Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies

While convertible car seats are ideal for kids who are growing, an infant seat is the best choice for infants and newborns. They are also lighter and easier for you to attach to strollers 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 ease of use. (The more user-friendly the car seat is, the more likely it is that parents will install it correctly. The model also fits three across in most midsize automobiles.

1. Clek Liing infant car seat

Clek, an Canadian manufacturer, is renowned for its top-rated convertible car seat. The infant Liing is among their best infant seats. It is fitted with best car seat for newborn uk-in class safety features, such as a metal load-leg, and easy installation. It also has seven different recline positions that can be adjusted to fit the slope of your vehicle's seat. Additionally, a simple bubble indicator makes it easy to ensure the seat is in the correct angle prior to your child's first ride in it.

The base of the Liing can be easily fitted by using LATCH connectors made of rigid material that slide into the lower anchors on your vehicle and make it much easier to secure the seat. The Liing is a great choice for families who plan to switch cars frequently or want a simple and secure method to install a baby's car seats. You can also use the belt-tensioning system that comes with it to buckle your child.

One of the features that sets the Liing apart from other infant car seats is its 2 piece Newborn Support System. It includes an insert that is able to slide over the crotch strap as well as a headrest that is attached to harnesses to stop newborns from slumbering forward and pushing their heads backwards while in the seat. It's a game-changer for tiny preemies and babies and is among the few rear facing infant car seats that provide this kind of support.

The Liing's crash-test framework made of metal reduces crash forces up to 40% when compared to other infant seat. The seat's shell is bolstered with EPP foam to safeguard your child's head and torso which are the most susceptible in the event of a collision. The base of the seat is constructed with a load leg made of metal that absorbs energy and helps diminish crashes, as well.

2. Chicco KeyFit

This is a top-rated infant car seat. It's quick to install, easy to use and can grow with your baby. It can also be combined together with strollers to create a travel system.

The KeyFit is a good pick for parents who want an easy-to-use and safe versatile seat. It was a top performer in crash tests and is light and easy to carry. It also has a broad range of weight and height limits. It is also designed with babies' comfort in mind. The click-in area is surrounded by soft materials to prevent your baby from being burned by metal. The newborn insert also includes a head cover that shields their little heads. And the seat pad, which the baby is sitting on, encases the infant in energy-absorbing foam cushions.

It's also among the easiest infant seats to set up correctly every time. This is crucial because improperly installed infant car seat swivel seats increase the chance of injury for your child. The premium connectors of KeyFit's LATCH that come with a SuperCinch tightener ensures an ensconced fit with minimum effort. The base also comes with ReclineSure leveling foot and two RideRight bubble-level-indicators to ensure that the vehicle's angle is correct. For a second installation, using the seat belt of the vehicle clear belt routing and lock-offs make it simple to install, position and tighten the seat belt of your car.

However, it isn't as good in the user-friendliness category due to the rethread style harness height adjustment--a common feature on many Chicco seats (and as well on their OG Keyfit model). This means you need to detach and manually re-thread the straps from one slot level to the next, which takes longer than non-rethread adjustments. However, this is an insignificant trade-off to the convenience this seat provides.

3. Joie i-Snug 2

The lightweight Joie i-Snug 2 is an i-Size infant car seat that is built to the highest safety standards. It has a harness that is not rethread, and is compatible with Joie strollers that accept Maxi-Cosi style adapters. The installation guide is clearly marked and bubble levels are included to help align the seat. The car seat is comfy, with plenty of padding. It comes with a canopy that protects your child from direct sun's rays.

The i-Snug comes with an ISOFIX vehicle base that permits secure attachment to the vehicle. It can also be used in conjunction with an appropriate stroller to create a complete travel set-up. It's an infant car seat with a rear view that provides maximum neck and head protection for babies and newborns. The exclusive Tri-Protect Headrest comes with a layer Intelli-Fit Memory Foam to protect your child from side-impact crashes.

As with any infant car seat that swivels car seat you'll need to replace it once your child reaches the weight and height limits or when they turn one. You can then upgrade to convertible car seats or an all-in one car seat. This will allow your child to travel rearwards for longer and is safer.

A convertible car seat has a higher rear-facing weight and height limit than an infant seat and generally has a bigger and more spacious interior. To avoid your child getting out of the seat in a hurry, it's best to move to a seat that converts as quickly as you can. In certain instances parents can even move their child into an all-in-one car seats without ever having to purchase a car seat for their infant. That's why it's important to choose the most suitable convertible car seat for your family. Read our complete guide to get all the information you require to make the best choice.

4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX

The Nuna Pipa Aire RX is among the top-rated infant car seats due to its safety, lightweight design and its flexibility. It can be installed using rigid lower anchors on outboard seats in most vehicles and also with a seat belt for the vehicle using Euro routing (which uses the entire length of a vehicle's seat belt for the most secure installation). It also comes with a GOTS organic baby insert which is a great choice for parents who are eco conscious and want to use organic products for their child.

At only 6 lbs without the canopy and inserts the Pipa Aire RX is among the lightest infant car seats available on the market. This is thanks to the innovative Aeroflex foam, which is extremely light but incredibly durable, reducing the the force that is transferred to your baby in the event of a crash. Other safety features include a 5-second steel-reinforced True base lock installation side impact protection and a multi-position stability leg with crumple zones that limit forward rotation for enhanced rear-facing security.

Other highlights include an ergonomic aluminum carry handle that's both lightweight and luxe with leatherette accents for easy to carry and excellent grip. Magnetic buckle holders keep straps off from the way when you buckle your child and color-coded indicators for installation confirm correct connections. The low-profile base enables super-fast loading, and the open belt path with lock-off secures shoulder and lap belts.

Parenting is messy, but cleaning up shouldn't be a chore. The inserts and fabrics in the Pipa Aire RX are machine washable, which means you can keep your car seat looking like new after every use.

5. Nuna Pipa Urbn

Nuna's PIPA air Rx and PIPA Rx car seats are excellent choices. However, the recently launched Pipa Urbn is a step beyond. This ultralight infant car seats is extremely easy to carry and weighs less than 7 pounds when the canopy and insert. It has a user-friendly, luxurious design with features like magnetic buckle holders that keep straps out the way when you are strapping your baby in and a red/green indication to let you know that the installation is secure. ).

The innovative pipaFIX system allows it to be used without a base, unlike the Pipa RX or other base-compatible PIPAs that require a base to be installed. This makes it the ideal option for parents who regularly use taxis or rideshare services as well as for those who need to transfer their car seat between vehicles faster and more easily.

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. Those green-friendly materials also include a Merino wool and Tencel branded lyocell blend headrest, as well as a water-resistant, machine washable body insert and cover.

The main drawback of the Pipa Urbn is that it has an upper weight limit for rear-facing children of 30 to 35 pounds. This means you might need to change to a convertible car seat sooner than other brands. However, it is still a top pick for the majority of infants. This car seat is also equipped for travel and can be used with all Nuna strollers. You just need to click it on or connect using the rings adapter.