How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat

What do you want from your seat? "If you want a car seat that can grow with your child, think about an all-in-one model such as the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton advises. 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 an advantage. Load legs are a useful feature. These are shock-absorbing elements which are attached to the base or car seats and limit movement during a crash.

Safety

The infant car seats are designed to fit small babies best, so they typically come with more padding and cushioning than convertible carseats. They are also lighter and easier to lift out of the car, or put on a stroller frame rather than convertible car seats, which is crucial since you'll likely have to transport your child in the seat frequently outside of your vehicle. Car seats for infants have the advantage of being built to last for your child's first year, so you don't have to worry about them outgrowing their weight or height as quickly as convertible car seats can.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's guidelines for car seats are extremely stringent, but it is still recommended to conduct your own research before purchasing. You should consider reading reviews from other parents as well as looking through safety guidelines from groups such as Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have plenty of crash testing data to share with families.

You should also look into whether a seat has features that could be particularly helpful for your family, like an easy strap release with one hand or a harness that doesn't need rethreads, or a spring-loaded leveling foot. These types of features can help you buckle your baby quicker and easier but remember that even the most secure seats are useless when you don't use them in a proper manner.

The weight and width of the car seat are also crucial. Many infant seats are designed to fit alongside older car seats in the back of your car While others can expand with your child and then transition to a booster seat while you're at it. And finally, if you plan to use your car seat for travel or to take taxis, a baby car seat that can be fitted using only the seatbelt of your vehicle is a great option.

In general, it is recommended to purchase the safest seat that you can afford. The cheapest models may not always meet the highest standards of safety in crashes. For instance, it's best to stay clear of models that do not include side impact testing and permit companies to self-certify their products.

Convenience

The best car seats for infants are those that can fit in your family vehicle and are simple to install, and have convenient extras such as a built-in jogging stroller or the ability to rotate. It should be affordable. Infant seats cost between $180 and $500. If they're convertible and are intended for toddlers and infants The price could be higher.

The convenience features include the ability to be installed using the LATCH system, or a seatbelt. Also, if you can adjust the headrest and harness without having to remove the baby from the seat. Installing and removing the seat should be easy, especially if your child rides in Ubers or frequently switches between cars. The seat should be lightweight, with clearly labeled instructions for installation and bubble levels to make it easier to install the car seat.

You must also be able to turn the seat around and lock it when not using it, and have easy access to buckles and harness straps. It's also important to know the weight and height limits of the infant car seat before you buy it, and then consider whether your baby will outgrow it before its first birthday. In general, you should select a car seat for your child that will grow with them until they reach the 90% percentile.

While federal safety standards are the minimum requirement, some manufacturers go beyond to offer additional crash-testing and other features that are included 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 more than just good crash protection. It also comes with an element that helps stabilize the seat during crashes, reducing the forces on the child by 40 percent. That feature alone could save a child's life, so it's worth the extra cost for a car seat that is safe and has added convenience features.

Comfort

One of the most important considerations when selecting an infant car seat is comfort, since infants spend a lot of time in their car seats. The most comfortable car seats feature large, breathable fabrics and plenty of padding on the headrest and harness. They have easy-to-use adjustments, like strap covers, buckles and headrest adjustments that don't require rethreading.

The weight and size of the infant car seat can also impact comfort, especially if it is being used in multiple vehicles or for frequent travel. Some models are more narrow than others, which makes them easier to fit in the back seat with another car seat or siblings' seats. While all have minimum and maximum heights and weight limits, some are lighter than others--which can help save your biceps from getting sore when you carry it between vehicles.

Some infant car seats come with additional features that allow them to be more flexible. For example they can rotate or be converted into a stroller without need for adapters. Some models come with top-quality features like the adjustable no-rethread strap and anti-rebound bar to provide extra security in the event of a crash. These features aren't required for safe riding, but they can enhance the overall experience.

Parents want their infants to be in a comfortable, clean car seat. They also value safety and convenience. 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 brand new.

Certain models go above and beyond to ensure that their customers enjoy the most secure and comfortable ride. 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 both rear and front collisions. The seat also includes a Silent Shade canopy that keeps baby safe and quiet and an indicator that tells you when it's properly attached 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 design infant car seats with safety and ease of use in mind, but the dizzying array of features available can make it hard to determine what's best for your family. You'll need to take into consideration aspects like weight and height limits and the number of belt paths and buckles. Other features like anti-rebound bar, load legs and no-rethread straps could increase the price of the seat, but they will improve the comfort of your baby. Look for features that make it easier to get your child in and out of the car seat, such as 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 an aspect that is crucial. This can be affected by the quality of the LATCH connectors and whether they're rigid or flexible. It is also important to determine whether the straps are simple to tighten and loosen, and whether there's a single hand release mechanism for removing and installing the seat.

Certain models allow you to use the seat without a footrest, which can be useful for those who plan to switch cars or take taxis often. Find models with a built-in lock and bubble level indicators to help ensure your seat is installed correctly.

Certain features could be worth the extra cost for example, the headrest that grows with your child, a five-position reclining feature, or the canopy that expands and secures into the position. Our product testers have also noted the fact that a seat can be used as a highback belt-positioning booster or backless booster after the baby is finished using it is an advantage.

Doona is an infant car seat that will delight parents. It's loaded with features that address nearly every complaint parents have about infant car seats, which is the reason our test participants have rated it as top across every category. For instance, it's certified for travel infant car seat on airplanes, has a unique handle that doubles as an anti-rebound bar, and converts directly into a stroller (no need to buy a separate stroller adapter). The results of its crash tests are top rated infant car seats-quality and it's GREENGUARD Gold certified.