Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies

While convertible car seats work great for children who are growing however, an infant car seat is best for babies. They're also lighter and easier to click into strollers than their larger counterparts.

CPST instructor Kecia Healy liked the Chicco KeyFit's recline foot that is spring-loaded and bubble indicator on the base, and its user-friendliness (the more user-friendly a car seats is, the more likely parents will be to install it correctly). The model also fits three across in a variety of mid-sized automobiles.

1. Clek Liing Infant Car Seat

Clek, an Canadian manufacturer, is renowned for its top-rated convertible car seat. The infant Liing is among their best infant seats. It is a top-of-the-line safety features such as a metal load leg that is simple to install, user-friendly installation and 7 different recline positions that can be adjusted to the slope of your car seat. A bubble indicator helps you to check that the seat is at the right angle prior to your child riding in it.

The base of the Liing is easily installed with the help of 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 that are planning to change cars frequently or need a simple and secure method to install car seats for babies. You can also use the belt-tensioning system that comes with it to secure your child.

One of the things that sets the Liing apart from other infant car seats is its 2-piece Newborn Support System. It includes an lower insert that is able to slide over the crotch strap, and a headrest that attaches to harness to prevent newborns from slumbering forward or pushing their heads backwards while 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 provide this level of support.

Another advantage 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 portable infant car seat seats. The seat's shell is bolstered with EPP foam to protect your child's head and body, which are the most susceptible in the event of a collision. The base of the seat is designed with a metal load leg that absorbs energy and helps diminish the likelihood of crashes, in addition.

2. Chicco KeyFit

This is the top-rated infant seat. It is easy to set up and use, and it will grow with your child. It can also be combined in conjunction with strollers to create an travel system.

The KeyFit is a good pick for parents who want an easy-to-use, safe and flexible seat. It scored a high score in crash tests, is lightweight and comfortable to carry, and offers a wide range of height/weight limits. It was also designed with babies' comfort in mind. The click-in point has soft materials around it so your baby isn't burnt by metal. The newborn insert has a head surround to protect their heads, and the seat pad that baby sits on has energy absorbing foam cushions for a comfortable experience.

The process of installing it correctly is very easy. This is crucial since incorrectly installed infant seats can increase the risk of injury to your child. The KeyFit's LATCH connectors with a SuperCinch tightener ensure a secure fit with minimal effort. The base also comes with ReclineSure leveling foot and two RideRight bubble-level-indicators to ensure the proper angle of the vehicle. To make it easier to install the base in another way, clear belt routing, lock-offs and the seatbelt of the car allow for easy positioning and tighten.

It isn't perfect but it does fall short in the ease of use category due to the rethread-style harness height adjustment--a common feature on many Chicco seats (and as well on their OG Keyfit model). This means you need to remove the harness and manually re-thread straps from one level to the next, which takes longer than other adjustments. This is a minor sacrifice for the convenience of this seat.

3. Joie i-Snug 2

The lightweight Joie i-Snug 2 infant car seat is built to the most stringent safety standards. It features a no-rethread harness and is compatible with Joie strollers that can accept Maxi-Cosi style adapters. It's simple to use with clear installation guides and built-in bubble levels that aid in alignment. The car seat is full of padding and is comfortable. It also comes with a handy canopy that shields your baby from the sun.

The i-Snug comes with an ISOFIX vehicle base that allows for a secure vehicle attachment. It can also be combined with an appropriate stroller to make a complete travel system. It's an infant car seat with a rear view that offers maximum neck and head protection for babies and newborns. The exclusive Tri-Protect headrest includes an additional layer of Intelli-Fit memory foam to protect your baby from side-impact collisions.

You'll need a new infant car seat as soon as your child reaches the weight and height limits, or their first birthday. In the meantime you can upgrade to a convertible, or an all-in-one car seats, which allows children to ride rear-facing longer and is safer for them.

A convertible car seat has a higher rear-facing weight and height limit than an infant seat and generally has a larger, more spacious interior. To stop your child from getting out of the seat too quickly, it's recommended to move to a seat that converts as soon as you are able to. In some instances, parents can make the transition to an all-in-one seat without the need to purchase an additional infant car seat. It is therefore crucial to select the best convertible car seat for your family and yourself. Our extensive guide will give you all the information you need to make a good choice.

4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX

The Nuna Pipa Aire RX is among the most rated infant car seats uk car seats due to its safety, light weight design and the versatility. It is installed with strong lower anchors on outboard seats of most cars and with vehicle seat belt that utilizes Euro routing (which makes use of the entire length of a vehicle's seat belt for an extremely secure installation). It also includes an organic cotton infant insert, making it an alternative for parents who prefer organic alternatives for their child.

The Pipa Aire RX weighs only 6 lbs. without the canopy or inserts. It is one of the lightest infant car seats on the market. Aeroflex foam is a lightweight material that is durable, but also extremely light helps reduce the force that is transferred to your child in an accident. Other safety features include the 5 second steel-reinforced True Lock base installation, side-impact protection and a multi-position steel stability leg that features an area of crumple to limit forward rotation for enhanced rearward-facing security.

The ergonomic aluminum handle is light and luxurious, adorned with leatherette accents that provide a comfortable grip and a convenient option to carry the bag. A buckle holder with a magnetic buckle keeps straps from getting in the way when buckling your child in and color-coded indicator for installation ensures that the belts are properly connected. The low-profile base allows for super-fast loading, and the wide belt pathway with lock-off secures shoulder and lap belts.

Cleaning up after a messy parent shouldn't be. The fabrics and inserts of the Pipa Aire RX can be machine washed so that your car seat appears like it did after each use.

5. Nuna Pipa Urbn

Nuna's PIPA air rx and PIPA Rx car seats are great options. However, the recently launched Pipa Urbn is a step beyond. This ultralight infant car seat is lightweight and easy to carry, and weighs less than 7 pounds once the canopy and insert are in place. It also comes with a luxe user-friendly design with useful features such as magnetic buckle holders to keep straps clear while you're buckling baby in and a red/green indicator to ensure the installation is secure (we wish that all car seats came with this! ).

This innovative pipaFIX system allows it to be used with or without a base, unlike Pipa RX or other base-compatible PIPAs that require a base to be installed. This makes it the perfect choice for parents that frequently use rideshare, taxis or travel.

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. The green-friendly materials include a Merino wool and Tencel branded lyocell fiber blend headrest and machine washable, water-resistant body cover and cover.

The main drawback of the Pipa Urbn is that it only has a rear-facing weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds, so you might have to upgrade to a convertible seat sooner than other brands. It's still a top option for the majority of infants. The car seat is travel system-ready and pairs seamlessly with any of Nuna's strollers. Just click it on or connect with the rings adapter.