How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn

The best car seats car seat for newborns is one that is compliant with federal safety standards, fits your car, has useful features (like making it a stroller) and works with your budget. It’s also worth ensuring the infant car seat rear facing car seat can be inserted into and out of your car easily especially if you frequently switch between taxis or trips in rental cars and grandparents vehicles.

Safety

A high-quality car seat comes with extra features that go beyond the federal safety standards. These include padded inserts for the shoulders and head and air-repellent fabrics that help keep them cool in hot car, and side-impact protection.

Installation and use of the seat is another important safety consideration. Ideally, the seat should be easy to install and use, as well as clear indicators of its height, position, and security.

Look for features that make it easier to do that, like locks built-in to the seat and belt guides that can help you line up the car seat with the seat belt. It is also important to avoid purchasing used car seats that may not be tested for crash safety or have been involved in an accident and might not be safe for your child. If you have to purchase a used one be sure that it’s on the expiration date and isn’t being sold by an individual seller who doesn’t have proof of ownership.

It’s also important to remember that you should only leave your child in the car seat for up to two hours a day, unless you are in an upright position. This will reduce strain on the spine of your child and ensure they get a chance to breath regularly.

The choice of a car seat for infants is a significant investment therefore you’ll need to make sure that it has a long duration. Choose a seat that is designed to adapt with your child and will last into toddlerhood and through the teen years. Our parents were pleased with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for children as young as birth, and can be used until age 7.

The Nuna pipa air rx is a different option that can be used for a long time. It can rotate 360 degrees, making it possible to change it from front-facing to rear-facing as your child grows. It’s also among the lightest car seat For newborn seats that rotate available and weighs less than 9 pounds without its base. It’s the ideal choice for parents who regularly transfer their children between cars or are planning on using it for taxi rides, fly-drive holidays and trips to grandparent’s houses.

Comfort

It is crucial that your child is at ease in their car seat both while they are in it and after you install it. Look for padded straps which fit snugly around their shoulders, and look for plush material that feels comfortable on their stomachs. This is particularly important if you plan to use the seat for a long time.

The most effective infant car seats are also simple to use. Some have premium LATCH connectors with a SuperCinch force multiplier that tightens the seat. Some also have spring-loaded leveling legs and belt paths to make installation without a base easier than ever. Other features will help you adjust the height of the harness and headrest, which is especially crucial as your child grows.

One example is the Cosatto All in All Rotate, which our parent testers gave a 10/10 for ease of use. It features a clear, simple interface, a no-rethread, easy-to-change harness, 360-degree rotation and recline lock indicators. This means you can switch from rear-facing to forward-facing as your child grows without having to remove the seat and replace it.

Another example is the Nuna Pipa aire rx, which our parents loved for its comfort, ease of use and its versatility. Its padded shoulder straps and headrest are shaped to support the head of your newborn, and it comes with a soft infant pillow to ensure that they are comfortable. It can be placed in a rear-facing position until your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit. Then, it transforms into a stroller.

A good car seat will last, and some will even come with a guarantee. Look for a seat that has plenty of padding and durable materials to protect your child from accidents. It should also have a steel frame to absorb the impact energy and an “crumple area” to prevent crash damage. It is important to keep it clean as accidents are bound to happen with children. Find car seats that have removable seat covers and a machine-washable pad to make cleaning a breeze.

Easy of Use

It’s important that a car seat be easy to install and use, especially in the event that it will be used in a variety of vehicles at times. To make it as simple as possible you should look for features like a quick-release belt as well as an indicator to indicate the status of the latch (e.g. green for locked) and a manual that is easy to read.

The Best of The Bump winner also comes with several useful extras that our parents testers adored, such as the headrest and harness that are padded as well as a plush fabric cup holder. It also has a reclining feature that allows your top rated baby car seats to be seated in a more comfortable position for longer trips. It can also be combined with a compatible buggy to create an entire travel system which is ideal if you plan on traveling for long durations of time.

Our panelists noted that this car seat was easy to set up and adjust. It comes with an indicator for recline and an exclusive LATCH connector with a SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener, which makes the process of securing your child simple. It’s designed to be easily moved from side to side in the vehicle without the necessity of tools.

The reclining feature makes it easier for you to carry your child in and out of the vehicle. This is particularly useful when you have back problems or have a small car. It also has the ability to reversibly hold your cup and a handy storage pocket for toys and snacks.

The seat weighs just nine pounds and can be set up with or without its base. It can also be rotated 180 degrees. This is an excellent feature for those who are tight in space or suffer from back pain. This feature has impressed our panelists and was selected for inclusion in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.

This is a great option for those looking to transform their car seats into strollers at an affordable cost. Its sleek design and high-end material will also stand the test time. Just don’t forget to wash your cover frequently as smashed biscuits, yoghurt spills, and the occasional sick toddler accident will be sure to leave a footprints!

Design

The designs of car seats can be as diverse as the vehicles they’re used in. Some parents prefer to leave infant car seats out in favour of convertible models, the majority of new mothers want a seat that will develop with their baby as they reach toddlerhood. The most flexible option is an all-in one baby car seat that lets you switch between forward-facing and rear-facing. It typically has a greater height and weight limit, and can be used as a booster seat if your child is ready to be one.

The ideal car seat for infants for newborns is lightweight and easy to take off the base with your baby inside. The Maxi-Cosi Coral is available in only a handful of colors however it comes with a wide array of safety features and is light (8.4 pounds including canopy and seat inserts). Other models that stand out are the Nuna PIPA URbN which was the winner of Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for best infant car seat Car Seat Group 0/0+ due to its premium extras such as the Dream drape and UPF 50+ full-coverage canopy.

The design of the base and the seat should be considered. Certain car seats have a base that locks into the vehicle seat belt buckles. Others have steel reinforced connectors for LATCH which flip out of the sides of the base when properly connected. Parents appreciated these connectors, especially if their car only had front-facing seatbelts, and no ISOFIX anchor points.

Some infant car seats can also be used with a standard seatbelt that is not base-less that is great for parents who often use taxis or travel with their infant. The Nuna TODL NEXT was a favorite among our parent testers. It can be used either with or without the base and it has a smooth swivel, which makes it easier to get your baby in and out.

Other important considerations for design are whether a car seat comes with an open design, and how it fits into your particular car (see our guide to car seat compatibility). If you’re looking for an infant car seats cheap car seat newborn that will grow with your baby into a booster, look for one that has the option of reclining headrests and side impact protection. It’s also worth checking that the infant car seat is iSize certified and has the proper car seat attachment points as per UK law.