How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn

The best car seat for newborns is one that is compliant with federal safety standards, is compatible with your vehicle, has convenient extras (like turning into the stroller) and fits within your budget. It's also worth ensuring the car seat for your baby clicks into and out of your car with ease, particularly if you often change between trips to the taxi or in rental cars or grandparents vehicles.

Safety

Car seats are made to protect your baby and a quality one should have some extra features beyond the safety standards set by the federal government. These include padded inserts for the shoulders and head as well as air-repellent fabric to help keep them cool in hot vehicles and side-impact safety.

Another crucial safety aspect is how easy it is to set up and use the seat. Ideally, you should be able to snap it into place with minimal effort and with clear indicators that it's safe, level, and positioned properly.

There are many features that help you with this including belt guides and built-in locks which will assist you in aligning the car seat with the seat belt of your vehicle. It is also important to avoid purchasing used car seats that might not have been crash-tested or have been in an accident, and could not be safe for your child. If you are forced to purchase an used car seat ensure that it is not expired. an expiration and that the seller is not an individual or a private party who does not have evidence of ownership.

Another thing to keep in your mind is to only leave your infant car seat in front seat in the car seat for a maximum of two hours per day unless they are in a lie-flat position. This will help prevent strain on the spine of your child, and ensure that they are able to breath regularly.

You'll want a seat to last for a long time, because it's a major investment. Pick a seat that can expand with your child's age and last from toddlerhood to teens. Our testers for parents were satisfied with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for children as young as birth, and is able to be used up to age 7.

The Nuna pipa aire rx is another option that can be used for a long time. It can rotate 360 degrees so you can change it from front-facing to rear-facing as the child grows. It's also among the most lightweight car seats available that weighs less than nine pounds. It's a great choice for parents who regularly move their children between vehicles or are planning on using it for taxi rides, fly-drive holidays, and trips to grandparent's homes.

Comfort

It is crucial that your baby feels comfortable in their car seat both while they are in it and after you install it. Find straps that are padded to fit comfortably around their shoulders, and look for plush material that feels comfortable under their tummy. This is particularly important when you intend to use the seat for a long period of time.

The most effective infant car seats are also easy to use. Some feature premium LATCH connectors, the SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener spring-loaded leveling feet and belt paths that make fitting without a base more simple than ever. Other features allow you to adjust the height of the harness and headrest, which is especially important as your child gets older.

One example is the Cosatto All in All Rotate that our testers from the past gave a 10/10 for ease of use. It comes with an easy-to-use interface and an easy-to-adjust, no-rethread harness and a recline lock indicator and 360-degree rotation. This allows you to switch from rear-facing to forward-facing as your baby grows, without needing to remove the seat and replace it.

Nuna Pipa Aire Rx is a different example. Our parents who tested it loved it for its comfort simple and adaptability. Its padded shoulder straps and headrests are designed to accommodate the head of your newborn and includes a soft infant cushion to keep them comfy. It can be used in a rear-facing position until your child is at the maximum height or weight limit. Then, it converts into the position of a stroller.

A quality car seat is sturdy and some even come with a warranty. Choose an item that is made up of padding and sturdy materials to shield your child from any accidents. It should also have steel frames to absorb the impact energy, and an "crumple area" to avoid damage from a crash. It should be easy to clean as accidents are bound to happen when you have the growing age of a child. Choose car seats with removable seat covers and a pad that is machine washable to make cleanup a breeze.

User-Friendliness

It is essential that a car seat be easy to install and use, especially if it will be used in a variety of vehicles from time to time. Look for features such as a quick-release buckle, an indicator that shows the state of the latch system (e.g., green for locked) and a user-friendly manual to make it as simple as you can.

The Best of The Bump winner comes with a variety of practical extras that our parent testers loved, such as the headrest and harness that are padded with a plush material and a cup holder. It also has a reclining feature that allows your child to be seated in a more comfortable position for longer trips. It can be paired with a compatible buggy to make a complete travel system. This is perfect for those who plan to travel for a long time.

Our panelists found that the car Seat for newborn seat was simple to put in and adjust. It has a recline lock indicator and an exclusive LATCH connector with a SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener that made securement of your child quick and easy. It can also be moved from side to side of the vehicle easily without the use of tools.

The recline feature allows you to carry your child in and out of the vehicle. This is particularly helpful if you suffer from back issues or have a small car. It also comes with a reversible cup holder and a handy pocket for toys and snacks.

The seat is lightweight and can be used without or with the base. It can also be rotated 180 degrees. This is a fantastic feature for those who are tight in space or suffer from back pain. This feature was a big hit with our panelists, and was selected to be part of the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.

This is an excellent option for those who want to transform their car seats into strollers for a reasonable price. Its streamlined design and high-quality fabric will endure the test of time, too. Just don't forget to wash your cover regularly as smashed biscuits, yoghurt spills and the odd sick toddler accident are sure to leave a footprints!

Design

The designs of car seats are as varied as the cars they're placed in. While some parents opt to skip infant car seats and opt for convertible models, the majority of new mothers want a seat that can develop with their baby as they reach toddlerhood. All-in-one car seats are the most versatile and allow you to switch between forward-facing and rear-facing. It typically has a greater weight and height limit, and it can be used as a booster seat when your child is ready to be one.

The ideal car seat for infants for newborns is lightweight baby car seat and easy to lift off the base with your baby inside. The Maxi-Cosi Coral is available in only a handful of colors but it has a number of safety features, and is lightweight (8.4 pounds, including canopy and seat inserts). Nuna PIPA URbN is another model that stands out, because it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Car Seat Group 0/0+ category, thanks to high-end features such as the Dream drape and a fully-covered canopy with UPF 50+.

The seat's design and the base must be considered. For example, some car seats have a specific base that locks into the buckles on the seat belts and others use steel-reinforced LATCH connectors which flip out from the sides of the base and turn green when they are attached correctly. Parents appreciated these connectors especially when the vehicle only had front-facing seatbelts and no ISOFIX anchor points.

Some infant car seats can also be used with a regular seatbelt, but without the base this is a great benefit for parents who often take taxis or need to travel with their child. Our parent testers really liked the Nuna TODL NEXT which can be used with or without its base. It includes a smooth swivel motion that makes it simple to get your baby out and in the seat.

Additionally, the design of a car seat is important. It should be able to fit in your car. (See our guide to car seat compatibility). If you're looking for an infant car seat rear facing car seat that will develop with your child's growth into a booster, choose a model that features an adjustable backrest as well as side impact protection. Make sure the infant car seat you select is iSize-compliant and also has the correct car-seat attachment points as per UK law.