How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat

Consider what you would like from your car seat. "If you need a car seat that will grow with your child, consider an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton says. The seat comes with a long rear-facing weight limit and is able to convert to both a high-back and backless booster.

It also scores well in terms of comfort and quality, thanks to soft and machine-washable padding. Load legs are an additional beneficial feature. These are shock-absorbing elements which are attached to the base or car seats and help to limit movement in an accident.

Safety

Dedicated infant car seat newborn insert seats are made to fit small babies the best car seat for newborn, which is why they typically offer more cushioning and padding than convertible carseats. They also tend to be lighter and easier to take out of the car or set on a stroller frame rather than convertible newborn car seat seats, which is important considering you will likely need to transport your baby in the car seat frequently out of your vehicle. The infant car seats have the advantage of often 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 in the same way that the convertible car seat might.

It's an excellent idea to do some research before you purchase. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has strict standards for car seats. You might want to read reviews from other parents and looking at car seat safety guidelines from organizations such as Consumer Reports or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both have crash test data that can be shared with families.

Find features that will help your family. This could include an easy release of the strap, a no-rethread harness, or a leveling foot with spring-loaded mechanism. These features assist in securing up your child, but remember that even the safest seats will not be useful when they aren't used properly.

The weight and the width of the car seat is also important. A lot of infant car seats are designed to be narrow enough to be able to sit alongside older car seats in the back of your vehicle Some can grow with your child and transition to a booster seat while you're at it. If you plan to use your car seat for transportation or for taxis, a baby car seat that is installed using only the seatbelt of your vehicle is a good option.

In general it's best to buy the safest seat you can afford, because the cheapest models usually do not meet the highest safety standards for crash protection. Beware of models that don't include side impact tests, and allow manufacturers to self-certify.

Convenience

The best car seats for infants are those that fit in the car of your family and are easy to install, and come with useful extras such as a built-in running stroller or a rotation feature. It should also be affordable. The price of infant seats is between $180 and $500. If they're convertible and are designed to be used by both infants and toddlers, the price can be higher.

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 taking the baby out of the seat. You should be able to set up and take it out easily particularly if you move frequently between vehicles or take Uber rides with your child. The seat should also be light and have clearly labeled installation guides and bubble levels to ensure you can quickly get the car seat correctly installed.

You should also be able to rotate the seat and lock it when not using it, and have easy access to buckles and harness straps. When you purchase an infant car seat travel car seat, it's important to check its weight and height limitations. Also, think about whether your child will outgrow the seat before they turn one. A good guideline is to select a car seat that grows with your child until they reach the 90th percentile.

Some manufacturers go above and beyond federal safety standards to include other features, such as crash testing, comfort and convenience in their car seats. The Clek Liing, a top pick from our gear editors and Consumer Reports, is an excellent example of an infant seat that offers more than just great crash protection. It also comes with legs that help stabilize the seat in an accident, reducing the force 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 secure and comes with additional convenience features.

Comfort

Comfort is an important factor to consider when choosing an infant car seat because babies spend the majority of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable ones are made of large, breathable fabrics as well as plenty of padding in the harness and headrest. They also come with easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms such as strap covers, buckles and headrest adjustments that do not require the rethreading.

The weight and size of the car seat for infants can also impact comfort particularly if it's being used in multiple cars or for frequent travel. Some models are narrower which makes it easier to place them in the back seat with other car seats or siblings seats. While all models come with weight and height restrictions, some are lighter. This could save your biceps from aching when you carry it around town or between cars.

Some infant car seats include extra features that make them more flexible like rotating infant car seat options or the ability to convert into a stroller without the need for extra adapters. Other models include top features such as an adjustable no-rethread harness or bars that prevent rebounding to provide additional safety in the event of the possibility of a crash. While these extra features aren't necessary for the safety of your ride, they can contribute to the overall experience using the seat.

Parents want their children to be in a comfortable, clean car seat. They also care about safety and convenience. Look for a model that's machine washable and stain-resistant, and also easy to clean. Some seats are even dishwasher safe, which makes it even easier to keep them looking clean.

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

Design

Manufacturers of infant car seats design them with safety and comfort as their main goals. However, the broad selection of features makes it difficult to determine which one is right for your family. You'll need to take into consideration factors such as weight and height limits, as well as the number of belt buckles and belt paths. Additional features like an load legs, anti-rebound bars, and no-rethread straps may increase the cost of the seat, but they will improve the comfort of your baby. Look for features that make it simple to get your child into and out of the car seat, for example rotating mechanisms. Also, pay attention to the dimensions and weight of the seat, because not every seat will fit in all vehicles.

One aspect that is particularly important is the ease of installation and detaching from the base. The quality of the LATCH connectors and whether they're flexible or rigid, could affect this. You should also be aware of whether the straps can be easily tightened and loosened and if there is a one-hand release mechanism to remove and install the seat.

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

Other features worth paying extra for include a headrest that grows with the growing baby, a five-position recline and an extended canopy that locks in place. Our product testers have also noted the fact that a seat can be used as a highback belt-positioning booster, or a backless one after the infant is done using it is an advantage.

Doona is a car seat for infants that will pamper parents. It's got many features that solve almost every complaint parents have about infant car seats. This is the reason our test participants gave it top marks all over the board. It's approved for air travel and has an anti-rebound handle and can be converted into a stroller. The results of its crash tests are impressive and it's GREENGUARD Gold certified.