Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies

While convertible car seats are ideal for children who are growing however, an infant car seat is best for newborns and babies. They're also smaller and easier to snap into strollers than their larger counterparts.

Kecia Healy Instructor at CPST Kecia Healy liked the recline leg with springs and a bubble indicator on the bottom of the Chicco KeyFit, as well as the user-friendliness. (The more user-friendly the car seat is, the more likely it is that parents will install it correctly. This model also fits three across in many midsize vehicles.

1. Clek Liing car seat inserts for newborns Seat for Infants

The Canadian manufacturer Clek is known for their best-rated convertible car seats and the infant Liing is one of their best infant seats. It is fitted with best infant carrier car seat-in class safety features like a metal load-leg that can be easily installed. It also features 7 different recline positions that can be adjusted to match the slope of your vehicle's seat. A bubble indicator helps you ensure that the seat is at the correct angle before your child rides in it.

The base for the Liing is simple to set up using rigid LATCH connections that slide into your vehicle's lower anchors making it easy to secure. The Liing is a great choice for families that are planning to change cars frequently or need a simple and reliable method of installing a baby's car seats. You can also utilize the belt-tensioning system included to buckle your child.

One of the things that distinguishes the Liing apart from other infant car seats is its 2-piece Newborn Support System. It includes a lower insert which slides over the crotch strap, and an attached headrest to the harnesses to stop newborns from slumping forward or pushing their heads backwards while in the seat. This is an amazing feature for tiny babies and preemies. It's also among the few rear-facing infant car seats that offers this degree of support.

The Liing's metal crash-test framework reduces the force of a crash by up to 40% when compared to other infant car seats that swivel seats. The shell of the seat is bolstered by EPP foam, which shields your child's head and body during a crash. The base of the seat has a metal load leg which absorbs energy and assists in reducing the risk of crashes.

2. Chicco KeyFit

This is a consistently top-rated infant car seat. It's quick to install, easy to use and can grow with your child. It also works well with strollers as an overall travel system.

The KeyFit is a good pick for parents who want an easy-to-use, secure and versatile seat. It was a top performer in crash tests and is light and easy to carry. It also offers an extensive range of weight and height limits. It was also designed with the comfort of babies in mind. The click-in point is protected by soft materials that protect your baby from being burnt by the metal. The insert for newborns comes with a head-cover which protects their heads. The seat pad, which your baby sits on, nestles them in foam cushions.

The process of installing it correctly is very easy. It is crucial to install the infant seat correctly, as incorrect installation can increase the danger of injury. The KeyFit's top LATCH connectors with a SuperCinch tightener provide an extremely secure fit with little 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 alternate installation and clear belt routing locks-offs, and the car seatbelt make it easy to position and tighten.

It does lose some points in the user-friendliness category due to the rethread style harness height adjustment, which is a standard feature on many Chicco seats (and also on their OG Keyfit model). This means that you need to manually re-thread the straps to change from one level to the next. This is a minor disadvantage for the convenience of this seat.

3. Joie i-Snug 2

The light Joie i-Snug 2 infant car seat is built to the most stringent safety standards. It features a no-rethread belt and is compatible with Joie Strollers that accept Maxi Cosi style adapters. It's simple to use, with clearly labeled installation guides as well as built-in bubble levels that aid in alignment. The car seat comes with plenty of padding and is very comfortable. It also comes with a handy canopy that shields your baby from the sun.

The iSnug 2 comes with an ISOFIX base for secure vehicle attachment. It can be used with a compatible stroller for a complete travel system. This rear-facing infant seat offers the highest level of cervical and head protection for newborns. The exclusive Tri-Protect headrest comes with a layer of Intelli-Fit memory foam to protect your baby from side-impact crashes.

Like any infant car seat you'll have to replace it when your child reaches the height and weight limits, or when they reach their first birthday. After that you can upgrade to a convertible, or an all-in-one car seat, which allows children to be rear-facing for longer and is safer for them.

A convertible car seat is larger and more spacious than an infant seat, and it has a greater weight and height limit when facing backwards. To avoid your child growing out of the seat too quickly, it's recommended to move to a seat that converts as quickly as you are able to. In some cases parents can even move their child into an all-in-one car seats without ever having to purchase another new infant car seat. It's therefore important to choose the right convertible car seat for you and your family. Read our complete guide to provide all the details you require to make the best decision.

4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX

Nuna Pipa RX is a top-rated infant seat due to its safety features, light design, and its versatility. It can be installed using rigid lower anchors on the outboard seats of most cars and with vehicle seat belt that utilizes Euro routing (which uses the entire length of a vehicle's seat belt to ensure a secure installation). It also comes with an organic GOTS baby insert, which is a great choice for parents who are environmentally conscious and prioritize organic products for their child.

The Pipa Aire RX weighs only 6 lbs. without the canopy or inserts. It's among the lightest infant car seat available. Aeroflex foam, which is lightweight and robust, but also extremely light, helps to minimize the force transferred to your child in a crash. Other security features include the five-second steel-reinforced True Lock base installation, side-impact protection, and a multiposition steel stability leg with a crumple zone to limit forward rotation to provide greater rearward-facing security.

The ergonomic aluminum handle is lightweight and luxurious, adorned with leatherette accents that provide an ergonomic grip and an ideal way to carry the bag. A magnetic buckle holder keeps straps from getting in the way when you buckle your child in and color-coded indicators for installation confirm correct connections. The low-profile base allows for super-fast loading, and the wide belt path with locks that secure lap and shoulder belts.

Cleaning up after a messy family member should not be a hassle. The inserts and fabrics in the Pipa Aire RX are machine washable so you can keep your car seat looking as fresh as new after each use.

5. Nuna Pipa Urbn

While Nuna's PIPA RX and PIPA aire RX car seats are both excellent options, the newly launched Pipa Urbn takes it all to a new level. This ultralight infant seat is lightweight and easy to carry, and weighs less than 7 pounds when the canopy and insert are connected. It also comes with a luxe user-friendly design with practical features like buckle holders that are magnetic to keep straps clear while you're buckling baby in and a green/red indicator to let you know the installation is secure (we would like to see all car seats had this! ).

The innovative pipaFIX system allows it to be used without the base, unlike Pipa RX or other base-compatible PIPAs that need a base to be installed. This makes it an ideal choice for parents who often use taxis or rideshare services for travel, or simply need the ability to move their car seat between vehicles more easily and quickly.

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. These green-friendly materials include the Merino Wool and Tencel blended Lyocell fibres for the headrest as well as an waterproof machine washable 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, so you may need to upgrade to a convertible seat sooner than other brands. It's still a top choice for babies. The car seat is equipped for travel and can be used with any of Nuna's strollers. Just click it on or connect via the rings adapter.