How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat

What do you want from your car seat? "If you need an automobile seat that can grow with your child think about an all-in-one seat like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton says. The seat can be changed to a high-back booster or an unbackless booster. It has a big rear-facing weight restriction.

The soft cushioning that is machine washable is a plus. Load legs are a beneficial feature. They are shock-absorbing components which are attached to the car seat base and reduce movement during the event of a crash.

Safety

Car seats for infants are designed to fit tiny babies best, so they generally have more padding and cushioning than convertible carseats. They also tend to be lighter and easier to take out of the car seat newborn insert or put onto a stroller frame than convertible car seats, which is vital because you'll probably be required to transport your baby in the car seat often outside of your vehicle. The dedicated infant car seat is also designed to last your child for the first year. This means you won't have to be concerned about your child growing beyond the weight limit or height.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's standards for car seats are stringent but it's recommended to conduct your own research prior to purchasing. Consider reading reviews from other parents and checking out car seat safety guides from groups like Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have a lot of crash testing data to provide to families.

You should also consider whether the seat has features that could be beneficial to your family, like an easy strap release with one hand and a harness with no rethread or a spring-loaded foot for leveling. These kinds of features could help you buckle your baby quicker and easier, but keep in mind that even the safest of seats are useless if you don't use them correctly.

The weight and width of the car seat is also important. A lot of infant car seats are designed to be narrow enough to fit alongside older car seats in the back of your car While others can expand with your child, and move to an adult seat at the same time. Also, if you intend to use your car seat for transport or to take taxis, a baby car seat that can be installed with only the seatbelt of your vehicle is a great alternative.

In general, it is recommended to buy the safest car seat that you can afford. The cheapest models may not always meet the highest standards of crash safety. Avoid models that do not include side impact crash tests, and allow manufacturers to self-certify.

Convenience

The best car seats for infants are those that fit inside your vehicle with your family and are simple to install, and have convenient extras such as a built-in running stroller or the ability to rotate. It must also be affordable. infant car seat in front seat seats can vary between $180 to $500. They can be more expensive if they are convertible and will be used as an infant and toddler seat.

Convenience features include how simple it is to install the seat using either LATCH system or a seatbelt, and whether you are able to adjust the harness and headrest without taking the travel infant car seat out of the seat. You should be able to install and remove the seat with ease particularly if you move it between cars often or take Uber rides with your child. The seat should be lightweight and have clearly labeled instructions for installation and bubble levels to help you quickly install the car seat.

You should be able to adjust the harness and buckles and also move the seat when not in use. Before purchasing an infant car seat, be sure to verify its weight and height limits. Also, consider whether your child will outgrow the seat by the time they turn one. A good rule of thumb is to select a car seat that grows with your baby until they reach the 90th percentile.

Some manufacturers go over the federal safety standards and include additional features such as crash-testing, convenience and comfort in their car seats. The Clek Ling is a top pick among our gear editors as well as Consumer Reports is a great example of a baby seat that provides more than just good crash protection. It also comes with an element that helps stabilize the seat in a crash, reducing forces on the child by 40 percent. This feature could save a child’s life. It's worth the extra money spent on car seats that have safety and convenience features.

Comfort

One of the most important considerations when choosing an infant car seat is comfort, since infants spend a lot of time in their car seats. The most comfortable car seats have thick, breathable fabric and ample padding on the harness and headrest. They also offer simple adjustment mechanisms, such as buckles, strap covers, and headrest adjustments that do not require the rethreading.

The size and weight of an infant car seat uk car seat can affect comfort, particularly when you are planning to change cars or take the seat with you on a regular basis. Some models are narrower, making it easier to fit them in the back seat with other car seats or even siblings' seats. Although all have maximum and minimum heights and weight limits, certain models are lighter than others, which can help save your biceps from becoming sore when carrying it between vehicles.

Some infant car seats include additional features that make them more versatile, such as rotational options or the ability to connect to a stroller without the need for additional adapters. Other models include top features such as harnesses that are adjustable and do not rethread or anti-rebound bars for additional safety in the event of a crash. These features aren't necessary for safe riding, however they can improve the overall experience.

Parents want their babies to be in a comfortable, clean car seat. They also value safety and convenience. Select a seat that is machine washable, stain-resistant and easy to remove for cleaning. Some seats can be cleaned using the dishwasher which makes it easier to keep them looking new.

Some models go the extra mile to ensure that their customers' experience is safe and comfortable, like the Graco SnugRide(tm) Elite, which comes with an anti-rebound bars and meets Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) standards to withstand front and rear collisions. The seat also comes with a Silent Shade canopy that keeps your baby calm and comfortable and also an indicator that lets you know that it's attached correctly to the base. The seat's adjustable carry handle as well as harness tightener indicator let you know that it's properly connected to the base.

Design

Car seat manufacturers make infant car seats uk car seats with safety and convenience in mind, however the dizzying array of features available makes it hard to determine what's most suitable for your family. Consider factors like the weight and height limits, 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 price but may improve the comfort of your baby. Consider features that make it easier to get your child in and out of the car seat, like rotating mechanisms. You should also be aware of the dimensions and base weight, as not all seats will fit in every vehicle.

The ease of attaching and detaching the base is a feature that's important. This is influenced by the quality of the LATCH connectors and whether they're strong or flexible. It is also important to determine whether the straps are easy to tighten and loosen, and whether there's a single hand release mechanism to install and remove the seat.

Some models let you use the seat with no footrest, which is a great option when you plan to change taxis or cars frequently. To ensure that your seat is securely installed, look for models with bubble level indicators and a integrated locking mechanism.

Certain features could be worth the extra expense, such as a headrest which grows with your child, a five-position recline feature and a canopy that extends and is locked in the correct position. Our product testers also said that having a seat that can be used for highback boosters with belt positioning or a backless booster after the infant has finished using it is an additional benefit.

Doona is an infant car seat that will delight parents. It's packed with features that address nearly every complaint parents have about infant car seats, which is the reason our testers have rated it as top in every category. For instance, it's approved for use on planes, and has an exclusive handle that doubles as an anti-rebound bar. It also can be converted directly into a stroller (no need to buy a separate stroller adapter). The crash test results are excellent and it is GREENGUARD Gold certified.