How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat

What do you want from your car seat? "If you want an automobile seat that will develop with your child you should consider an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton advises. The seat can be converted to a high-back booster or a backless booster. It has a large rear-forward facing infant car seat weight limit.

The soft, machine-washable cushioning is also an added benefit. Load legs are a useful feature. They are shock-absorbing components that are attached to the base or car seats and limit movement during an accident.

Safety

Car seats for infants are made to fit small babies best, so they generally offer more cushioning and padding than convertible carseats. They also tend to be lighter and easier to take out of the car, or put onto a stroller frame, unlike convertible car seats, which is vital because you'll probably have to transport your child in the car seat frequently out of your vehicle. The infant car seats have the advantage of being built to last for your child's first year, so you don't have to worry about them growing beyond their weight or height as fast as a convertible car seat may.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's guidelines for car seats are extremely stringent however it's recommended to conduct your own research before making a purchase. Take a look at reviews from other parents and looking through safety guides from groups like Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have a lot of crash test data to give to families.

It is also important to consider whether the seat comes with 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 leveling foot. These features can help you buckle up your child, but keep in mind that even the most secure seats can be dangerous if they are not used in a proper manner.

Other things to keep in mind are the width and weight of the car seat. Many infant seats can be put in your car alongside older car seats. Others can be able to grow with your child, and can be converted to a booster simultaneously. If you plan to use the car seat to travel or take taxis or taxis, then an infant car seat which can be installed by using only your car's seatbelt is an ideal choice.

In general, you should 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 have side impact crash tests and allow manufacturers to self-certify.

Convenience

The ideal infant car seat for you is the one that will fit in your family's vehicle, is easy to install and use, and includes useful features like the built-in stroller or rotating ability. It must also be affordable. infant car seats uk seats range in price between $180 and $500. They can cost more when they're convertible and used as an infant and toddler seat.

Convenience features include how simple it is to install the seat using either the LATCH system or a seatbelt, and whether you are able to adjust the harness and headrest without taking the infant out of the seat. Installing and removing the seat is not difficult, particularly for children who ride Ubers or frequently switches between cars. The seat should also be lightweight and have clearly labeled installation guides and bubble levels to ensure you can easily install the car seat properly installed.

You should also be able rotate the seat and lock it when not using it and have easy access to buckles and harness straps. Before you buy an infant car seats best car seat, it's important to check its weight and height limitations. Also, consider whether your child will outgrow the seat before they reach their first birthday. A good rule of thumb is to choose a seat that grows with your child until they reach the 90th percentile.

While the safety standards of the federal government are the minimum, some manufacturers go above and beyond to include additional crash-testing and convenience features in their car seats. The Clek Liing is a top choice among our gear editors and Consumer Reports, is an excellent example of a highly rated infant seat that offers more than just crash protection. It also has a load leg, which can help stabilize the seat in a crash, and reduces the forces exerted on the body of the child by 40 percent. This alone could save a child's life, so it's worth the extra cost for a car seat that is secure and comes with additional convenience features.

Comfort

One of the most important factors when selecting an infant car seat is comfort, since babies spend a significant amount of time in their car seats. The most comfortable ones have comfortable, breathable fabrics and plenty of padding in the harness and headrest. They come with easy-to-use adjustments like strap covers, buckles, and headrest adjustments which don't require to be rethread.

The weight and size of a baby car seat can also impact comfort, particularly if you plan to change cars or travel with the seat often. Some models are more narrow than others, which makes them more suited to be placed in the back of the car with a car seat or siblings' seats. And, while they all have minimum and maximum heights and weight limits, certain models are lighter than others, which could help keep your biceps from aching when you carry it between vehicles.

Some infant car seats include extra features that make them more flexible, such as rotational options or the ability to click into strollers without the need for extra adapters. Some models come with top features such as an adjustable harness with no-rethread straps or bars that prevent rebounding to provide extra safety in the case of a crash. While these extra features aren't necessary for an enjoyable ride, they can contribute to the overall experience using the seat.

Parents want their infants to have a comfortable, clean car seat. They also value safety and convenience. Choose a seat that is machine washable and stain-resistant, and also easy to remove for cleaning. Some seats are even dishwasher safe, making it easier to keep them looking new.

Some models go beyond to ensure that their customers' experiences are safe and smooth, like the Graco SnugRide(tm) Elite, which boasts 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 comfortable and quiet, as well as an indicator that tells you when it's properly attached to the base. Its adjustable carry handle and harness tightener make simple one-handed adjustments.

Design

Car seat manufacturers make infant car seats with safety and comfort in mind, however the myriad of features available can make it hard to determine what's best 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 price but may improve the comfort of babies. Consider features that make it easier to get your child into and out of the car seat, such as rotating mechanisms. You should also pay attention to dimensions and weight of the base, as not all seats will fit in every vehicle.

One aspect that is particularly important is the ease of installing and disconnecting from the base. This is affected by the quality of the LATCH connectors as well as whether they are rigid or flexible. You should also consider whether the straps are simple to loosen and tighten and whether there is a single-hand release mechanism for removing and installing the seat.

Some models let you use the seat without a base which can be convenient for those who frequently use taxis or if you plan to switch cars often. To make sure that your seat is correctly installed be sure to look for models that have bubble level indicators as well as a built-in locking mechanism.

Certain features might be worth the extra cost for example, the headrest that grows with your child, a five-position reclining feature, or an extension canopy that is locked in the correct position. Our product testers also said that having a seat which can be used for a highback booster with belt positioning or a backless booster when the baby has completed using it is an added bonus.

The Doona is the kind of infant car seat that delights parents. It's packed with features that solve nearly every complaint families have about infant car seats, which is the reason our testers scored it highly across all categories. It's approved for travel on air, has an anti-rebound handle, and is able to be converted directly into a stroller. The crash test results are impressive and it's GREENGUARD Gold Certified.