10 Key Factors About Best Infant Car Seat You Didn't Learn In School How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat

What do you want from your car seat? "If you need a car seat that can adapt to your child's needs look into an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton says. The seat has a long rear-facing weight limit and is able to be converted into a high-back and backless booster.


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

Safety

Dedicated infant car seats are designed to fit small babies best, so they typically have more padding and cushioning than convertible carseats. They are also lighter and easier to take from the car or attach to a stroller frame which is crucial since you'll need to carry your child's car seat outside of the vehicle frequently. The dedicated infant car seat is designed to last your child for the first year. This means that you don't need to be concerned about your child growing beyond its weight or height limits.

It's a good idea to do some research before you purchase. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has strict standards for car seats. You should consider reading reviews from other parents and looking through safety guides from organizations like Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have a wealth of crash testing information to give to families.

You should also look into whether a seat has features that can be beneficial to your family, such as a one-handed strap release, a no-rethread harness or a spring-loaded leveling foot. These features can assist in securing up your child, but remember that even the most secure seats are useless in the event that they aren't used properly.

The weight and the width of the car seat are equally important. Many infant seats are designed to fit in with older car seats in the back of your car While others can expand with your child and then transition to a booster seat while you're at it. And finally, if you plan to use your car seat to transportation or for taxis, a baby car seat that can be fitted using only the seatbelt of your vehicle is a convenient option.

In general, you should buy the most safe seat you can afford. The cheapest models may not always meet the highest standards of crash safety. For instance, it's best to stay clear of models that do not include side impact crash testing and allow companies to self-certify their seats.

Convenience

The ideal infant car seat is one that will work well in your family's vehicle, is easy to install and use, and includes handy features such as the built-in stroller or rotating capability. It should be reasonably priced. Infant seats can range in price from around $180 to $500. They can cost more if they are convertible and are used as a toddler and infant seat.

The convenience features include whether the seat can be fitted with the LATCH system or a seatbelt. Additionally, if you can adjust the headrest and harness without removing the infant from the seat. You need to be able to put in and take it out easily particularly if you move it between cars frequently or take Uber rides with your child. The seat should be light, with clearly labeled instructions for installation and bubble levels to assist you in quickly install the car seat.

You should also be able to rotate the seat and lock it when not using it and have easy access to the buckles and harness straps. When Push Chairs & Prams purchase an infant car seat, be sure to verify its weight and height limits. Also, think about whether your child will outgrow the seat before they turn one. A good guideline is to select a car seat that grows with your child until they reach the 90th percentile.

Some manufacturers go over the federal safety standards to incorporate other features, such as crash testing, convenience and comfort in their car seats. The Clek Liing one of the top picks among our gear editors and Consumer Reports, is an excellent example of a highly rated infant seat that provides more than just crash protection. It also has a load leg, which helps stabilize the seat in the event of a crash and reduces the force on the child's body by 40 percent. This alone could save a child's life, so it's worth the extra cost for a car seat that is safe and has additional safety features.

Comfort

The comfort factor is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting an infant car seat, since babies spend the majority of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable ones are made of large, breathable fabrics as well as plenty of padding for the harness and headrest. They also offer easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms, like strap covers, buckles and headrest adjustments that do not require rethreading.

The weight and size of an infant car seat can also impact comfort, particularly when you are planning to switch cars or use the seat frequently. Certain models are smaller, making it easier to fit in the backseat alongside other car seats or even siblings seats. And, while they all have minimum and maximum heights and weight limits, some are a bit lighter than others. This can help save your biceps from becoming sore when you carry it between vehicles.

Certain infant car seats come with additional features to make them more adaptable. For example, they can rotate or be converted into a stroller with no need for adapters. Certain models include premium features such as an adjustable no-rethread strap or bar that prevents rebound to give you extra safety in case of an accident. These features aren't required to ensure safety, but they can improve the overall experience.

In addition to safety and convenience factors, many parents also require a clean, comfortable car seat for their infant. Choose a model which is machine washable, stain-resistant and easy to take off to clean. Some seats can be cleaned in the dishwasher, making it easier to keep them looking fresh.

Some models go the extra mile to ensure that their customers' experience is safe and smooth, such as the Graco SnugRide(tm) Elite, which comes with an anti-rebound bars and is compliant with Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) standards to withstand front and rear collisions. It also has a Silent Shade canopy that keeps baby safe and quiet and also an indicator that lets you know when it's properly attached to the base. The seat's carry handle is adjustable as well as harness tightener indicator will let you know that it's properly connected to the base.

Design

Car seat manufacturers make infant car seats with safety and comfort in mind, however the dizzying array of features available makes it difficult to decide what's most suitable for your family. It is important to take into account aspects like weight and height limits and the number of buckles and belt paths. Other features such as anti-rebound bars, load legs and harnesses that do not have a rethread can increase the cost, but they can also improve comfort for baby. Consider features that help you get your child into and out of the seat, such as rotational mechanisms. You'll also want to be aware of the dimensions and weight of the base, as not all seats fit in every vehicle.

One aspect that is particularly important is the ease of installation and disconnecting from the base. The quality of the LATCH connectors and whether or not they're flexible or rigid, could affect this. You'll also want to consider whether the straps are easy to loosen and tighten and whether there is a single-hand release mechanism for installing and uninstalling the seat.

Some models let you use the seat without a footrest, which can be useful for those who plan to change cars or take taxis frequently. To make sure that your seat is correctly installed, look for models with bubble level indicators and a built-in locking mechanisms.

Some features may be worth the extra expense for example, the headrest that grows with your child, a five-position reclining feature, and a canopy that extends and secures in place. Our product testers have also observed the fact that a seat can be used as a highback belt-positioning booster or backless booster after the baby is finished using it is an advantage.

The Doona is the kind of infant car seat that delights parents. It's loaded with features that address almost every complaint parents have about infant car seats, which is the reason our product testers gave it top marks across every category. For example, it's approved for airplane travel, has an exclusive handle that doubles as an anti-rebound bar, and can be converted directly into a stroller (no need to buy a separate stroller adapters). The crash test results are impressive and it's GREENGUARD Gold certified.