How to Choose the best car seats Infant Car Seat

Think about what you'd like from your car seat. "If you are looking for a car seat to expand with your child, think about an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton suggests. The seat comes with a long rear-facing weight limit and can convert to both the high-back and backless booster.

It also scores high in terms of comfort and quality, thanks to soft and machine-washable padding. Load legs are an additional useful feature. These are shock-absorbing elements that are attached to the base or car seats and reduce movement during a crash.

Safety

The infant car seats are made to fit small babies the best, which is why they typically come with more padding and cushioning than convertible carseats. They also tend to be lighter and easier to lift out of the car, or put onto a stroller frame than convertible car seats, which is vital because you'll probably be required to transport your baby in the car seat newborn insert seat frequently out of your vehicle. Car seats for infants have the advantage of often being designed to last through the first year of your child's life, so you don't need to worry about them exceeding their weight or height in the same way that a convertible car seat may.

It is an excellent idea to do some research prior to you make a purchase. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has strict standards for car seats. You should consider reading reviews from other parents and reviewing safety guidelines from groups such as Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have plenty of crash test data to share with families.

Find features that will help your family. This could include an easy release of the strap, a no-rethread harness or a foot that can be leveled with spring-loaded mechanisms. These types of features can help you buckle your baby faster and easier however, you must remember that even the safest seats will be useless when you don't use them correctly.

Other factors to be aware of are the width and weight of the car seat. Many infant seats are designed to be able to sit alongside older car seats in the back of your car While others can expand with your child and then transition to an adult seat at the same time. Also, if you intend to use your car seat to travel or to take taxis, an infant car seat that can be installed with only the seatbelt of your vehicle is a convenient option.

In general it's a good idea to purchase the most secure seat you can afford, since the cheapest models usually don't meet the most rigorous crash safety standards. For instance, it's best to avoid models that don't include side crash testing and allow companies to self-certify their seats.

Convenience

The best car seats for infants are ones that fit in your family vehicle, are easy to install and include useful features such as a built-in running stroller or a rotation feature. It should be reasonably priced. Infant seats range between $180 to $500. They can cost more if they are convertible and used as a toddler and infant seat.

The convenience features include the fact that the seat can be positioned with the LATCH system or a seatbelt. Additionally it is possible to adjust the harness and headrest without removing the baby from the seat. Installing and taking it off should be simple, especially when your child rides in Ubers or you frequently switch between cars. The seat should be light and clearly labeled with instructions for installation and bubble levels to help you quickly install the car seat.

It should be easy to adjust the buckles and harness, as well as move the seat when not in use. Before purchasing an infant car seat, you need to determine its weight and height limitations. Also, consider if your child will outgrow the seat by the time they turn one. As a rule, choose a seat for your child that will grow with them until they reach 90 percentile.

While the safety standards of the federal government are the minimum requirement, some manufacturers go over to provide additional crash testing and other features that are included in their car seats. The Clek Ling, a top choice among our gear editors as well as Consumer Reports is a great example of an infant seat that provides more than just great crash protection. It also has an element that helps stabilize the seat in a crash, reducing forces on the child by 40 percent. This alone could save the life of a child, so it's worth paying more for a car seat that is safe and has added convenience features.

Comfort

The comfort factor is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing an infant car seats newborn seat as babies spend most of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable ones have comfortable, breathable fabrics and ample padding for the harness and headrest. They also have easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms such as buckles, strap covers, and headrest adjustments that do not require the rethreading.

The size and weight of an infant car seat can affect the comfort of your child, particularly when you are planning to change cars or use the seat frequently. 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. Although all have minimum and maximum height and weight restrictions, some are a bit lighter than others. This can prevent your biceps from aching when you carry it around town or between vehicles.

Certain infant car seats come with additional features that make them more versatile, such as rotating options or the ability to convert into strollers without the need for extra adapters. Other models include high-end features like an adjustable no-rethread harness or anti-rebound bars for additional security in the case of a crash. These features aren't required for a safe ride however they can improve the overall experience.

In addition to convenience and safety factors, many parents also require a clean, comfortable car seat for their child. Select a seat that is machine washable, stain resistant and easy to remove to clean. Some seats are dishwasher safe, which makes it easier to keep them looking 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 stand up to rear and front collisions. The seat comes with a Silent Shade canopy to keep your baby comfortable and quiet, as well an indicator to let you know when the seat is securely attached. The adjustable harness tightener and carry handle allow for simple, one-handed adjustments.

Design

Car seat manufacturers create infant car seats with safety and ease of use in mind, however the myriad of features available can make it hard to determine what's most suitable for your family. Consider factors like the weight and height limits, the number of belt paths and buckles. Additional features like an anti-rebound bar, load legs and straps that do not rethread could raise the cost of the seat but improve the comfort of your infant. You may also think about features that allow you to easily get your child in and out of the seat, such as rotational mechanisms. Also, be aware of the dimensions and weight of the base, as not all seats fit in every car.

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're strong or flexible. You should also consider 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 allow you to use the seat without a footrest, which is a great option when you plan to switch taxis or cars frequently. Make sure you choose a model that come with a built-in lock as well as bubble level indicators to help ensure that your seat is set correctly.

Other features worth paying extra for include a headrest that expands with the growing baby or a recline with five positions, as well as an extendable canopy that locks in the position. Our product testers have noted that having a seat that can be used as a high-back belt-positioning booster or a backless booster after the baby has finished using it is an advantage.

The Doona is an infant car seat that spoils parents. It's got many features that address almost every issue families have with infant car seats. This is why our test participants gave it top marks all over the range. For instance, it's approved for airplane travel, has a unique handle that doubles as an anti-rebound bar and converts directly into strollers (no need for separate stroller adapter). Its crash test result is impressive and it's GREENGUARD Gold Certified.