How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat
Consider what you want from your car seat. “If you need a car seat that will adapt to your child’s needs look into an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX,” Saxton says. The seat can be changed to a high-back booster or a backless booster. It has a large rear-facing weight restriction.
The soft, machine-washable cushioning is also an advantage. Other useful features include load legs which are shock-absorbing components on the base of the car seat that reduce the movement of the car seat in a crash.
Safety
They are specifically designed to fit babies of smaller sizes better, which is why they are more comfortable than convertible car seats. They are also smaller and lighter to remove from your car or attach to a stroller frame, which is crucial since you will need to transport your child’s car seat outside of the vehicle often. Car seats for infants have the advantage of being built to last for the first year of your child’s life, so you don’t have to worry about them exceeding their weight or height as quickly as a convertible car seat may.
It’s a good idea, however, to do some research before you make a purchase. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has strict standards for car seats. Consider reading reviews by other parents and looking at car seat safety guides 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 be useful to your family. These include a one-handed release of the strap, a no rethread harness or a leveling foot with spring-loaded mechanism. These kinds of features can make buckling your baby faster and easier but remember that even the safest seats are useless if you don’t use them correctly.
The weight and the width of the car seat is also important. A lot of infant car seats on sale car seats are designed to be narrow enough to be able to sit alongside older car seats in the back of your car Some can grow with your child, and move to an adult seat simultaneously. Also, if you intend to use your car seat to travel or to take taxis, a lightweight baby car seat car seat that can be installed using only the seat belt of your vehicle is a great option.
In general, it is recommended to buy the most safe seat that you can afford. The cheapest models don’t always meet the highest standards of crash safety. Beware of models that don’t have side impact crash tests, and allow manufacturers to self-certify.
Convenience
The best car seats for infants are those that can fit in your family vehicle and are easy to install, and have convenient extras like a built-in jogging stroller or the ability to rotate. It should be reasonably priced. Infant seats cost between $180 and $500. If they’re convertible, and will be used for both infants and toddlers The price could be higher.
Convenience features include how simple it is to put in the seat with either the LATCH system or a seatbelt and whether you can adjust the headrest and harness without removing the infant out of the seat. The process of installing and removing the seat should be easy, especially when your child rides in Ubers or you frequently switch between cars. The seat should be light, with clearly labeled 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, as well as move the seat when not in use. Before you buy an infant car seat, you need to verify its weight and height limits. Also, consider whether your child will outgrow the seat by the time they reach their first birthday. As a rule, choose a seat for your child that can grow with them until they reach the 90% percentile.
Some manufacturers go above and beyond federal safety standards to include additional features such as crash-testing, convenience and comfort 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 offers more than just good infant car seats crash protection. It also comes with an element that helps stabilize the seat during an accident, reducing the force on the child by 40 percent. This feature could save a child’s life. It’s worth the extra money spent on car seats that have safety features and convenience.
Comfort
The comfort factor is one of the most important factors to take into consideration when selecting the right car seat for your infant, because babies spend the majority of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable ones have large, breathable fabrics as well as plenty of padding on the headrest and harness. They are equipped with simple adjustments, such as strap covers, buckles and headrest adjustment mechanisms that don’t require rethreading.
The weight and size of the car seat for infants can also impact comfort especially if it’s being used in multiple vehicles or for frequent travel. Certain models are smaller than others, which makes them easier to fit into the back of the car with a car seat or your siblings seats. While all models come with weight and height limitations, some are lighter. This can save you from sore biceps when you carry it between cars.
Certain infant car seats come with extra features to make them more versatile. For example they can rotate or be clicked into a stroller with no need for additional adapters. Some models are equipped with high-end features, such as the adjustable no-rethread strap and bar that prevents rebound to give you extra security in the event of the possibility of a crash. While these additional features aren’t necessary for the safety of your ride, they can add to the overall experience using the seat.
In addition to convenience and safety factors, many parents also need a clean and comfortable car seat for their baby. Choose a seat that is machine washable and stain-resistant as well as easy to clean. Some seats are even dishwasher safe, making it easier to keep them looking clean.
Certain models go over and beyond to ensure their customers have the most secure and comfortable ride. For example, the Graco SnugRide ™ Elite has an anti-rebounding bar and meets Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) which is designed to withstand both rear and front collisions. The seat has a Silent Shade canopy to keep your baby comfortable and quiet, as well an indicator that lets you know when the seat is properly attached. 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 create them with safety and convenience as their primary goals. However, the vast variety of features can make it difficult to determine which one is right for your family. You’ll need to take into consideration aspects like weight and height limits and the number of belt buckles and belt paths. Additional features such as anti-rebound bar, load legs and straps that do not rethread could raise the cost of the seat, but will increase the comfort of your infant. Consider features that make it easy to get your child into and out of the car seat, for example rotating mechanisms. Be sure to pay attention to the dimensions and weight of the seat as not every seat will fit in all cars.
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 are rigid or flexible. It is also important to determine whether the straps are simple to loosen and tighten and whether there’s a single hand release mechanism to install and remove the seat.
Some models let you use the seat without a base which can be convenient if you take taxis often or plan to switch cars often. Find models with a built-in lock and bubble level indicators to help ensure that your seat is set properly.
Certain features could be worth the extra cost, such as the ability to grow with your child, a five-position recline feature, and a canopy that extends and locks into the correct position. Our product testers have noticed the fact that a seat can be used as a highback belt-positioning booster, or a backless one after the baby is finished using it is a benefit.
The Doona is the kind of infant car seat that delights parents. It’s packed with features that solve nearly every complaint parents have about infant car seats, which is the reason our testers scored it highly across all categories. It’s approved for air travel and comes with an anti-rebound handle and is able to be converted directly into a stroller. The results of its crash tests are excellent and it is GREENGUARD Gold certified.
