best car seat for newborn Infant Seat Features

All infant seats must meet federal safety standards. However some seats go above and beyond. From extra padding to cushioned inlay for newborns to the ability to raise and lower the headrest without needing to rethread, our Best of the Bump winner offers many features parents will love.

When deciding on our top picks, we considered factors such as weight (without base) stroller compatibility, features, and price. Find out the best infant seat for your family by reading.

Safety

All car seats for infants sold in the United States must meet federal safety standards. Certain seats have additional features that go beyond the minimum requirements. Some of these features include load legs and a rethreader integrated, strap-holding sides, and so on. According to the experts I spoke to the more features a chair comes with, the better.

The more user-friendly the car seats newborn seat, the more likely it is that parents will use it properly. This will reduce the risk of injury to their child during an accident. This is especially true for infant seats, which are only intended to be used for a short duration. Find a seat that is simple to install and has a recline foot that is spring loaded and a bubble indicator to help get the seat level. Also, ensure that the base can be easily clicked into and out of the car.

Other premium features that some car seat makers offer include an unrethread harness, magnet buckle holders and side grips to carry the seat. Be aware that, even though these features are great but the safety of your car seat is only dependent on the vehicle in which you drive. Go through the owner’s manual for advice on how to properly secure your infant’s seat and to find out more about the specific features of your vehicle. safety features.

When choosing an infant car seat, bear in mind that you’ll only be in a position to use it for around 2 years until your child is ready to move to an convertible car seat. Some families choose to skip the infant car seats best seat altogether and opt for a convertible car with greater weight and height limit. When buying an infant car seat, make sure you consider the dimensions of your vehicle and try various models before settling on one. You can ensure that the seat is suitable for your child, is a good fit in your car, and has convenient features such as the ability to convert it into a stroller. Also, make sure to check for recalls before making a purchase. It’s the most critical aspect in ensuring your child’s safety on the road.

Ease of Use

You’re looking for a car seats for your baby that is easy to attach and remove from the base whether you intend to use it in a single vehicle or move it between several. You should look for clear installation instructions and a simple mechanism. Think about how easy it will be to adjust the seat as your child grows and the high-quality materials used.

A great feature that many infant seats come with is a load leg which serves as an extra brace between the seat’s base and the vehicle floor to offer extra stability in the event of a crash. Consumer Reports research shows that it’s particularly important if have an older vehicle, since the likelihood of sustaining a head injury is greater if the child is seated too close to the floor.

Other features that are premium and can improve infant car seat user experience include a harness with no-rethread and anti-rebound bar, which help keep the seat from rebounding during the event of a crash. This has been proven to reduce the risk of head injuries by as much as 43 percent. The Evenflo’s LiteMax DLX is a great choice for those on a tight budget looking for a car seat that’s ARC-certified and comes with a few premium features. Jennifer LaBracio, Babylist’s gear editor, suggests it. The seat has received an exemplary rating from child safety technicians and features an adjustable, no-rethread harness and five recline positions and an extended canopy that is secured with magnets to ensure complete coverage.

Another thing to look out for is an infant seat that is able to be set up with just the lap belt, and doesn’t require the use of the base. This is a great option for parents who intend to use Uber or taxi rides because it eliminates the need to return to the car each time to install a new seat. For instance, the Nuna Pipa Urbn and the corresponding TRIV travel system have an extremely rigid LATCH system integrated into the seat’s bottom which makes it fast and simple to install in any car. It also can be used rear-facing (4-40 pounds) and forward-facing (22-65 pounds) and converts to a highback booster or belt-positioning booster with a backless design (40-120 pounds). It’s an excellent choice for families on a tight budget.

Comfort

It’s crucial that your baby is comfortable in the car seat, particularly if they are there for a long period of time. That means padded straps on their shoulders, a plush fabric that is comfortable against their back and stomach and a headrest that expands with them to support their growing body. Choose a seat that is easy to adjust as they grow, and.

While a seat that has a lot of special features might cost more however, they are also more convenient to use. When evaluating a car seat for babies we take into consideration things like a one-hand system harness, high-quality LATCH connectors, and no rethread harness. We also consider the dimensions and weight, as the weight or bulk of a seat can add stress to your biceps while you carry it into and out of your car or moving between cars.

A seat with a load leg–a safety feature that assists in stabilizing the car seat in the event of a crash, is an additional option. It’s usually found in more expensive seats however we’ve seen a few budget-friendly choices that have this safety feature.

Another crucial aspect to consider is the height and weight limits. You’ll need to ensure that the seat will still be safe for your child when they reach their peak growth stage usually between the ages of two and three. It’s also worth looking at a convertible infant car seat that can be converted into an adult seat. This option will give you a little more flexibility when you drive and is perfect for families that frequently change vehicles or travel.

Our test subjects loved the Doona, which combines an infant car seat and stroller into one unit. It’s the ideal choice for parents who are on the move, especially those who commute to work or school by public transport. It’s also easy to put in and our experts who tested it were impressed with the ease of use of the latch with one hand and the padded shoulder straps. Our product testers also remarked how the seat is compact, which is a must for those with a limited trunk space. It’s also free of flame retardant chemicals, which is a huge advantage for parents who are concerned about their baby’s health and environment.

Convenience

The best infant car seats come with features that make it simple to use. From buckles that are smooth and easy to tighten and loosen to harness height adjusters that automatically raise as your child grows the top infant car seats come with convenience features that help parents get in and out with a minimum of fuss. Other important aspects to look at is whether the seat is machine washable (to make cleaning easier) and if it has a canopy that can be handy both inside the car as well as attached to the stroller.

A feature on the base could save you lots of time and headaches. It shows you when it’s been put in place correctly. This line is on the base’s side and should be in line with the ground when you’re done. It can be particularly helpful when you’ll be switching the car seat frequently, or if you plan to travel with your baby and you’ll need to install the seat in taxis or Ubers.

A stroller that is compatible with the infant car seat can be connected directly to it. This makes it easier to carry your baby to the supermarket, or to run the errands. It’s not necessary to struggle with a separate carrier. This can be a great advantage for new parents who want to get back to their day after an exhausting commute or outing with a newborn.

If you anticipate your child to grow rapidly pick a car seat for infants that have a greater weight or height limit than the one recommended by the manufacturer. You can use the car seat for a longer period of time.

While all car seats sold in the United States must meet federal safety standards, it does not mean that all car seats are created to be equal. Some come with features that go above and beyond, including load legs that brace the car seat’s base for added stability and anti-rebound bars to reduce the risk of injury to the head in crashes. A few additional features can make the ride more comfortable for your baby, making you as a parent feel more comfortable and more confident.