How to Find the Best Car Seat Infant

Car seats for infants are offered in a variety of prices, based on the type of material, style and accessories. You don't need to shell out a lot of money for the best infant car seat.

Our product testers rated the best infant car seats in five important categories including safety, ease of use reliability, comfort, and adjustability.

Safety Ratings

The best infant car seat is rigorously crash tested. The best infant car seats have clear instructions, and also features like bubble levels or padded seats to offer a good amount of support for the infant car seats that swivel. We also found it helpful when a chair has simple adjustments that don't require taking the infant out of the car to loosen or tighten them, or that make use of clips and hooks for quick adjustments. If the process is quick and simple, parents are more likely to maintain their properly fitted harnesses.

A seat that's machine washable is a benefit, and we looked for models that allow for the seat to be installed in conjunction with the base, which reduces the chance of a tripped or lost buckle during washing. If you'll be using your car seat frequently and especially on public transportation, it may be worth the extra expense for a model that has self-retracting straps and a reclining mechanism to help reduce the stress on your back.

Selecting a car seat for your infant is among the most important purchases you'll make as a parent. Therefore, we recommend taking the time to research thoroughly prior to buying. Read reviews from customers, as well as reviews from child safety advocacy groups. Before purchasing car seats it's a good idea also to check the manufacturer website and read any recalls.

Infant car seats are small, lightweight car seat newborn seats designed for newborns or babies up to the one year old. They are typically used with the rear facing. The majority of infants outgrow the car seat they were in before they turn one. In the case of convertible and all-in-one seats, the child is then transitioned into a toddler seat. Infant-only car seats should be used with the rear facing side until the child reaches the maximum height and weight limit set by the manufacturer. After that, they need to be switched to an automobile seat that is facing forward. A convertible or all-in-one seat can be used in both ways, but it's more secure for your baby to be in an rear-facing car seat until they are tall enough to be able to sit in a front-facing seat.

Easy of Use

It's important to choose a car seat that is simple to use for parents while safety is the primary aspect. This is why we consider things like buckles, harness adjusters and handles during our tests, and also how easy it is to install the car seat into the vehicle. If a car-seat is difficult to use, you may end up using it improperly. This could affect the safety of your baby.

Take a look at scheduling a consultation with a certified child safety technician (CPST) prior to when you bring your infant home if you're concerned about installing your infant car seats. They can guide you on how to use the seat, and also show you an example of a crash test. Be sure to read the car seat's instruction manual. This will make it easier to avoid common mistakes when installing the seat.

In contrast to convertible car seats which can be used for older children and toddlers baby car seats last until your baby outgrows them or reaches the maximum weight or height limit that is set by the manufacturer. It is important to select the best seat that lasts as long as possible, before switching them into an adult car seat that is suitable for older children.

Some infant car seats be converted into strollers, which will give you more bang for your money. It's important to remember that seats that can be used as strollers are heavier than those designed to function as an infant car.

A large infant car seat will help you fit it into your car and may be compatible with other rear-facing seats. It is also important to take into consideration the weight of the seat as a lighter seat is more easy to lift into and out of a car. This is a particularly important factor to think about if you're planning on using the infant seat frequently and be transporting it between vehicles. We prefer lightweight, narrower models in our top infant car seat review.

Reliability

Your child's safety is the most important concern. While all car seats must be in compliance with federal safety standards, there are certain models that go over. Best of the Bump winner Clek's Liing, for example, has two-stage body support that helps keep small babies cozy and comfortable and is compatible with a variety of popular strollers. Consumer Reports also gave it the top score in an impact test.

It is important to remember that even the most secure infant car seat is only as reliable in the way it is installed and used. Poorly installed or misused car seats pose a significant security risk for children and infants of all ages. That's why Vybiralova Stanton suggests reading the user's manual for the manufacturer and looking for videos of installation online. "You'll discover that manufacturers are much more focused on ensuring you have the best car seat and baby," she says.

The most effective infant car seats are simple to install and use. They feature features such as a one-handed buckle release and magnetic strap holders that do not catch clothing, and a no need to rethread the harness. These seats are made of sturdy materials and have various adjustable mechanisms that work seamlessly.

A base that can be used without or with the LATCH system in the vehicle or shoulder belt is a different feature to consider. This is helpful for parents who frequently take taxis or who will be using their seat in several vehicles.

Also, you should consider how much the infant car seat weighs and if you can easily transport it around. Certain models weigh more than others, and they can be a strain on your arms and shoulders especially if you're carrying children around or traveling long distances.

In the end, a baby car seat with a lower price tag will save you money and time. However, you shouldn't be enticed to buy one just because it's cheaper. A low price could mean that the manufacturer has made a mistake on safety features or quality. It's always an excellent idea to review reviews and get suggestions from other parents prior to making your purchase.

Convenience

The best car seats for infants make it easy to ensure your baby's safety. They are easy to put in and feature features that allow for buckling and unbuckling with ease and come with other features like comfortable fabrics and a no rethread harness. They also come with design elements that make them more protective in a crash, such as load legs which are shock-absorbing components on the base of the car seat, which reduce the movement of the seat and consequently reduce the force on your child.

If you're in a smaller vehicle, or if you intend to switch between multiple vehicles often choose a baby car seat that is slim and compact. This kind of seat can easily fit in narrower automobiles, and a lot of them have a unique handle that makes it simple to carry. They are usually lighter than convertible car seats which makes them easier to get to and out of vehicles.

This infant car seat also can be converted into a stroller for a baby without the need for an attachment. This is an enormous benefit for families that are constantly on the go or who reside in areas where public transportation is more frequent. It is a little more bulky than a traditional infant car seat, but it's still not as large as the convertible model.

The top-rated infant car seat is simple to use, and our testers loved it for its harness that is not rethread and magnetic buckle holders that make it quick to get baby in and out. It also has loads of features that make it more practical, such as the four-position recline that can be operated by a button and steel-reinforced connectors for LATCH that slide out from the base and turn green once secure.

As a parent of a newborn, choosing the right car seats for your baby is among the most important decisions you will make. That's why it's so important to study and read reviews of different options before making an informed decision. You want to make sure that the car seat you select is specifically designed with your child's safety in mind, and meets national standards for safety.