How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat
Consider what you'd like from your car 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 suggests. The seat can be changed to a high-back booster or a backless booster. It has a large rear-facing weight limit.
The soft cushioning that can be machine washed is an advantage. Other useful features include load legs, which are shock-absorbing elements on the base or in the car seat that reduce the impact of a crash.
Safety
The infant car seats are made to fit small babies best, so they typically have 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 since you will need to transport your child's car seat out of the vehicle often. The dedicated infant car seat is also designed to last your child for the first year. This means you won't need to be concerned about your child growing beyond its weight or height limit.
It is a good idea, however, 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 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 share with families.
You should also examine whether a seat has features that can be beneficial to your family, like the strap release that is one-handed, a no-rethread harness or an adjustable foot with springs. These kinds of features could help you buckle your child faster and more convenient but remember that even the safest seats are useless if you don't use them properly.
The weight and the width of the car seat is also crucial. Many infant seats can be installed in your vehicle along with older car seats. Some of them can expand with your child, and convert to an adult booster simultaneously. If you plan to use your car seat for transportation or for taxis, an infant car seat that is fitted using only the vehicle's seatbelt is a great alternative.
In general, you should buy the most safe seat that you can afford. The most affordable models don't always meet the highest standards of crash safety. Avoid models that do not include side impact tests, and allow manufacturers to self-certify.
Convenience
The best infant car seats are those that fit in your family vehicle They are also easy to install, and come with useful extras such as a built-in jogging stroller or a rotation feature. It should be affordable. Infant seats range in price from about $180 to $500. If they are convertible, and will be used for toddlers and infants The price could be higher.
Convenience features include how simple it is to install the seat using either the LATCH system or a seatbelt and whether you are able to adjust the harness and headrest without taking the baby out of the seat. You should be able to put in and take it out easily and quickly, particularly if you need to switch it between cars often or take Uber rides with your child. The seat should be lightweight and clearly labeled with instructions for installation and bubble levels to assist you in quickly install the car seat.
It should be easy to adjust the buckles and harness and also rotate the seat when not in use. best car seats infant is also essential to verify the weight and height limits of the infant car seat prior to you purchase it, and think about whether your baby will outgrow it before the time he turns one. A good guideline is to select a seat that grows with your child until they reach the 90th percentile.
Some manufacturers go above and beyond federal safety standards and include other features, such as crash testing, convenience and comfort in their car seats. The Clek Ling is a top pick among our gear editors as well as Consumer Reports is a great example of an infant seat that provides more than just excellent crash protection. It also comes with legs that help stabilize the seat during a crash, reducing forces on the child by 40 percent. This feature could save a child’s life. It's worth the extra money spent on car seats with added safety features and convenience.
Comfort
One of the most important considerations when choosing an infant car seat is comfort, since babies spend a lot of time in their car seats. The most comfortable ones feature thick, breathable fabrics and plenty of padding in the harness and headrest. They have easy-to-use adjustments, such as strap covers, buckles, and headrest adjustments which don't require rethreading.
The weight and size of a baby car seat can also impact comfort, particularly if you plan to change cars or take the seat with you on a regular basis. Some models are narrower than others, making them easier to fit in the back of the car with a car seat or siblings' seats. Although all models have weight and height limitations, some are lighter. This will help your biceps from aching when you carry it around town or between cars.
Some infant car seats include extra features that make them more versatile, such as rotating options or the ability to click into strollers without the need for extra adapters. Some models are equipped with premium features such as the adjustable no-rethread strap and bar that prevents rebound to give you extra safety in case of an accident. These features aren't essential to ensure safety, but they can improve the overall experience.
In addition to convenience and safety factors, many parents want a clean, comfortable infant car seat for their infant. Select a seat that is machine washable, stain-resistant and easy to take off to clean. Some seats are dishwasher safe, making it easier to keep them looking fresh.
Some models go beyond to ensure their customers' experiences are safe and comfortable, like the Graco SnugRide(tm) Elite, which comes with an anti-rebound bars and meets Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) standards to withstand rear and front collisions. The seat has a Silent Shade canopy to keep your baby comfortable and quiet and also an indicator to let you know when the seat is securely attached. The adjustable harness tightener and carry handle make simple one-handed adjustments.
Design
The manufacturers of infant car seats make their products with safety and ease of use as their main goals. However, the broad selection of features makes it difficult to decide which is best for your family. Consider factors like the weight and height limit and the number of belt paths and buckles. Other features like anti-rebound bar, load legs and no-rethread straps could increase the cost of the seat, but they will improve the comfort of your infant. Look for features that make it simple to get your child in and out of the car seat, for example rotational mechanisms. Also, pay attention to the dimensions and the weight of the seat as not every seat can be used in all cars.
One of the most important aspects is the ease of installing and disconnecting from the base. The quality of the LATCH connectors, and whether or not they're flexible or rigid, will influence this. It is also important to be aware of whether the straps can be easily adjusted and tightened and if they have an easy release mechanism that allows you to remove and install the seat.
Certain models let you use the seat without a base, which is a great option for those who frequently use taxis or if you are planning to switch cars frequently. To make sure that your seat is correctly installed make sure you choose models with bubble level indicators and a integrated locking mechanism.
Other features that may be worth the extra cost include a headrest that expands with the baby or a recline with five positions, as well as an extendable canopy that locks into place. Our product testers have noticed that a seat that can be used as a highback belt-positioning booster, or a backless one after the baby has finished using it is an advantage.
Doona is a car seat for infants that will pamper parents. It's loaded with features that solve nearly every complaint parents have about infant car seats, which is the reason our testers have rated it as top in all categories. It's approved for travel on air and comes with an anti-rebound handle and can be converted directly into a stroller. The crash test results are impressive and it's GREENGUARD Gold certified.