How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat

Think about what you'd like from your car seat. "If you're looking for a car seat to expand with your child, then consider an all-in one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton recommends. The seat can be changed into a high-back booster or a backless booster. It comes with a huge rear-facing weight limitation.

The soft cushioning that is machine washable is an advantage. Load legs are another useful feature. They are shock-absorbing parts that are attached to the base or car seats and reduce movement during a crash.

Safety

Dedicated infant car seats are made to fit small babies best car seats newborn, and so they typically come with more padding and cushioning than convertible carseats. They are also lighter and easier to take out of the car or set onto a stroller frame, unlike convertible car seats, which is vital since you'll likely need to transport your baby in the seat frequently outside of your vehicle. Dedicated infant car seats also have the advantage of being designed to last for your child's first year, so you don't need to worry about them growing beyond their height or weight limits in the same way that a convertible car seat may.

It's a good idea, however, to do some research before you purchase. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has strict standards for car seats. Consider reading reviews from other parents as well as looking through safety guides from organizations like Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have a lot of crash test data to share with families.

Look for features that will be useful to your family. These include an easy release of the strap, a no rethread harness or a leveling foot with a spring-loaded mechanism. These kinds of features can help you buckle your baby quicker and easier, but keep in mind that even the most secure seats will be useless if you don't use them properly.

Other factors to be aware of are the size and weight of the car seat. Many infant car seats can be installed in your vehicle alongside older car seats. Others can expand with your child and then convert to an adult booster in the same time. If you are planning to use your car seat to travel or to take taxis, then an infant car seat which can be put in place using only the seat belt of your vehicle is a good option.

In general, it's a good idea to purchase the most secure seat you can afford, as the cheapest models usually do not meet the highest safety standards for crash safety. For instance, it's recommended to stay clear of models that do not include side impact crash testing and allow companies to self-certify their seats.

Convenience

The ideal infant car seat for you is the one that will fit comfortably in your family's vehicle It is simple to install and use, and includes useful features like the built-in stroller or rotating capability. It should be affordable. The price of infant seats is between $180 to $500. They may cost more when they are convertible and are used as an infant car seat that swivels and toddler seat.

Convenience features include how simple it is to set up the seat using either LATCH system or a seatbelt and whether it is possible to adjust the headrest and harness without removing the infant out of the seat. The process of installing and removing the seat should be simple, especially for children who ride Ubers or frequently switches between cars. The seat should be light and clearly labeled with instructions for installation and bubble levels to make it easier to install the car seat.

You should also be able to turn the seat around and lock it when you're not using it, and have easy access to buckles and harness straps. It's also important to check the weight and height limits of the infant car seat before you purchase it, and consider if your baby will outgrow it before its first birthday. As a rule, choose the seat for your child that can grow with them until they reach 90 percentile.

While federal safety standards are the minimum requirement, some manufacturers go above and beyond to include additional crash-testing and features for convenience in their car seats. The Clek Ling is a top pick of our gear editors and Consumer Reports is a great example of a baby seat that offers much more than just great crash protection. It also has a leg that stabilizes the seat during a crash, reducing forces on the child by 40%. This feature could save a child’s life. It's worth it to invest more in car seats with added safety and convenience features.

Comfort

Comfort is an important factor to take into consideration when selecting an infant car seat, as babies spend most of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable car seats feature the thick, breathable fabric as well as ample padding on the headrest and harness. They have easy-to-use adjustments, such as strap covers, buckles and headrest adjustment mechanisms that don't need to be rethread.

The weight and size of an infant car seat can also impact the comfort of your child, particularly in the event that you intend to change cars or take the seat with you on a regular basis. Some models are narrower making it easier to place them in the backseat with other car seats or even siblings' seats. Although all have minimum and maximum height and weight restrictions, some are lighter than others--which can prevent your biceps from getting sore when you carry it between vehicles.

Some infant car seats offer additional features that make them more versatile, such as rotational options or the ability to click into a stroller without the need for extra adapters. Certain models include premium features such as the adjustable no-rethread strap and anti-rebound bar to provide additional security in the event of the possibility of a crash. Although these features aren't essential for the safety of your ride, they can contribute to the overall experience of using the seat.

In addition to safety and convenience factors, many parents want a clean, comfortable car seat for their infant. Find a seat that's machine washable and stain-resistant, as well as easy to clean. Some seats can be cleaned with a dishwasher which makes it easier to keep them looking new.

Some models go over and beyond to ensure their customers have the most secure and comfortable ride. For instance the Graco SnugRide (tm) Elite has an anti-rebounding bar and meets Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) which is designed to stand up to front and rear collisions. It also has a Silent Shade canopy that keeps baby comfortable and quiet and also an indicator that lets you know whether it's securely attached to the base. And, its adjustable carry handle and harness tightener provide easy, one-handed adjustments.

Design

Car seat manufacturers make portable infant car seat car seats with safety and convenience in mind, but the myriad of features available can make it difficult to determine which one is best for your family. Take into consideration factors such as the weight and height limits and the number of belt paths and buckles. Other features such as anti-rebound bars, load legs and harnesses with no-rethread straps can increase the cost, but they can also improve comfort for baby. Consider features that make it easier to get your child in and out of the car seat, for example rotational mechanisms. You should also pay attention to dimensions and weight of the base because not all seats fit in every vehicle.

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

Certain models let you use the seat without a base, which can be convenient when you frequently take taxis or plan on switching cars frequently. To make sure that your seat is correctly installed be sure to look for models that have bubble level indicators and built-in locking mechanisms.

Other features that may be worth the cost include a headrest that grows with the growing baby car seat as well as a recline that can be adjusted to five positions and an extendable canopy that locks in place. Our product testers also said that having a seat that can be used for a highback booster with belt positioning or a backless booster once the baby has completed using it is a nice benefit.

The Doona is the kind of infant car seat that delights parents. It's loaded with features that solve nearly every complaint families have about infant car seats, which is why our testers gave it top marks across all categories. It's approved for air travel and comes with an anti-rebound handle, and is able to be converted directly into a stroller. The results of its crash tests are excellent and it is GREENGUARD Gold certified.