How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat

Think about what you want from your car seat. "If you're looking for a car seat to expand with your child, think about an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton recommends. The seat can be changed into a high-back booster, or an unbackless booster. It has a large rear-facing weight restriction.

The soft, machine-washable cushioning is also a plus. Load legs are another beneficial feature. These are shock-absorbing elements that are affixed to the car seat base and limit movement during a crash.

Safety

Dedicated infant car seats are designed to fit small babies the best, which is why they typically offer more cushioning and padding than convertible carseats. They are also lighter and easier to take from your car or attach to a stroller frame which is crucial because you will need to transport your child's seat outside of your vehicle frequently. Dedicated infant car seats also offer the benefit of being designed to last for your child's first year, which means you don't have to worry about them outgrowing their height or weight limits as quickly as convertible car seats can.

It is a good idea to conduct some research before you purchase. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has strict guidelines for car seats. Take a look at reviews from other parents and looking through safety guidelines from groups such as Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have a lot of crash testing information to provide to families.

It is also important to look into whether a seat has features that could be particularly helpful for your family, like the strap release that is one-handed, a no-rethread harness or a spring-loaded foot for leveling. These features assist in securing up your child, but remember that even the most safe seats can be dangerous when they are not used correctly.

The weight and the width of the car seat is also important. Many infant car seats can be placed in your vehicle along with older car seats. Some of them can expand with your child and can be converted to a booster simultaneously. Also, if you intend to use your car seat to travel or to take taxis, an portable infant car seat car seat newborn seat that can be fitted using only the seatbelt of your vehicle is a great option.

In general, it is recommended to buy the most safe seat you can afford. The cheapest models may not always meet the highest standards of crash safety. Beware of models that don't include side impact tests and allow manufacturers to self-certify.

Convenience

The best infant car seats are those that fit in the car of your family and are simple to install, and come with useful extras such as a built-in running stroller or the ability to rotate. It should be reasonably priced. Infant seats range in price between $180 and $500. If they're convertible, and are intended for both infants and toddlers, the price can be higher.

The convenience features include the ability to be installed using the LATCH system, or a seatbelt. Additionally, if you can adjust the harness and headrest without having to remove the baby from the seat. You need to be able to install and take it out easily, especially if you switch frequently between vehicles or take Uber rides with your child. The seat should be light, with clearly labeled instructions for installation and bubble levels to assist you in quickly install the car seat.

You should be able easily to adjust the harness and buckles, as well as turn the seat around when it is not in use. It's also important to know the weight and height limits of the infant car seat before you buy it, and consider if your baby will outgrow it by the time he turns one. A good rule of thumb is to select a seat that will grow with your child until they reach the 90th percentile.

Some manufacturers go above and beyond federal safety standards and include additional features like crash-testing as well as comfort and convenience 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 an infant seat that provides more than just great crash protection. It also comes with an element that helps stabilize the seat during an accident, reducing the force on the child by 40 percent. This feature could save a child’s life. It's worth the extra money spent on a car seat with added safety and convenience features.

Comfort

One of the most important factors when choosing an infant car seat is the comfort, as infants spend a lot of time in their car seats. The most comfortable car seats are made of thick, breathable fabric and generous padding on the headrest and harness. They also offer easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms, such as strap covers, buckles, and headrest adjustments that don't require rethreading.

The weight and size of a car seat for infants can affect comfort, especially when you are planning to switch cars or use the seat frequently. Some models are more narrow than others, making them easier to fit into the back of the car with a car seat or your siblings seats. While all have maximum and minimum heights and weight limits, certain models are lighter than others--which can help save your biceps from aching when carrying it around town or between vehicles.

Some infant car seats offer extra features that make them more versatile like rotational options or the ability to connect to strollers without the need for extra adapters. Some models come with high-end features, such as an adjustable no-rethread strap or anti-rebound bars to offer extra safety in case of a crash. These features aren't essential to ensure safety, but they can enhance the overall experience.

In addition to convenience and safety factors, many parents require a clean, comfortable infant car seat for their baby. Pick a car seat that is machine washable, stain-resistant and easy to take off for cleaning. Some seats can be cleaned using the dishwasher which makes it easier to keep them looking new.

Certain models go over and beyond to ensure that their customers get a safe and comfortable experience. For instance, the Graco SnugRide (tm) Elite has an anti-rebounding bar that is able to meet Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) which is designed to withstand rear and front collisions. The seat also includes a Silent Shade canopy that keeps baby comfortable and quiet and also an indicator that lets you know when it's properly attached to the base. The seat's adjustable carry handle, harness tightener, and indicator let you know that it's properly connected to the base.

Design

Car seat manufacturers create infant car seats with safety and comfort in mind, but the dizzying array of features available can make it hard to determine what's the best fit for your family. Take into consideration factors such as the weight and height limit and the number of belt paths and buckles. Additional features like anti-rebound bars, load legs and harnesses that do not have a rethread can increase the cost but could also increase comfort for baby. Look for features that make it easy to get your child in and out of the car seat, such as rotational mechanisms. Also, pay attention to dimensions and weight of the base, as not all seats will fit in every car.

One feature that's especially important is the ease of installation and detaching from the base. This is influenced by the quality of the LATCH connectors as well as whether they are rigid or flexible. You should also consider whether the straps can be easily tightened and loosened and if they have a one-hand release mechanism to remove and install the seat.

Some models allow you to use the seat without a base which is a great option when you frequently take taxis or plan to switch cars frequently. To make sure that your seat is securely installed make sure you choose models with bubble level indicators and a integrated locking mechanism.

Other features worth the cost include a headrest that increases with the infant, a five-position recline and an extendable canopy that locks into the position. Our product testers also mentioned that having a seat which can be used as highback boosters with belt positioning or a backless booster after the baby has completed using it is an added benefit.

Doona is an infant car seats that swivel car seat that will delight parents. It's loaded with features that solve nearly every complaint families have about infant car seats, which is why our testers scored it highly in every category. It's affixed for air travel, has an anti-rebound handle, and can be converted directly into a stroller. Its crash test results are excellent and it is GREENGUARD Gold certified.