How to Choose Infant Car Seats Best

Car seats are a must-have for parents. But what makes one superior to another?

A special infant seat is the ideal choice for infants who aren’t big enough. It is also lighter, making it easier to move outside of the vehicle. Consider convenience features like premium lower anchor connectors, no-rethread harness pads, and one button handles. Also, look out for safety features like load legs or head/body cushions.

Safety

As any parent will tell you, selecting the best car seat for your child is among the most important decisions you can make. The correct seat will ensure they’re positioned correctly in the car, and that they are adequately secured in the event of a crash.

While every car seat sold in the US must conform to strict standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Not all car seats are created equally. Certain models have features specifically designed to protect infants, for instance, load legs that help reduce movement in crashes by absorbing the force of impact on the car seat and base, while others include built-in bubble levels that make for easy installation and adjustable headrests that grow with your baby.

Choi says that dedicated infant car seats are designed to provide the perfect fit for babies. They often include crash-tested inserts which aid in this. They are also lighter than convertible car seats and can be easily transformed into a stroller. This makes them suitable for ride-shares, daycare drop-offs and pickups. You can buy used ones at less than the cost, since they only last for the first 12 months.

A high NHTSA score and great crash test results are crucial, but the way you use your child’s car seat is more important. In fact, a study done by Portland’s most prestigious children’s hospital discovered that 95 percent of parents made at the very least one crucial error when installing or putting in their car seat.

It’s a good idea to spend a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the correct car seat use guidelines prior to when your child arrives. We suggest looking for a car seat with clear and concise instructions, is light enough to easily carry with your baby in it, and comes with easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms.

It is also important to see whether the infant car seat you’re thinking of purchasing meets the dimensions required for your vehicle. If you’re concerned about your capability to install and operate the car seat correctly yourself, you might be able to bring it to a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) before your baby is born to receive a hands-on demonstration.

Convenience

Some infant car seats come with extra features that make it easier to use. For instance, they could include a base the seat can be clicked into and out of, or they may feature easy-to-use adjustments. These features make it easier to remove and install the car seat – particularly when there is a child in your care.

The weight and height limits of a car seat for infants are also important to consider. If you have a child who is growing rapidly it might be worth the cost to invest in a car seat that has higher limits so that you can use it for as long as you can.

In addition to safety features, your infant’s car seat should also be comfortable. Find padded straps that won’t rub or pinch their shoulders and soft fabric that is soft underneath them for long durations of time. It’s also an excellent idea to select the seat with a lie-flat mode that allows your baby to be in a relaxed position that keeps their airways open and their oxygen saturation levels high.

There are a number of accessories available for infant car seat cheap car seats however Dr. Segura cautions against buying any item that isn’t included in the seat, as it hasn’t been crash tested and could be unsafe. You should also avoid purchasing used car seats for infants, as they may have been involved in an accident and may be damaged or worn out.

The best car seats for infants infant car seats range in price from $100 to over $600. However, they all share certain features. They’re all lightweight, easy to put in and take off and are comfortable for infants. Some have extra features that make them more adaptable. For example they can pivot or clip onto strollers without the need for adapters. For more details on the various options available, check out our list of the top infant car seats.

Comfort

The best infant car seat that swivels car seats are fitted with comfort features that allow you to easily take your child into and out of the seat. This includes a one-handed latch system that removes the need to grasp both sides of the strap at once, plus cushioned padding that makes it less painful to lift the seat. It is also important to think about the weight of the seat. Since you’ll be using it without a base, a lighter seat is preferable. This Baby Trend Secure Lift for instance, weighs less than 13 pounds.

Other factors to consider include the weight and height limits of the infant car seat. If you plan on keeping the car seat for a while, look for a model that can grow with your baby and will fit them well into the toddler years. You can keep it for longer and save money by not purchasing an additional seat.

It is also important to think about the seat’s dimensions and whether it’s wider or wider than other models. The former can be an advantage for vehicles with smaller dimensions, while the latter may be helpful for families with two children in car seats that are back-to-back or require driving with three kids in the back seat at some moment in the future. If you plan to use a car seat in conjunction with a pram, choose one that is compatible with the most popular strollers and has removable seats. Brands such as Graco or Nuna offer options to meet your needs.

To make it easier to use, take a look at the score a car seat receives for installation. Clearly labeled guides and indicators that indicate the seat is level and securely fastened–like bubble levels or color codes–can assist in easing the burden on new parents. Some seats also have innovative features such as load legs, which are shock-absorbing components located beneath the seat or on the base that extend to the floor of the vehicle and absorb some of the force during a crash.

You’ll also find some accessories that claim to increase your car seat’s comfort and ease of use, but remember that any accessory not included in conjunction with the car seat hasn’t been tested or approved for safety. “Anything you purchase that’s not from the manufacturer, even a blanket or harness you shouldn’t put in the car seat,” Segura says.

Style

For parents who are new, figuring out how to pick the best infant car seat is a bit of an exercise. It is important to determine the budget you have set and the features that you’re looking for. There are many options for special features, stroller compatibility, and fabrics. However, it all comes down to comfort.

It is important to remember that convertible car seats aren’t suitable for babies and can only be used up to the age of one year. Some may even come with crash-tested extensions kits, which will help them last longer. They also include more recline settings to ensure proper positioning for small children and are generally lighter, making it easier to carry around. They are more likely to be compatible when used in conjunction with the travel system. This is a great option for new parents looking to save money and time by buying a seat that will serve two purposes.

Another important thing to remember is that car seat width and weight are important elements for families with a large number of children. For example, some infant car seats are designed to be smaller than others for a better fit in the back seat of your vehicle or to be used in conjunction with siblings’ seats. Some are so heavy that they test your biceps when you lift them and then transfer them from the car to the stroller.

Many parents opt for an infant car seat that can be changed from a base to a carrier and then click into a stroller, without any additional attachments. This will save you lots of time, especially during busy times when you have to run around for errands.

Other useful features include a no-rethread harness as well as magnetic buckle holders and an easy installation process. Look for a head-and-body support insert to stop infants from collapsing into the seat or carrier as they sleep.

Most car seats have flexible straps for their lower anchor connectors, however, some feature rigid latches that flip out of the base and turn green when correctly installed. This type of install is more secure and can limit the amount of time a car seat can move during a crash.