How to Choose Infant Car Seats Best

Parents must have car seats. But what makes one superior to another?

A specially designed infant seat is ideal for the most tiny babies, and is lighter for easy transport outside the vehicle. Look for convenience features like premium connectors for lower anchors and harness pads that are not rethreading, and single button handles. Also, look for safety features such as load legs and head/body cushions.

Safety

As any parent will tell you, selecting the best car seat for your child is among the most crucial decisions you could make. The right seat will make sure that your child is in a position properly and is adequately secured in the event of a car crash.

While every car seat sold in the US must adhere to strict standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) However, not all car seats are created equal. Some have special features designed to safeguard infants, like load legs that help reduce movement in crashes by absorbing the force of impact on the base and car seat as well as built-in bubble levels for easy installation and adjustable headrests that increase with your child.

Choi says that car seats for infants are designed to be able to accommodate babies in the best way. They typically include crash-tested inserts which help to achieve this. Plus, they're usually lighter than convertible car seats and are easily transferred to a stroller making them ideal for ride shares and daycare pickups and drop-offs. You can purchase used ones at only a fraction of the cost, since they only last for the first 12 months.

A high NHTSA score and impressive crash test results are crucial, but the way you use the car seat of your child is more important. In fact, a study conducted by Portland's top rated infant car seats children's hospital found that 95 percent of parents have made at least one critical error when installing or putting in their car seat.

It's important to familiarize yourself before your baby arrives by ensuring that you know the proper guidelines for car seats. We recommend you pick an infant car seat that comes with clear and concise instructions. It should also be lightweight so that it is easy to carry around your child.

Examine if the infant car seat that you're thinking about purchasing meets the requirements of the vehicle's size. If you're worried about your capability to set up and operate the car seat properly yourself, you may want to take it to a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) before your baby is even born for a hands on demonstration.

Convenience

Some infant car seats come with additional features that make them more user-friendly. Certain infant car seats have features that make them easier to use. For instance, they might include a base that the seat can be pushed into and out, or they might have an easy-to-use adjusting mechanism. These features can make it more convenient to install and detach the car seat, particularly when you have a child to look after.

It is also important to take into consideration the weight and height limits for the infant car seat. If you have a baby who is growing rapidly, it may be worth the cost to purchase a car seat with higher limits so that you can utilize it for as long as is possible.

In addition to safety features, your child's car seat must also be comfortable. Choose cushioned straps that don't touch or squeeze their shoulders and soft fabric that feels cozy under them for extended periods of time. Select a seat with the ability to lie flat. This allows your baby to sit in an upright position, which helps to keep their airways open and oxygen saturation levels high.

Dr. Segura warns you that you should not buy any accessories for infant car seats that aren't included in the seat, as they have not been crash-tested and may be unsafe. Avoid purchasing a used infant car seats because they may be involved in an accident and may be damaged or worn.

While the top infant car seats range anywhere from $100 to $600, there are a few characteristics that all of the top options have in common. They're all light, easy to set up and remove and are comfortable for infants. Some have features that make them more versatile including the ability to pivot and clip onto strollers without the need for additional adapters. For more details on the different choices available, read our review of the top infant car seats.

Comfort

The best forward facing infant car seat car seats come with comfort features that allow you to easily get your baby into and out of the seat. The best infant car seats come with a single-handed clasp system that lets you grip both sides at the same time. They also come with padding that is cushioned to make it easier to lift the seat. In addition, you'll want to think about the weight of the seat--you'll be using it without a base, after all, so a lighter one is the best. This Baby Trend Secure-Lift, for example, weighs less than 13 pounds.

The height and weight limit of infant car seats are important. If you plan to keep the car seat for a while choose a model that can grow with your baby and will fit them well into the toddler years. You can keep it for longer and save money by not buying an additional seat.

You should also take into consideration the dimensions of the seat and whether it is narrower or wider than other models. The first is a good option for smaller vehicles. The second may be beneficial if you have three children in the rear seat or two children in back-to-back car seats. If you intend to use the car seat in conjunction with strollers, choose one that is able to be removed from car seats that are compatible with a wide range of strollers. Brands such as Graco or Nuna offer options to satisfy your requirements.

Review the rating of a car seat to determine its the ease of use. Clear guides and indicators, like bubble levels or color coding, that indicate whether the seat is secured and level can help relieve stress for parents who are new. Some seats also have unique features like load legs, which are shock-absorbing parts located beneath the seat or at the base which extend to the vehicle floor and absorb some of the force in a crash.

You'll also find some accessories that claim to improve your car seat's comfort and ease of use, but remember that any product not included with the car seat hasn't been evaluated or approved for safety. Segura suggests that you don't put anything else in your car seat, such as an accessory like a blanket or harness that you purchased elsewhere.

Style

For new parents, figuring out how to choose the best infant car seat is a bit of an issue. It's essential to understand your budget and what features you want. There are a variety of options for special features, stroller compatibility and fabrics. But it all comes down to comfort.

For example, it's worth noting that infant-specific seats are more suitable for babies than convertible car seats and can be used for the first year of their lives (though some may include extended kits that have been tested and crash-tested to help them last longer). They tend to come with more recline settings to facilitate the proper positioning of small children. They are also lighter and easier to carry. They are more likely to be compatible when used with the travel system. This can be useful for parents who are new and want to save money and time by purchasing seats that serve two functions.

Car seat weight and width are important to consider for the majority of families. Certain infant car seats, for example are narrower, which allows them to fit better in the back of your car or close to other seats. Some are so heavy that they will test your biceps when you lift them and then transfer them from the car to the stroller.

Many parents choose an the infant car seat that can be changed from base to carrier and then transform into a stroller without needing any additional attachments. This can save you lots of time, particularly on busy days where you have to run around for errands.

Other convenient features include a magnetic buckle holder and a strap that is not rethread, and a simplified installation process. Look for a head-and-body support insert to stop infants from settling into the seat or in the car as they sleep.

Some car seats have rigid latches which flip out from the base if installed correctly. This type of installation is more secure and restricts the amount of movement a car seat can move in a crash.