Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies

While convertible car seats are ideal for children 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.

Kecia Healy, CPST instructor, liked the recline leg with springs and a bubble indicator on the bottom of the Chicco KeyFit, as well as the user-friendliness. (The more user-friendly the car seat, the more likely that parents will install it correctly. The model also fits three across in many midsize vehicles.

1. Clek Liing Infant Car Seat

The Canadian manufacturer Clek is known for their best-rated convertible car seats and the infant Liing is among their top infant seats. The seat comes with the best safety features available, such as a metal load-leg, and easy installation. It also features seven different recline positions that can be adjusted to match the slope of your car's seat. Plus, a simple bubble indicator makes it easy to make sure the seat is at the right position before your child rides in it.

The base of the Liing is easy to install with the help of LATCH connectors that slide into your vehicle's lower anchors which makes the seat much easier to anchor. The Liing is a great choice for families who intend to frequently switch cars or who want an easy and secure method to install a baby's car seats. If you prefer, you could use the included belt-tensioning system to buckle your child.

The Liing's 2-piece Newborn System is one of the features that sets it apart from other infant car seats. This system includes a lower insert which slides over the crotch strap, and a headrest that is attached to harness to prevent newborns from slumbering forward or moving their heads backwards in the seat. It's a game changer for small preemies and babies and is one of the only rear facing infant car seats that offer this kind of support.

The Liing's crash-testing framework made of steel reduces crash forces up to 40% compared to other infant seat. The shell of the seat is reinforced with EPP foam, which protects your child's head and torso which are the most vulnerable parts in a collision. The base of the seat is constructed with a metal load leg that absorbs energy and helps reduce crashes, and.

2. Chicco KeyFit

This is a consistently top-rated infant car seat. It is simple to install and use, and it will grow with your child. It also pairs well with strollers to create a travel system.

The KeyFit is a great option for parents who want an affordable, safe and easy-to-use seat. It scored highly in crash tests and is light and easy to carry. It also has a wide range of weight and height limits. It is also made with babies' comfort in mind. The click-in point has soft materials surrounding it so that your baby isn't burned by metal, the newborn insert also has a head cover to shield their heads, and the seat pad that baby sits on is surrounded by cushioned foam that absorbs energy to ensure comfort.

It's also one of the easiest infant seats to install correctly--every time. It is important to install the infant seat correctly as a wrong installation can increase your child's danger of injury. The KeyFit's top LATCH connectors that come with a SuperCinch tightener provide an extremely secure fit with little effort. The base also features ReclineSure leveling foot and two RideRight bubble-level-indicators that ensure the proper angle of the vehicle. To make it easier to install the base in another way clear belt routing, lock-offs and the car seatbelt make it easy to position and tighten.

The rethread harness height adjustment is a feature found on a variety of Chicco seats including the Keyfit model. This means that you must detach and manually re-thread the straps from one level to another, which takes longer than adjustments that aren't rethread. This is a minor trade-off for the convenience of this seat.

3. Joie i-Snug 2

The lightweight Joie i-Snug 2 infant car seat meets the highest safety standards. It comes with a no-rethread strap and is compatible with Joie Strollers that can accept Maxi Cosi style adapters. The installation guide is clearly labeled and bubble levels are built-in to aid in aligning the seat. The car seat is full of padding and is very comfortable. It comes with a canopy that protects your child from direct sun's rays.

The i-Snug 2 comes with an ISOFIX base to ensure a secure vehicle attachment and can be used in tandem with a stroller that is compatible for a complete travel system. It's an infant car seat with a rear facing infant car seat view that offers maximum neck and head protection for babies and newborns. The exclusive Tri-Protect Headrest is equipped with a layer of Intelli-Fit Memory Foam to protect your child from side impact crashes.

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

A convertible car seat is bigger and more spacious than an infant car seat and also has a higher weight and height limit when facing backwards. To stop your child from growing out of the seat too quickly, it's recommended to move to a seat that converts as soon as you can. In certain situations, parents can make the transition to an all-in-one car seat without having to buy an additional infant car seat. For that reason, it's crucial to pick the best convertible car seat for your family. Our comprehensive guide will provide all the information you need to make a good infant car seats choice.

4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX

Nuna Pipa RX is a top-rated infant seat due to its safety features, light design, and its versatility. It installs with rigid anchors for the lower part of the outboard seats in the majority of vehicles and with vehicle seat belt using Euro routing (which uses the entire length of a vehicle's seat belt for the most secure installation). It also comes with an organic GOTS baby insert which is a great choice for parents who are eco conscious and want to use organic products for their children.

With a weight of just 6 pounds without the canopy and inserts the Pipa Aire RX is among the lightest infant car seats on the market. Aeroflex foam is a lightweight material that is resilient but also extremely lightweight helps reduce the force that is transferred to your child during the event of a crash. Other safety features include a 5 second steel-reinforced True lock base installation, side impact protection, and a multi-position steel stability leg with crumple zones that limit forward rotation to provide greater rear-facing security.

The ergonomic aluminum handle is light and luxurious with leatherette accents to provide the perfect grip and an ideal method to carry the bag. Magnetic buckle holders keep straps out of the way while buckling up your child, and color-coded indicators for installation confirm correct connections. The low-profile base makes it easy, super-fast loading and the belt's path is open and locks that secure shoulder and lap belts.

The process of parenting can be messy Cleaning up doesn't have to be. The fabrics and inserts in the Pipa Aire RX are machine washable so you can keep your car seat looking good as new after every use.

5. Nuna Pipa Urbn

While Nuna's PIPA rx and PIPA air RX car seats are both excellent options, the newly launched Pipa Urbn takes it all to a whole new level. The ultralight infant seat is easy to carry and weighs less than 7 pounds when the canopy and insert are in place. It has a user-friendly, luxurious design with features like magnetic buckle holders that keep straps out of the way when you are buckled in your baby, and a green/red indicator to tell you that the installation is secure. ).

This innovative pipaFIX system allows it to be used with or without a base, unlike Pipa RX or other base-compatible PIPAs that require one to be installed. This makes it a great choice for parents that frequently take taxis, rideshare services, or travel.

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. These eco-friendly materials include a Merino Wool and Tencel brand-name blend of Lyocell fibres for the headrest and a machine washable, water-resistant cover.

The biggest drawback to the Pipa Urbn is that it only has a rear-facing weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds, which means you might have to upgrade to a convertible seat sooner than other brands. It is still a top choice for most babies. This car seat is also travel system-ready and pairs seamlessly with all Nuna strollers. You just need to click it on or connect using the ring adapter.