The 3 Greatest Moments In Best Infant Car Seat History

How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat

What do you want from your seat? "If you're looking for a car seat that will grow with your child look into an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton says. The seat can be changed into a high-back booster or a backless booster. It has a big rear-facing weight restriction.

The soft, machine-washable cushioning is also a plus. Other helpful features include load legs, which are shock-absorbing elements on the base or car seat that reduce movement in a crash.

Safety

Dedicated infant car seats are designed to fit small babies the best, which is why they usually offer more cushioning and padding than convertible carseats. They are also lighter and easier to remove from the car or connect to a stroller frame which is important because you will be required to transport your child in the seat outside of your vehicle often. The infant car seats that swivel car seat is designed to last for your child for the first year. This means you won't have to be concerned about your child growing beyond the weight limit or height.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's guidelines for car seats are extremely stringent but it's a good idea to do your own research prior to making a purchase. Take a look at reviews written by other parents and looking at car seat safety guides from organizations like Consumer Reports or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both have crash test results that can be shared with families.

You will also want to look into whether a seat comes with features that could be especially beneficial for your family, such as a one-handed strap release or a harness that doesn't need rethreads, or a spring-loaded foot for leveling. These features can assist in securing up your child, but keep in mind that even the most secure seats are useless when they aren't used properly.

The weight and the width of the car seat are also important. Many infant seats can be installed in your vehicle alongside older car seats. Some can grow with your child and convert to a booster simultaneously. And finally, if you intend to use your car seat for transportation or for taxis, an infant car seat that can be fitted using only the vehicle's seatbelt is a good option.

In general, you should purchase the safest seat you can afford. The cheapest models don't always meet the most stringent standards of crash safety. Beware of models that don't have side impact crash tests and allow manufacturers to self-certify.

Convenience

The best car seats for infants are those that can fit in the car of your family, are easy to install and come with useful extras such as a built-in running stroller or a rotation feature. It should be reasonably priced. Infant seats range between $180 to over $500. If they're convertible, and are designed to be used by toddlers and infants the cost could be higher.

The convenience features include the fact that the seat can be installed using the LATCH system or a seatbelt. Also it is possible to adjust the harness and headrest without removing the baby from the seat. You should be able to put in and remove the seat with ease, especially if you switch it between cars often or take Uber rides with your child. The seat must also be lightweight and clearly labeled for installation guidelines and bubble levels so that you can swiftly get the car seat correctly installed.

You should also be able rotate the seat and lock it when you're not using it and have access to the buckles and harness straps. When you purchase an infant car seat, it's important to verify its weight and height limitations. Also, think about whether your child will outgrow the seat before they turn one. It is generally recommended to select a car seat for your child that can grow with them until they reach the 90% percentile.

While the safety standards of the federal government are the minimum requirement, some manufacturers go above and beyond to offer additional crash-testing and other features that are included in their car seats. The Clek Ling is a top rated baby car seats pick of our gear editors and Consumer Reports is a great example of a baby car seat seat that offers much more than just good crash protection. It also has an extra load leg that stabilizes the seat in a crash, and reduces forces on the body of the child by 40%. This feature could save a child’s life. It's worth spending more on car seats that have safety features and convenience.

Comfort

One of the most important aspects to consider when choosing an top rated infant car seats car seat is comfort, since babies spend a significant amount of time in their car seats. The most comfortable ones feature comfortable, breathable fabrics and plenty of padding for the harness and headrest. They have easy-to-use adjustments, like strap covers, buckles and headrest adjustments that don't need the rethreading.

The size and weight of an infant car seat can affect comfort, particularly when you are planning to change cars or use the seat frequently. Some models are narrower which makes it easier to fit in the back seat with other car seats or siblings seats. While all models come with height and weight restrictions certain models are lighter. This could save you from having sore biceps when you carry it around town or between cars.

Some infant car seats include extra features that make them more versatile, such as rotational options or the capability to convert into a stroller without the need for additional adapters. Other models include high-end features like an adjustable harness with no-rethread straps or anti-rebound bars for additional security in the case of the possibility of a crash. These features aren't necessary to ensure safety, but they can improve the overall experience.

Parents want their babies to have a comfortable, clean car seat. They also value safety and convenience. Select a seat that is machine washable, stain resistant and easy to remove for cleaning. Some seats are even dishwasher safe, making it even easier to keep them looking fresh.

Some models go the extra mile to ensure their customers' experiences are safe and smooth, like the Graco SnugRide(tm) Elite, which comes with an anti-rebound bars and meets Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) standards to withstand rear and front collisions. The seat also includes a Silent Shade canopy that keeps baby safe and quiet, as well as an indicator that informs you whether it's securely attached to the base. The seat's adjustable carry handle the harness tightener and indicator let you know that it's properly connected to the base.

Design

Car seat manufacturers design infant carrier seat car seats with safety and convenience in mind, but the variety of features available makes it hard to determine what's most suitable for your family. Consider factors such as the weight and height limit, the number of belt paths and buckles. Other features like load legs that are not bound, anti-rebound bar and no-rethread straps could increase the price of the seat but improve the comfort of your baby. You might also consider features that help you get your child in and out of the seat, like rotating mechanisms. You'll also want to pay attention to dimensions and weight of the base because not all seats will fit in every vehicle.

One of the most important aspects is the ease of installation and disconnecting from the base. This can be affected by the quality of the LATCH connectors and whether they're rigid or flexible. It is also important to determine whether the straps are simple to tighten and loosen, and whether there's a single-hand release mechanism for installing and uninstalling the seat.

Certain models allow you to use the seat without a footrest, which is a great option when you plan to change cars or take taxis frequently. Find models with a built-in lock and bubble level indicators to help make sure that the seat is placed correctly.

Other features that may be worth the extra cost include a headrest that increases with the infant as well as a recline that can be adjusted to five positions and an extendable canopy that locks into place. Our product testers also mentioned that having a seat that can be used for a highback booster with belt positioning or a backless booster once the baby is no longer using it is an additional bonus.

Doona is a car seat for infants that will pamper parents. It's packed with features that address nearly every complaint families have about infant car seats, which is why our testers scored it highly across all categories. For instance, it's certified for travel on airplanes, has a unique handle that doubles as an anti-rebound bar and converts directly into strollers (no need to buy a separate stroller adapters). The crash test results are impressive and it's GREENGUARD Gold Certified.