“The Best Infant Car Seat Awards: The Top, Worst, Or Most Bizarre Things We've Seen
How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat What do you want from your seat? “If you're in need of an automobile seat that can grow with your child think about an all-in-one seat like the Graco 4Ever DLX,” Saxton says. It has a lengthy rear-facing weight limit and can be converted into an incline-back booster and a backless one. The soft, machine-washable cushioning is also an advantage. Other helpful features include load legs which are shock-absorbing components on the base of the car seat that limit movement in a crash. Safety Car seats for infants are designed to fit small babies best, so they typically have more padding and cushioning than convertible carseats. They also tend to be lighter and easier to take out of the car or set onto a stroller frame than convertible car seats, which is crucial considering you will likely need to transport your baby in the seat frequently outside of your vehicle. The car seat for infants is designed to last for your child for the first year. This means you won't have to worry about your child outgrowing its weight or height limit. It is an excellent idea to do some research before you make a purchase. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has strict guidelines for car seats. You might want to read reviews from other parents, and also looking through car seat safety guides from organizations like Consumer Reports or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both have crash test data that can be shared with families. Find features that will benefit your family. For instance, a one-handed release of the strap, a no rethread harness, or a leveling foot with spring-loaded mechanism. These kinds of features can make buckling your baby faster and easier however, you must remember that even the safest of seats will be useless in the event that you don't utilize them correctly. Other factors to be aware of are the weight and width of the car seat. Many infant seats are designed to fit in with older car seats in the back of your car, while others can grow with your child and then transition to a booster seat at the same time. If you intend to use your car seat to travel or take taxis or taxis, then an infant car seat which can be installed by using only your car's seatbelt will be a convenient choice. In general, it's a good idea to buy the most secure car seat you can afford, since the cheapest models usually do not meet the highest safety standards for crash protection. Avoid models that do not include side impact tests, and allow manufacturers to self-certify. Convenience The best car seat for your infant is one that can fit comfortably in your family's vehicle and is easy to install and use, and includes handy features such as the built-in stroller or rotating capability. best car seat newborn should also be affordable. Infant seats range in price between $180 and $500. If they're convertible and will be used for both infants and toddlers, the price can be higher. The convenience features include whether the seat can be fitted with the LATCH system or a seatbelt. Also, if you can adjust the headrest and harness without removing the baby from the seat. You should be able to install and remove the seat with ease and quickly, particularly if you need to switch frequently between vehicles or take Uber rides with your child. The seat should be lightweight, with clearly labeled instructions for installation and bubble levels to assist you in quickly install the car seat. You must also be able to rotate the seat and lock it when you're not using it, and have easy access to buckles and harness straps. Before purchasing an infant car seat, it's important to determine its weight and height limitations. Also, consider whether your child will outgrow the seat before they turn one. A good rule of thumb 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 include additional features like crash-testing as well as comfort and convenience in their car seats. The Clek Ling is a top pick of our gear editors and Consumer Reports is a great example of a baby seat that provides more than just excellent crash protection. It also comes with a load leg, which can help stabilize the seat in a crash, and reduces the force on the child's body by 40%. This feature could save a child’s life. It's worth it to invest more in car seats with added safety and convenience features. Comfort One of the most important considerations when selecting a baby car seat is comfort, as babies spend a significant amount of time in their car seats. The most comfortable car seats are made of large, breathable fabrics and generous padding on the harness and headrest. They come with easy-to-use adjustments such as strap covers, buckles, and headrest adjustment mechanisms that don't need rethreading. The weight and size of a baby car seat can affect comfort, particularly in the event that you intend to switch cars or travel with the seat often. Some models are narrower making it easier to place them in the back seat with other car seats or even siblings' seats. While all models come with weight and height limitations Some are lighter. This could save you from having sore biceps when you carry it between cars. Certain infant car seats come with extra features to allow them to be more flexible. For instance, they can rotate or be clicked into a stroller, without the need for adapters. Other models have top features such as an adjustable harness with no-rethread straps or bars that prevent rebounding to provide additional safety in the event of a crash. These features aren't essential for safe riding, however they can improve the overall experience. In addition to convenience and safety factors, many parents require a clean, comfortable infant car seat for their child. Look for a model that's machine washable and stain-resistant, as well as easy to remove for cleaning. Some seats can be cleaned with a dishwasher making it easier to keep them looking fresh. Some models go above and beyond to ensure that their customers enjoy a safe and comfortable experience. For instance the Graco SnugRide ™ Elite has an anti-rebounding bar, and is compatible with Graco ProtectPlus Engineered™ which is designed to withstand both rear and front collisions. The seat also includes a Silent Shade canopy that keeps your baby calm and comfortable and an indicator that tells you that it's attached correctly to the base. The seat's adjustable carry handle as well as harness tightener indicator will let you know that it's properly connected to the base. Design Car seat manufacturers create infant car seats with safety and ease of use in mind, however the myriad of features available can make it difficult to determine which one is best for your family. Take into consideration factors such as the weight and height limit, the number of belt paths and buckles. Additional features like anti-rebound bars load legs, harnesses with no-rethread straps can increase the cost, but they can also improve the comfort of your baby. Look for features that make it easy to get your child in and out of the car seat, for example rotating mechanisms. Also, be aware of the dimensions and weight of the base as not all seats are suitable for every vehicle. One feature that's especially important is the ease of installing and detaching from the base. The quality of the LATCH connectors and whether or not they're flexible or rigid, could influence this. Also, you should be aware of whether the straps can be easily tightened or loosen and if there is a one-hand release mechanism to remove and install the seat. Certain models allow you to use the seat without a footrest, which can be useful if your plan is to switch taxis or cars frequently. To make sure that your seat is securely installed make sure you choose models with bubble level indicators and built-in locking mechanism. Other features worth the extra cost include a headrest that increases with the baby as well as a recline that can be adjusted to five positions and an extendable canopy that locks into the position. Our product testers have also noted that a seat that can be used as a high-back belt-positioning booster or backless booster after the baby has finished using it is a plus. The Doona is an infant car seat that spoils parents. It's got many features that address nearly every issue families have with infant car seats. This is the reason our test participants have rated it highly all over the board. It's approved for travel on air and comes with an anti-rebound handle and can be converted directly into a stroller. The crash test results are excellent and it is GREENGUARD Gold certified.