How to Choose the Best Car Seat newborn car seat

The best car seats for newborns uk car seat for newborns is one that meets federal safety standards, is compatible with your vehicle, comes with useful extras (like changing into a stroller) and works with your budget. It’s also worth ensuring the car seat for your baby clicks into and out of your car easily especially if you frequently switch between taxis or trips in rental cars and grandparents’ vehicles.

Safety

Car seats are made to ensure your baby is safe and a safe one should have some additional features that go beyond the federal safety standards. These include padded cushions on the shoulders and head and air-repellent fabrics to keep them cool while driving in hot weather.

Another crucial safety aspect is the ease to install and use the seat. Idealy, the seat should be simple to install and use, as well as clear indicators of its level, position, and security.

Look for features that help you do that, like built-in locks and belt guides that can help to align the car seat with the vehicle’s seatbelt. Avoid purchasing used car seats that might not have been crash-tested or been involved in an accident. They might not be safe for your child. If you do decide to purchase an old one, make sure it’s on the expiration date and isn’t being sold by an individual seller who does not have evidence of ownership.

One other thing to keep in your mind is to keep your baby in the car seat for no more than two hours per day, unless they’re in a lying-flat position. This is to avoid stress on their spine and to ensure they get a chance to breathe regularly.

Selecting a car seat for your infant is a significant investment, so you’ll want to make sure that it has a long life span. Choose a seat that will expand with your child’s age and last through toddlerhood to teens. Our parents were impressed with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for children from birth, and can be used until age 7.

The Nuna pipa aire rx is another option that can be used for a long time. It can rotate 360 degrees, which means you can change it from front-facing to rear-facing as your child grows. It’s also among the lightest car seats that rotate available and weighs less than nine pounds without its base. It’s a great choice for parents who regularly transfer their children between cars or plan on using it for taxi rides, fly-drive holidays, and trips to grandparent’s homes.

Comfort

It is essential that your baby feels at ease in their car seat, both while they are in it as well as when you install it. Look for straps that are padded to fit comfortably on their shoulders and plush fabric that is soft under their tummy, especially if they will be in the seat for long trips.

The most effective infant car seats are easy to use. Some have LATCH connectors of premium quality with a SuperCinch force multiplier that tightens the seat. Some come with spring-loaded leveling legs and belt paths that make installing without a base much easier than ever. Other features will help you adjust the height of the harness and headrest, which is particularly important as your child gets older.

Cosatto All in All Rotate is a good example. Our parent testers scored it a 10 out of 10. It has a clear, simple interface, a no-rethread easy-to-reset harness, a 360-degree rotation, and recline lock indicator. This means you can switch between forward and rear-facing positions as your baby grows, without having to remove the seat and replace it.

Nuna Pipa Aire Rx is another example. Our parents who tested it loved it for its ease of use, simplicity and versatility. Its padded shoulder straps as well as headrest are designed to support the head of your newborn, and it comes with an infant pillow that is soft to ensure that they are comfortable. It can be used as a rear-facing car seat until your baby reaches the maximum height or weight limit, and it converts into a stroller without the need for a separate adapter.

A good car seat will be durable and many have a warranty. Look for an item that is made up of padding and durable materials to safeguard your child from any accidents. It should also come with an aluminum frame to withstand the force of impact as well as an “crumple area” to prevent crash damage. It should be easy to clean as accidents are bound to happen when you have children. Choose car seats with removable seat covers and a pad that is machine washable to make cleaning easy.

Simple to Use

A car seat must be simple to install and use, especially if you’re likely to use it in the same vehicle from time to time. Look for features like an easy-release buckle, a gauge that shows the state of the latch system (e.g., green for locked) and a clear, easy-to-read guide to make it as simple as is possible.

The best car seat for newborn uk of The Bump winner also comes with several practical features that our parent testers loved, such as an padded headrest and padded harness with a plush material and a cup holder. It has a reclining function that allows your child to sit in a comfortable and ergonomic position for longer trips. It can be used in conjunction with a buggy that is compatible to create an entire travel system. This is ideal when you plan to travel for a long time.

Our panelists noted that the car seat was easy to set up and adjust. It has recline locks as well as an excellent connector that has a SuperCinch tightener. This made it easy to secure your child. It can also be moved from side to side in the vehicle easily without the use of tools.

One of our top features is the recline feature that helps you get your infant into and out of the car. This is particularly helpful when you are suffering from back pain or are driving a smaller vehicle. It also has the ability to reversibly hold your cup and a handy storage compartment for snacks and toys.

The seat weighs less than nine pounds and can be installed with or without its base. It can also rotate 180 degrees, which could be a lifesaver when you have limited space or struggle with back pain. Our panelists were thrilled by this new feature, which earned a spot in our 2021 Mother&Baby awards.

It’s an excellent choice for anyone who wants to convert their car seat into a stroller at an affordable price. Its sleek design and high-end material will also stand the test time. Make sure to clean your cover often as smashed biscuits, yoghurt spills and the odd sick toddler accident are certain to leave a mark!

Design

Car seat designs are as varied as the vehicles they’re placed in. Some parents opt to not use an baby car seats in favor of convertible models. However, the majority of new mothers prefer a product that will develop with their child as they reach the toddler years. The most versatile option is an all-in one baby car seat, which allows you to switch between forward-facing and rear-facing. It usually has a higher height and weight limit, and is often used as a booster seat if your child is ready for one.

The ideal car seat for infants for babies is light and easy to take off the base while your child is inside. The Maxi-Cosi Coral is available in only a few 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 and the Nuna PIPA URbN, which was a winner of Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for Best Car Seat Group 0/0+ with its high-end features like the Dream drape and full-coverage UPF 50+ canopy.

The design of the base and the seat should be taken into consideration. For instance, some car seats have a specific base that is secured to the buckles of the seat belts as well as others with steel-reinforced LATCH connectors which flip out from the sides of the base and turn green when attached correctly. Parents found these convenient particularly if their car only had front-facing seatbelts with no ISOFIX anchor points.

Some infant car seats can be utilized with a regular seatbelt, but without the base this is a great benefit for parents who often take taxis or need to travel with their baby. Our testers with parents really liked the Nuna TODL NEXT, which can be used with or without its base. It has a smooth swivel mechanism that makes it easy to get your child in and out of the seat.

Other important design considerations include whether a car seat comes with an open design, and how well it is compatible with your car (see our guide to car seat compatibility). If you’re in search of a newborn infant car seat that will develop with your child’s growth into a booster, choose a model that has a reclining backrest and side impact protection. It is also important to ensure that the infant car seat for travel car seat for Newborn seat is i-Size compliant and uses the correct car seat attachment points, as per UK law.