How to Find the Best Car Seat Infant
Car seats for infants are available in a wide range of prices, depending on the materials, styles, and accessories. However, you don't need to spend a fortune to find a high-quality car seat for your infant.
Our product testers rated the top-performing infant car seats in five key categories including safety, ease of use reliability, comfort, and adjustability.
Safety Ratings
The most effective infant car seat is rigorously tested for crash safety. They also come with clear directions and features that make it easy to install the seat correctly, including bubble levels and padded seats that provides good support for babies. 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 use a system of clips and hooks for quick adjustments. If the procedure is quick and simple, parents will be more likely to maintain their the correct fitting harnesses.
We searched for seats that can be washed in the washing machine, and models that can be installed with the base to decrease the possibility of a buckle getting dropped or lost during washing. If you plan to use your car seat often, especially on public transport, you should consider purchasing a seat with self-retracting belts as well as a reclining feature. This will ease the strain on your spine.
It is important to conduct thorough research before you make a purchase. Review reviews from customers and advocacy groups for children. Before you buy an automobile seat, it's an excellent idea to check the website of the manufacturer and read any recalls.
Infant car seats are small, portable car seats specifically designed for newborns or babies who are up to their first birthday. They are usually used rear-facing. The majority of infants outgrow the car seat they were in before they turn one. In the case of convertible or all-in-one seats the child will be moved to 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. Then they should be switched to a forward-facing car seat. The convertible or all-in-one car seat can be used in both directions, however it is more secure for your child to remain in the rear-facing position until they are old enough to move forward.
User-Friendliness
While the safety of car seats is crucial, it's also important to find one that is easy for parents to use. That's why we examine things like buckles, harness adjustments, and handles in our tests, and also how easy it is to set up the car seat in the vehicle. If a car seat is difficult to use, you may end up using it improperly. This could compromise the safety of your child.
Take a look at scheduling a consultation with a certified child safety technician (CPST), before you bring your child home if you're concerned about the correct installation of your infant car seats. They will show you how to use the seat, and also show you a video of an accident test. Don't forget to read your car seat's instruction manual. This will aid you in avoiding common mistakes when installing the seat.
Infant car seats aren't convertible, and can only be used until your child outgrows it or attains the maximum weight or height limit that is set by the manufacturer. It is important to select the best seat that will last for as long as is possible before transitioning them to an adult car seat that is suitable for older children.
Some infant car seats be converted into strollers that will provide more value for your buck. It's important to note that seats that can double as strollers are heavier than those designed to function as an infant car.
Another factor to be aware of is the width of your infant car seat is, which will affect the ease of it to fit in your car and if it's compatible other seats in the back row. You'll also want to consider how heavy it is, as lighter seats are more easy to lift into and out of the car. This is especially important in the event that you plan to use your infant seat frequently and transport it between vehicles. For these reasons, we prefer lighter, more narrow models in our best infant car seat review.
Reliability
Keeping your child safe is a top priority. 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 instance is two-stage body support which helps keep babies cozy and comfortable and is compatible with a variety of popular strollers. It also earned a dazzling crash test score from Consumer Reports.
It is crucial to keep in mind, however, that even the safest infant car seat is only as safe as how well it's installed and used. Incorrectly installed or improperly used car seats pose a serious danger to children and infants of all different ages. best car seat for newborn is why Vybiralova Stanton suggests reading the manufacturer's manual and searching for installation videos online. "You'll find that manufacturers are more focused on ensuring you have the correct seat for your vehicle and baby," she says.
The most reliable infant cars seats have features that make them easy to install and use, including the buckle release for harnesses that can be operated with one hand and magnetic strap holders that don't cling on clothing, and a non-rethread harness. They also have sturdy materials and a variety of adjustment mechanisms that work effortlessly.
Another feature to look for is whether the infant car seat has a base that is able to be used without the use of a vehicle's LATCH or shoulder belt systems. This is helpful for parents who take taxis frequently or who use their seat in multiple vehicles.
Also, you should consider how much the infant car seat weighs and if it's possible to easily carry it around with you. Certain models weigh more than others, and they can be a strain on your shoulders and arms 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. Don't purchase a cheap car seat because it's inexpensive. A price that is low could mean that the manufacturer has compromised on safety features or material quality. It's always an excellent idea to review reviews and get suggestions from other parents prior to making your purchase.
Convenience
The best infant car seats make it easy to ensure that your baby is secure. This means that they are easy to install, come with features that make buckling up or unbuckling easier, and have other features that make it easier to use, such as comfortable fabrics and a no-rethread harness. These car seats also have design features which make them safer in the event of a crash. For instance, they feature load legs which are shock-absorbing parts on the base of the seat. This makes it easier to move and therefore impact forces on your child.
Look for an infant car seat if you have a small car or plan to switch vehicles often. This type of seat is able to fit into narrower automobiles, and a lot of them have a unique handle that makes it easy to carry. These seats are often lighter than convertible car seat which makes them easier to lift into and out of a vehicle.
Another benefit of this infant car seat is that it transforms into a stroller with no need for an additional attachment. This is ideal for families that are always on the move or those living in cities with public transportation. It's a little larger than a typical car seat for infants however, it's not as big as a convertible.
The top-rated infant car seat is simple to use, and our product test participants loved it due to its harness that is not rethread and buckle holders with magnetic buckles which make it incredibly fast to get the baby in and out. It also has loads of features that make it more practical, such as a button-operated four-position recline and steel-reinforced LATCH connectors that flip out from the base and turn green once secure.
As a new parent, selecting the best infant car seats is one of the biggest decisions you'll ever make. It's important to do research and read reviews before making a decision. You want to make sure that the car seat that you pick is designed with your child's security in mind and meets all national safety standards.