How to Choose Infant Car Seats Best

Car seats are an essential item for parents. What is it that makes one car seat more effective than the other?

A special infant seat fits small babies best, and is lighter for easier transport outside the vehicle. Look for convenience options like premium lower anchor connectors, no-rethread harness pads, and one-button handles. Also, consider security features like load legs and body/head cushions.

Safety

As every parent will tell you, selecting the best car seat for your child is one of the most crucial decisions you could make. The best seat will ensure they’re positioned correctly in the car and ensure they’re secured in the event of a crash.

While every car seat sold in the US must adhere to strict standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), not all seats are created equal. Certain models come with special features to safeguard infants, for instance, load legs that reduce movement during crashes by absorbing the force of impact on the base and car seat as well as built-in bubble levels that make for easy installation and adjustable headrests that increase with your child.

Car seats specifically designed for infants are also designed to fit tiny babies most comfortably and usually come with extra crash-tested inserts to help achieve this, according to Choi. They are also lighter than convertible car seat and can be easily transformed into a stroller. This makes them perfect for daycare drop-offs, ride-shares and pick-ups. And because they’ll only last through your lightweight baby car seat‘s first year and beyond, you can always purchase an older model for only a fraction of the cost.

Another factor to consider is that, while an excellent NHTSA rating and impressive crash test results are crucial however, the method you use your car seat is even more important to your child’s safety. In fact, a study conducted by Portland’s leading children’s hospital revealed that 95 percent of parents made at least one critical error when installing or putting in their car seat.

It’s important to be familiar with your surroundings before your baby arrives by ensuring that you know the correct car seat guidelines. We suggest you look for a car seat with clear and concise instructions, is light enough to easily carry with your child, and comes with easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms.

You should also determine if the car seat for infants you’re considering fits the dimensions required for your vehicle. If you’re concerned about your ability to set up and operate the car seat properly yourself, you may want to take it to a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) before the baby is born to receive a hands-on demonstration.

Convenience

Some infant car seats on sale car seats include extra features that make it easier to use. For instance, they might have a base that the seat can be clicked into and out of, or they could come with easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms. These features can help make it more convenient to attach and remove the car seat, particularly when you have a child to look after.

The weight and height limits of a car seat for infants are other important aspects to consider. If you have a child who is growing quickly it might be worth the extra money to invest in an infant car seat with higher limits to ensure that you use it for as long as possible.

Aside from the safety features, an infant car seat should be comfortable for your baby. Find padded straps that don’t rub or pinch their shoulders, and look for soft fabric that feels comfortable beneath them. Choose a seat that has an upright position. This allows your child to sit in an upright position, which helps keep their airways wide open and oxygen saturation levels high.

Dr. Segura advises that you should not buy any accessories for infant car seats that aren’t included in the seat since they are not tested for safety in a crash and could pose a risk. Avoid purchasing a used infant car seats as they could have been involved in an accident and could be damaged or worn.

The best infant car seats range between $100 and $600 There are a few things that all of the top options have in common. They’re all light, easy to set up and remove and comfortable for infants. Some models have additional features that make them even more versatile. For instance they can swivel, or clip onto strollers without adapters. For more information about the different options available, take a look at our comparison of best infant car seats.

Comfort

The top infant car seats have comfort features that make it easy to get the baby in and out of the seat. The best forward facing infant car seat car seats feature a single-handed clasp system that lets you grip both sides simultaneously. They also have cushioned padding that makes it easier to lift the seat. In addition, you’ll need to consider how much weight the seat weighs. You’ll be using it without a base, in the end, so a lighter one is better. The Baby Trend Secure-Lift is a good example. It weighs less than 13 pounds.

The weight and height limits of infant car seats are also important. If you intend to keep the car seat for a period of time choose an infant car seat that will expand with your child and fit them into the toddler years. You can keep it for longer and save money by not buying a second seat.

You should also take into consideration the dimensions of the seat, and whether it is narrower or wider than other models. The first one is useful for smaller vehicles. The second option could be beneficial if you have three kids in the rear seat or two children in back-to-back car seats. If you intend to use the car seat along with a stroller, look for one that has detachable car seats that are compatible with the majority of strollers. Car seat brands such as Graco and Nuna provide options that satisfy this need.

Review the rating of a car seat to determine its the ease of use. Guides and indicators clearly labeled that inform you that the seat is level and securely fastened — like bubble levels or color coding–can assist in easing the burden on the new parents. Some seats also have innovative features such as load legs, which are shock-absorbing parts that are located under the seat or at the base that extend out to the floor of the vehicle and absorb some of the impact force in a crash.

There are additional accessories that claim to enhance the convenience and comfort of your car seat. But remember that anything that is not included with the seat hasn’t been subjected to safety testing. Segura advises that you shouldn’t put anything else in your car seat, including the blanket or harness you purchased elsewhere.

Style

For parents who are new, figuring out how to pick the best infant car seat is a bit of an issue. It’s important to know what your budget is and the features you’d like to have. There are a variety of options for special features, stroller compatibility, and fabrics. But it all boils down to comfort.

For example, it’s worth noting that dedicated infant seats fit smaller babies better than convertible car seats and are suitable for the first year of life (though some may include crash-tested extension kits to ensure they last longer). They tend to come with more recline modes to allow for the correct positioning of small children. They are also lighter and easier to carry. They are more likely to work when used with an existing travel system. This is beneficial for parents who are new and want to save money and time by purchasing seats that can serve two functions.

Another aspect to be aware of is that car seat weight and width are crucial elements for families with a large number of children. Certain infant car seats, for instance are narrower and can fit better in the back of your car or close to other seats. Others are heavy enough to really test your biceps by lifting and move from stroller to car.

When it comes to convenience, a lot of parents choose infant car seats that have the ability to go from base to carrier and click directly into a stroller without the need for extra attachments. This can save a lot of time, particularly during busy times when you’re running errands your little ones.

Other convenient features include a no-rethread harness with magnetic buckle holders, as well as a streamlined installation process. Look for a head-and-body support insert to prevent infants from collapsing into the carrier or seat as they fall asleep.

Certain car seats come with rigid latches that can be flipped out from the base if installed correctly. This type of install is more secure and can limit the amount a seat moves in the event of the event of a crash.