat while you're at it. If you intend to use the car seat to travel infant car seat or take taxis or taxis, then an infant car seat which can be fitted using only your car's seatbelt will be a convenient choice.

In general, you should buy the most safe seat you can afford. The most affordable models don't always meet the highest standards of safety in crashes. For example, it's best to stay clear of models that do not include side impact testing and permit companies to self-certify their seats.

Convenience

The best car seats for infants are those that can fit in your family vehicle and are simple to install, and include useful features like a built-in jogging stroller or rotation capability. It should be reasonably priced. Infant seats cost between $180 and $500. They can be more expensive when they're convertible and are used as an infant and toddler seat.

Convenience features include how simple it is to put in the seat using either LATCH system or a seatbelt and whether it is possible to adjust the headrest and harness without taking the baby out of the seat. Installing and taking it off is not difficult, particularly when your child rides in Ubers or frequently switches between cars. The seat should be lightweight, with clearly labeled instructions for installation and bubble levels to assist you in quickly install the car seat.

You should be able to adjust the harness and buckles and turn the seat around when it is not in use. When you purchase an infant car seat, be sure to check the weight and height limits. Also, consider whether your child will outgrow the seat before they reach their first birthday. It is generally recommended to select 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, some manufacturers go over to provide additional crash testing and features for convenience in their car seats. The Clek Ling, a top choice among our gear editors as well as Consumer Reports is a great example of a baby seat that provides more than just great crash protection. It also has an extra load leg that stabilizes the seat in a crash and reduces the forces exerted on the body of the child by 40%. This feature could save a child’s life. It's worth the extra money spent on car seats with added safety features and convenience.

Comfort

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

The weight and size of a car seat for infants can also impact the comfort of your child, particularly in the event that you intend to change cars or travel with the seat often. Some models are narrower than others, making them more suited to be placed in the back of the car with a car seat or other siblings' seats. While they all have weight and height restrictions certain models are lighter. This could save your biceps from aching when you move it between cars.

Some infant carrier seat car seats offer extra features that make them more flexible including rotating options or the ability to click into strollers without the need for additional adapters. Other models include top features such as an adjustable harness with no-rethread straps or anti-rebound bars to add extra safety in the case of the possibility of a crash. Although these features aren't necessary for a safe ride, they can add to the overall experience using the seat.

Parents want their babies to have a comfortable, clean car seat. They also care about safety and convenience. Pick a car seat that is machine washable, stain resistant and easy to remove to clean. Some seats are dishwasher safe, making it easier to keep them looking fresh.

Some models go the extra mile to ensure their customers' experience is safe and smooth, like the Graco SnugRide(tm) Elite, that comes with an anti-rebound bar and is compliant with Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) standards to withstand front and rear collisions. The seat also includes a Silent Shade canopy that keeps baby safe and quiet and an indicator that informs you when it's properly attached to the base. And, its adjustable harness tightener and carry handle make simple single-handed adjustments.

Design

Car seat manufacturers design infant car seats with safety and ease of use in mind, however the variety of features available makes it difficult to determine which one is most suitable for your family. Take into consideration factors such as the weight and height limit as well as the number of belt routes and buckles. Other features such as anti-rebound bars, load legs and no-rethread harnesses can add to the cost but could also increase the comfort of your baby. Consider features that make it simple to get your child into and out of the car seat, such as rotational mechanisms. Be sure to pay attention to the dimensions and weight of the seat as not every seat will fit in all vehicles.

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, could affect this. You'll also want to consider whether the straps are simple to loosen and tighten and whether there is a single-hand release mechanism to install and remove the seat.

Certain models allow you to use the seat with no footrest, which is a great option if your plan is to switch taxis or cars frequently. To make sure that your seat is properly installed make sure you choose models with bubble level indicators and integrated locking mechanism.

Certain features might be worth the extra expense, such as the ability to grow with your child, a five-position recline feature, and the canopy that expands and is locked in place. Our product testers have observed that a seat that can be used as a high-back belt-positioning booster, or a backless one after the baby is finished using it is a plus.

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