Forget Best Infant Car Seat: 10 Reasons Why You No Longer Need It

How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat

What do you want from your seat? "If you're looking for a car seat that can adapt to your child's needs, consider an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton says. The seat has a long rear-facing weight limit and is able to be converted into an incline-back booster and a backless one.

It also scores highly for comfort and quality with soft and machine-washable padding. Other helpful features include load legs that absorb shock on the base of the car seat that help to limit movement in a crash.

Safety

Dedicated infant car seats are made to fit small babies best car seats for infants, and so they typically come with more padding and cushioning than convertible carseats. They are also smaller and lighter to remove from the car or connect to a stroller frame which is crucial because you'll need to carry your child in the seat outside of your vehicle often. Dedicated infant car seats also have the advantage of often being designed to last for the first year of your child's life which means you don't have to worry about them outgrowing their height or weight limits as fast as a convertible car seat may.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's guidelines for car seats are stringent, but it is still a good idea to do your own research prior to making a purchase. Consider reading reviews from other parents as well as looking through safety guides from groups like Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have plenty of crash test data to give to families.

It is also important to consider whether the seat has features that can be particularly helpful for your family, like a one-handed strap release, a no-rethread harness or a spring-loaded leveling foot. These kinds of features could help you buckle your baby quicker and easier, but keep in mind that even the safest of seats will be useless if you don't use them properly.

Other factors to be aware of are the width and weight of the car seat. Many infant seats are designed to be small enough to fit alongside older car seats in the back of your car While others can expand with your child and then transition to an adult seat simultaneously. And finally, if you intend to use your car seat to travel or to take taxis, an infant car seat that is installed with only the vehicle's seatbelt is a convenient alternative.

In general, you should buy the most safe seat that you can afford. The most affordable models don't always meet the most stringent standards of crash safety. For example, 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 Seat newborn uk infant car seat for you is one that can work well in the vehicle of your family It is simple to install and use, and comes with handy features such as the built-in stroller or rotating capability. It must also be affordable. Infant seats cost between $180 and $500. If they're convertible and are intended for both infants and toddlers The price could be higher.

Convenience features include how simple it is to put in the seat using either LATCH system or a seatbelt and whether you can adjust the harness and headrest without taking the infant out of the seat. You should be able to set up and remove the seat easily particularly if you move frequently between vehicles or take Uber rides with your child. The seat should also be light and come with clearly labeled installation guidelines and bubble levels so that you can swiftly install the car seat properly installed.

You must also be able to rotate the seat and lock it when not using it, and have easy access to buckles as well as harness straps. It's also important to know the height and weight limits of the infant car seat in front seat car seat prior to you buy it, and then consider whether your baby will outgrow it before the time he turns one. A good rule of thumb is to choose a seat that grows with your child until they reach the 90th percentile.

While the safety standards of the federal government are the minimum, some manufacturers go beyond to offer additional crash-testing and convenience features in their car seats. The Clek Ling is a top pick of our gear editors and Consumer Reports is a great example of an infant seat that offers much more than just good crash protection. It also has an extra load leg that can help stabilize the seat in a crash and reduces the force on the child's body by 40%. This feature could save a child's life. It's worth spending more on car seats with added safety and convenience features.

Comfort

The comfort factor is one of the most important factors to take into consideration when selecting an infant car seat because babies spend the majority of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable car seats feature large, breathable fabrics and generous padding on the harness and headrest. They are equipped with simple adjustments, such as strap covers, buckles and headrest adjustment mechanisms that don't require the rethreading.

The size and weight of a baby car seat can affect the comfort of your child, particularly when you are planning to switch cars or travel with the seat often. Some models are more narrow than others, which makes them easier to fit into the back seat with another car seat or other siblings seats. And, while they all have minimum and maximum heights and weight restrictions, some are lighter than others, which can help save your biceps from aching when you carry it around town or between vehicles.

Certain infant car seats come with extra features to allow them to be more flexible. For example they can rotate or be converted into a stroller with no need for adapters. Other models have top features such as harnesses that are adjustable and do not rethread or anti-rebound bars to add extra safety in the event of a crash. These features aren't essential for a safe ride however they can improve the overall experience.

Parents want their children to be comfortable and have a clean car seat. They also consider safety and convenience. Look for a model that's machine washable and stain-resistant, and also easy to take off for cleaning. Some seats are dishwasher safe, making it even easier to keep them looking fresh.

Some models go further to ensure their customers have an enjoyable and safe experience. For example, the Graco SnugRide (tm) Elite has an anti-rebounding bar, and is compatible with Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) which is designed to stand up to rear and front collisions. The seat also includes a Silent Shade canopy that keeps baby car seat comfortable and quiet, as well as an indicator that lets you know that it's attached correctly to the base. 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, but the variety of features available can make it difficult to determine which one is most suitable for your family. Consider factors like the weight and height limit and the number of belt routes and buckles. Additional features like an load legs that are not bound, anti-rebound bar, and no-rethread straps may increase the cost of the seat, but they will improve comfort for your baby. You might also consider features that help you get your child into and out of the seat, such as rotational mechanisms. You should also pay attention to dimensions and weight of the base, as not all seats are suitable for every car.

One feature that's especially important is the ease of installing and disconnecting from the base. The quality of the LATCH connectors, and whether they're flexible or rigid, can affect this. You'll also want to 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.

Some models allow you to use the seat without a base, which is useful for those who frequently use taxis or plan on switching cars frequently. To make sure that your seat is securely installed, look for models with bubble level indicators and built-in locking mechanism.

Other features that may be worth the cost include a headrest that increases with the baby or a recline with five positions, as well as an extended canopy that locks in the position. Our product testers have also noticed 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 a plus.

Doona is an infant car seat that will spoil parents. It's packed with features that address nearly every issue families have with infant car seats, which is the reason our test participants have rated it as top across every category. It's approved for travel on air, has an anti-rebound handle and can be converted directly into a stroller. Its crash test result is impressive and it's GREENGUARD Gold Certified.