How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat

Think about what you want from your car seat. "If you need a car seat that will adapt to your child's needs think about an all-in-one seat like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton says. The seat comes with a long rear-facing weight limit and is able to be converted into an incline-back booster and a backless one.

The soft, machine-washable cushioning is also an advantage. Load legs are a beneficial feature. These are shock-absorbing elements which are attached to the base or car seats and limit movement during an accident.

Safety

Dedicated infant car seat rear facing car seats are made to fit small babies best, so they generally have more padding and cushioning than convertible carseats. They are also lighter and easier to take from the car or connect to a stroller frame, which is crucial because you'll need to carry your child in the seat outside of your vehicle frequently. The infant car seat is designed to last your child for the first year. This means that you don't have to worry about your child exceeding its weight or height limit.

It is an excellent idea to conduct some research before you make a purchase. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has strict standards for car seats. Consider reading reviews by other parents, and also looking through car seat safety guidelines from organizations such as Consumer Reports or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both have crash test data that can be shared with families.

Find features that will help your family. For instance, a one-handed release of the strap, a no rethread harness or a foot that can be leveled with spring-loaded mechanism. These features can make it easier to buckle up your child, but keep in mind that even the most safe seats will not be useful if they aren't used properly.

The weight and the width of the car seat newborn seat are also crucial. A lot of infant car seats are designed to fit in with older car seats in the back of your vehicle Some can grow with your child and then transition to an adult seat simultaneously. Also, if you intend to use your car seat to travel or to take taxis, an infant car seat that is installed with only the vehicle's seatbelt is a great alternative.

In general, it's a good idea to buy the most secure car seat you can afford, because the cheapest models typically don't meet the most rigorous safety standards for crash protection. For example, it's best to avoid models that don't include side impact crash testing and allow companies to self-certify their products.

Convenience

The best car seats for infants (Elearnportal official website) are those that fit in your family vehicle and are easy to install, and come with useful extras like a built-in jogging stroller or the ability to rotate. It should be reasonably priced. Infant seats can vary between $180 to over $500. If they're convertible and are intended for both infants and toddlers, the price can be higher.

Convenience features include how easy it is to install the seat with either the LATCH system or a seatbelt and whether you are able to adjust the harness and headrest without removing the infant out of the seat. Installing and removing the seat should be easy, especially when your child rides in Ubers or you often switch between cars. The seat should be lightweight and have clearly labeled instructions for installation and bubble levels to assist you in quickly install the car seat.

It should be easy to adjust the harness and buckles, as well as rotate the seat when not in use. It's also important to know the weight and height limits of the infant car seat before you buy it, and then consider whether your baby will outgrow it by its first birthday. In general, you should select a car seat for your child that will grow with them until they reach the 90% percentile.

While federal safety standards are the minimum requirement, some manufacturers go above and beyond to offer additional crash-testing and convenience features in their car seats. The Clek Liing is a top choice by our gear editors as well as Consumer Reports, is an excellent example of a highly rated infant seat that offers more than just crash protection. It also comes with an element that helps stabilize the seat during a crash, reducing forces on the child by 40%. This feature alone could save the life of a child, which is why it's worth the extra cost for car seats that are secure and comes with additional convenience features.

Comfort

Comfort is a major factor to take into consideration when selecting an infant car seat, since babies spend the majority of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable car seats feature thick, breathable fabric and ample padding on the headrest and harness. They come with easy-to-use adjustments like strap covers, buckles and headrest adjustment mechanisms which don't require the rethreading.

The weight and size of a car seat for infants can also impact comfort, especially if you plan to switch cars or travel with the seat often. Certain models are smaller which makes it easier to fit in the back seat with other car seats or even siblings seats. While they all have weight and height restrictions, some are lighter. This could save your biceps from aching when you move it between cars.

Certain infant car seat that swivels car seats come with additional features that make them more versatile including rotational options or the ability to connect to strollers without the need for additional adapters. Some models come with top features such as an adjustable harness with no-rethread straps or anti-rebound bars to add additional security in the case of a crash. These features aren't required to ensure safety, but they can improve the overall experience.

In addition to convenience and safety factors, many parents also require a clean, comfortable car seat for their baby. 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 making it easier to keep them looking new.

Some models go above and beyond to ensure that their customers enjoy the most secure and comfortable ride. For example the Graco SnugRide (tm) Elite has an anti-rebounding bar, and is compatible with Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm), which is designed to withstand rear and front collisions. The seat also comes with a Silent Shade canopy that keeps your baby calm and comfortable, as well as an indicator that tells you whether it's securely attached to the base. Its adjustable carry handle and harness tightener make simple single-handed adjustments.

Design

Car seat manufacturers design infant car seats with safety and ease of use in mind, however the myriad of features available makes it hard to determine what's most suitable for your family. You'll need to take into consideration factors like weight and height limits and the number of buckles and belt paths. Other features like load legs that are not bound, anti-rebound bar and no-rethread straps could raise the cost of the seat, but they will improve comfort for your baby. Look for features that make it easy to get your child into and out of the car seat, for example rotational mechanisms. You should also be aware of the dimensions and base weight as not all seats will fit in every vehicle.

One of the most important aspects is the ease of installing and detaching from the base. The quality of the LATCH connectors, and whether they're flexible or rigid, will affect this. You'll also want to consider whether the straps are simple to loosen and tighten and whether there's a single hand release mechanism for installing and uninstalling the seat.

Some models let you use the seat without a footrest, which is convenient when you plan to change cars or take taxis often. Look for models with a built-in lock and bubble level indicators to make sure that the seat is placed properly.

Other features that may be worth the extra cost include a headrest that increases with the infant, a five-position recline and an extended canopy that locks in place. Our product testers have noticed that having a seat that can be used as a high-back belt-positioning booster or backless booster after the baby has finished using it is an advantage.

The Doona is an infant car seat that spoils parents. It has many features that solve almost every issue families have with infant car seats. This is the reason our test participants gave it top marks across the spectrum. It's approved for travel on air and has an anti-rebound handle and can be converted into a stroller. Its crash test results are impressive and it's GREENGUARD Gold certified.