How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat
Think about what you'd like from your car seat. "If you want a car seat that can expand with your child, think about an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton recommends. It has a lengthy rear-facing weight limit and can convert to both an incline-back booster and a backless one.
The soft, machine-washable cushioning is also an added benefit. Load legs are an additional beneficial feature. These are shock-absorbing elements that are attached to the base or car seats and limit movement during the event of a crash.
Safety
Car seats for infants are made to fit small babies the best, which is why they typically have more padding and cushioning than convertible carseats. They are also lighter and easier to get out of the car or set onto a stroller frame than convertible car seats, which is crucial because you'll probably be required to transport your baby in the seat frequently outside of your vehicle. Car seats for infants have the advantage of being designed to last for the first year of your child's life which means you don't have to worry about them outgrowing their weight or height as quickly as convertible car seats can.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's standards for car seats are extremely stringent, but it is still recommended to conduct your own research prior to purchasing. Take a look at reviews from other parents as well as checking out car seat safety guides from groups like Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have a lot of crash test data to give to families.
Find features that will benefit your family. This could include a one-handed release of the strap, a no-rethread harness or a foot that can be leveled with spring-loaded mechanism. These kinds of features can make buckling up your baby faster and easier however, you must remember that even the most secure seats can be a waste in the event that you don't utilize them correctly.
The weight and the width of the car seat are also important. A lot of infant seats can be put in your vehicle alongside older car seats. Some can grow with your child and can be converted to a booster in the same time. If you plan to use your car seat for transportation or for taxis, an infant car seat that is installed using only the seatbelt of your vehicle is a convenient option.
In general it's a good idea to buy the safest seat you can afford, because the cheapest models typically do not meet the highest crash safety standards. Avoid models that do not include side impact crash tests and allow manufacturers to self-certify.
Convenience
The best infant car seat for you is one that will work well in the vehicle of your family and is easy to install and use, and has useful features like the built-in stroller or rotating ability. It should also be affordable. The price of infant seats is between $180 and $500. If they're convertible, and will be used for toddlers and infants the cost could be higher.
top rated infant car seats include the fact that the seat can be installed using the LATCH system or a seatbelt. Also, if you can adjust the harness and headrest without removing the infant from the seat. Installing and removing the seat should be simple, especially for children who ride Ubers or you often switch between cars. The seat should be light, with clearly labeled instructions for installation and bubble levels to make it easier to install the car seat.
You must also be able to turn the seat around and lock it when you're not using it and have access to buckles and harness straps. It is also essential to verify the weight and height limits of the infant car seat before you purchase it, and then consider whether your baby will outgrow it before its first birthday. A good guideline is to select a car seat that grows with your child until they reach the 90th percentile.
Some manufacturers go over the federal safety standards to incorporate other features, such as crash testing as well as comfort and convenience in their car seats. The Clek Liing, a top pick by our gear editors as well as Consumer Reports, is an excellent example of an infant seat that provides more than just great crash protection. It also comes with load legs, which helps stabilize the seat in a crash, and reduces forces on the body of the child by 40 percent. That feature alone could save a child's life, so it's worth paying more for car seats that are secure and comes with additional convenience features.
Comfort
The comfort factor is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing an infant car seat as babies spend most of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable ones are made of comfortable, breathable fabrics and generous padding on the harness and headrest. They also have simple adjustment mechanisms, such as buckles, strap covers, and headrest adjustments that don't require rethreading.
The weight and size of an infant car seat can affect the comfort of your child, particularly in the event that you intend to change cars or travel with the seat often. Certain models are smaller making it easier to fit them in the backseat alongside other car seats or even siblings' seats. While they all have weight and height limitations, some are lighter. This could save your biceps from aching when you carry it between cars.
Certain infant car seats come with extra features that make them more flexible, such as rotational options or the capability to connect to a stroller without the need for additional adapters. Other models have high-end features like an adjustable no-rethread harness or bars that prevent rebounding to provide additional safety in the case of the possibility of a crash. While these additional features aren't essential to the safety of your ride, they can contribute to the overall experience using the seat.
In addition to safety and convenience factors, many parents want a clean, comfortable car seat for their child. Find a seat that's machine washable and stain-resistant as well as easy to take off for cleaning. Some seats can be cleaned using the dishwasher which makes it easier to keep them looking fresh.
Some models go above and beyond to ensure that their customers enjoy an enjoyable and safe experience. For instance, the Graco SnugRide (tm) Elite has an anti-rebounding bar, and is compatible with Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) which is designed to withstand front and rear collisions. It also has a Silent Shade canopy that keeps your baby calm and comfortable and also an indicator that lets you know that it's attached correctly to the base. And, its adjustable carry handle and harness tightener make simple one-handed adjustments.
Design
Car seat manufacturers create infant car seats with safety and convenience in mind, however the myriad of features available makes it hard to determine what's most suitable for your family. You'll want to consider factors such as weight and height limits, as well as the number of belt buckles and belt paths. Additional features like an load legs that are not bound, anti-rebound bar, and no-rethread straps may increase the price of the seat, but they will improve the comfort of your infant. You may also think about features that allow you to easily get your child in and out of the seat, like rotational mechanisms. Also, be aware of the dimensions and weight of the seat since not all seats can be used in all cars.
One feature that's especially important is the ease of installation and disconnecting from the base. The quality of the LATCH connectors, and whether or not they are flexible or rigid, will influence this. Also, you should be aware of whether the straps can be easily tightened and loosened and if they have an easy release mechanism that allows you to install and remove the seat.
Some models let you use the seat with no footrest, which is convenient for those who plan to switch cars or take taxis often. Make sure you choose a model with a built-in lock and bubble level indicators to help ensure your seat is installed properly.
Certain features might be worth the extra expense like the headrest that grows with your child, a five-position reclining feature and a canopy that extends and secures in place. Our product testers also noted the fact that a seat can be used as highback boosters with belt positioning or a backless booster when the baby is no longer using it is an additional benefit.
Doona is a car seat for infants that will spoil parents. It has many features that address almost every complaint parents have about infant car seats. This is the reason our test participants have rated it highly all over the spectrum. For instance, it's certified for airplane travel, has an exclusive handle that doubles as an anti-rebound bar. It also converts directly into a stroller (no need to buy a separate stroller adapters). Its crash test result is outstanding and it's GREENGUARD Gold Certified.