Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies

While convertible car seats are ideal for kids who are growing but an infant seat is ideal for infants and newborns. They're also lighter and easier to click into a stroller than their larger counterparts.

CPST instructor Kecia Healy liked the Chicco KeyFit's recline foot with springs and bubble indicator on the base, as well as its user-friendliness (the more user-friendly a car seats is and is, the more likely parents are to install it correctly). The model can also be used three across in the majority of mid-sized cars.

1. Clek Liing infant car seat

Clek, one of the Canadian manufacturer, is well-known for its top-rated convertible car seat. The infant Liing is among their best infant seats. The seat comes with best-in class safety features, such as a metal load-leg and a simple installation. It also has 7 different recline positions that can be adjusted to match the slope of your vehicle's seat. Plus, a simple bubble indicator makes it easy to make sure the seat is at the right angle before your baby rides in it.

The base of the Liing is easily installed using rigid LATCH connectors that slide into the lower anchors on your vehicle which makes it easier to secure the seat. The Liing is a great option for families who intend to frequently switch cars or need a simple and reliable method of installing car seats for babies. If you prefer, you could utilize the belt-tensioning feature to buckle your child.

One of the features that distinguishes the Liing apart from other infant car seats is its two-piece Newborn Support System. It has an insert for the lower that slides over the crotch buckle, and a head support that attaches to the harness to help to prevent babies from sagging or pushing their heads forward when they're in the seat. This is an amazing feature for tiny babies and preemies. It's also one of the few rear-facing infant car seats that offers this level of support.

Another great feature of the Liing is its metal crash-test frame, which can reduce the force of a crash by up to 40 percent compared to other infant seats. The shell of the seat is reinforced with EPP foam, which protects your child's head and torso, which are the most susceptible in the event of a collision. The base of the seat is a metal load leg which absorbs energy and assists in reducing the risk of crashes.

2. Chicco KeyFit

This is a consistent top rated infant car seats-rated infant car seat. It's quick to install, easy to use and can grow with your child. It can also be used with strollers for a travel system.

The KeyFit is a fantastic option for parents looking for an affordable, safe and user-friendly seat. It scores a top score in crash tests, is light and comfortable to carry and offers a wide range of height and weight limits. It was also designed to ensure the comfort of infants. The click-in area is surrounded by soft materials to prevent your baby from getting burned by metal. The insert for babies comes with a head-cover that protects their tiny heads. The seat pad, on which the baby sits on, nestles the infant in energy-absorbing foam cushions.

It's also one of the most simple infant seats to install correctly--every time. It is essential to install the infant seat correctly as a wrong installation could increase the chance of getting injured. The KeyFit's top LATCH connectors and a SuperCinch tightener create a secure fit with minimal effort. Additionally, the base comes with a ReclineSure leveling foot and two RideRight bubble level indicators to ensure correct vehicle angle and speedy installation. To make it easier to install the base in another way, clear belt routing, lock-offs and the car seatbelt allow for easy positioning and tighten.

However, it isn't as good in the ease of use category due to the rethread style harness height adjustment, which is a standard feature on a lot of Chicco seats (and also on their OG Keyfit model). This means that you must disconnect and manually re-thread straps from one level to the next which is longer than adjustments that aren't rethread. This is a minor trade-off for the convenience of this seat.

3. Joie i-Snug 2

The lightweight Joie i-Snug 2 infant car seat best car seat is built to the most stringent safety standards. It comes with a no-rethread strap and is compatible with Joie strollers that accept Maxi Cosi style adapters. It's simple to use, with clearly labeled installation guides and built-in bubble levels to help in alignment. The car seat comes with plenty of padding and is comfortable. It also has a convenient canopy that shields your baby from the sun.

The i-Snug comes with an ISOFIX vehicle base that permits a secure vehicle attachment. It can also be used with an appropriate stroller to create a complete travel set-up. This rear-facing infant car seat provides maximum head and cervical protection for infants. The exclusive Tri-Protect Headrest features a layer Intelli-Fit Memory Foam to protect your child from side impact crashes.

As with any infant car seat, you'll have to replace it when your child is over the height and weight limits or when they turn one. You can then upgrade to a convertible car seat or an all-in-one car seat. This allows your child to travel rearwards for longer and is more secure.

A convertible car seat is larger and more spacious than an infant seat, and also has a higher weight and height limit when facing rearward. To prevent your child from becoming too big for the seat in a hurry, it's best to switch to a car seat that can be converted as quickly as you are able to. In some cases parents can transition their baby into an all-in one car seat without having to buy an additional infant car seat travel car seat. It's crucial to pick the best convertible car seat for you and your family. Check out our comprehensive guide for all the info you need to make an informed choice.

4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX

The Nuna Pipa Aire RX is one of the top-rated infant car seats because of its safety, light weight design and its flexibility. It can be fitted using rigid lower anchors in the seats that are outboard of most vehicles, and with the seat belt of the vehicle that uses Euro Routing (which uses the entire length of the belt to ensure the installation is secure). It also comes with a GOTS organic baby insert which is a great choice for parents who are environmentally conscious and prioritize organic products for their children.

The Pipa Aire RX weighs only 6 lbs. without the canopy or inserts. It's one of the lightest infant car seats on the market. Aeroflex foam is extremely light and robust, but also extremely light, helps to minimize the force that is transferred to your child in a crash. Other safety features include a 5 second steel-reinforced True base lock installation side impact protection and a multi-position steel stability leg with crumple zones that limit forward rotation to provide greater rear-facing security.

Other highlights include an ergonomic aluminum handle that's comfortable and light with leatherette accents for comfortable toting and superb grip. The magnetic buckle holders keep straps out of the way while buckling up your child and color-coded indicator lights to ensure proper connections. The low-profile base allows super-fast loading, and the wide belt pathway with locks that secure lap and shoulder belts.

Cleaning up after a messy parent should not be a hassle. The inserts and fabrics of the Pipa Aire RX are machine washable so you can keep your car seat looking as fresh as new after each use.

5. Nuna Pipa Urbn

Nuna's PIPA air Rx and PIPA Rx car seats are excellent choices. But the newly launched Pipa Urbn is a step above. The ultralight infant seat is lightweight baby car seat and easy to carry, and weighs less than 7 pounds once the canopy and insert are attached. It's a user-friendly, luxurious design with features such as magnetic buckle holders that keep straps out of the way when buckling in baby and a green/red indicator to tell you that the installation is secure. ).

This innovative pipaFIX system allows it to be used without a base, unlike Pipa RX or other base-compatible PIPAs that require one to be installed. This makes it a perfect choice for parents who often use rideshare or taxi services for travel, or simply need to transfer their car seat between vehicles more easily and quickly.

Like other Nuna products, the Pipa Urbn is designed with environmentally-friendly materials that are free of added fire retardant chemicals, and is GREENGUARD Gold certified. These eco-friendly materials include the Merino Wool and Tencel brand-name blend of lyocell fibres headrest and a waterproof machine washable cover.

The biggest drawback to the Pipa Urbn is that it only has an upper weight limit for rear-facing children of 30 to 35 pounds, which means you might need to change to a convertible car seat sooner than some other brands. It's still a top option for the majority of infants. This car seat is travel system-ready and pairs seamlessly with all of Nuna's strollers--just click it on or attach with the rings adapter.