11 "Faux Pas" You're Actually Able To Create With Your Best Infant Car Seat How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat

Think about what you want from your car seat. "If you're looking for an automobile seat that can expand with your child think about an all-in-one seat like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton says. The seat can be changed into a high-back booster, or an unbackless booster. It has a big rear-facing weight limitation.

It also scores high for comfort and quality thanks to soft, machine-washable padding. Other useful features include load legs that absorb shock on the base or in the car seat that limit movement in a crash.

Safety

Dedicated infant car seats are made to fit small babies best, so they typically have more padding and cushioning than convertible carseats. They are also lighter and easier to get out of the car or set on a stroller frame rather than convertible car seats, which is crucial because you'll probably be required to transport your baby in the car seat often outside of your vehicle. The car seat for infants is designed to last your child for the first year. This means you won't have to be concerned about your child growing beyond its weight or height limit.

It is an excellent idea, however, to do some research prior to you make a purchase. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has strict guidelines for car seats. You should consider reading reviews from other parents and checking out car seat safety guidelines from groups such as Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have a lot of crash test data to share with families.

You will also want to examine whether a seat comes with features that could be beneficial to your family, such as the strap release that is one-handed, a no-rethread harness or a spring-loaded leveling foot. These features can help you buckle up your child, but remember that even the most secure seats will not be useful if they are not used in a proper manner.

The weight and the width of the car seat is also important. Many infant car seats can be put in your vehicle alongside older car seats. Some can grow with your child, and can be converted to a booster in the same time. Also, if you plan to use your car seat for transportation or for taxis, an infant car seat that can be fitted using only the seatbelt of your vehicle is a good alternative.

In general, it is recommended to buy the safest car seat you can afford. The most affordable models don't always meet the highest standards of crash safety. For instance, it's best to stay clear of models that do not include side crash testing and allow companies to self-certify their products.

Convenience

The best infant car seat is the one that will fit comfortably in the vehicle of your family and is easy to install and use, and comes with handy features such as a built-in stroller or rotation capability. It should be reasonably priced. Infant seats cost between $180 and $500. If they are convertible, and will be used for toddlers and infants the cost could be higher.

The convenience features include the ability to be positioned using the LATCH system or a seatbelt. Additionally, if you can adjust the headrest and harness without removing the baby from the seat. Installing and removing the seat should be easy, especially if your child rides in Ubers or you frequently switch between cars. The seat should be lightweight and have clearly labeled instructions for installation and bubble levels to assist you in quickly install the car seat.

It should be easy to adjust the buckles and harness and also rotate the seat when not in use. Before you buy an infant car seat, it's important to verify its weight and height limits. Also, think about whether your child will outgrow the seat by the time they reach their first birthday. As a rule, choose the seat for your child that can grow with them until they reach 90% percentile.

Some manufacturers go over the federal safety standards to incorporate additional features like crash-testing, comfort and convenience in their car seats. The Clek Liing is a top choice by our gear editors as well as Consumer Reports, is an excellent example of a highly rated infant seat that provides more than just excellent crash protection. It also comes with legs that help stabilize the seat during crashes, reducing the forces on the child by 40 percent. That feature alone could save the life of a child, so it's worth paying more for car seats that are safe and has additional safety features.

Comfort


Comfort is a major factor to consider when selecting an infant car seat as babies spend most of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable car seats feature the thick, breathable fabric as well as ample padding on the harness and headrest. They come with easy-to-use adjustments like strap covers, buckles, and headrest adjustment mechanisms which don't require to be rethread.

The weight and size of a baby car seat can also impact comfort, particularly in the event that you intend to change cars or use the seat frequently. Some models are narrower than others, which makes them easier to fit in the back seat alongside another car seat or your siblings seats. While they all have weight and height limitations, some are lighter. This can save you from having sore biceps when you move it from one place to another or between cars.

Certain infant car seats come with extra features that make them more adaptable like rotational options or the capability to connect to a stroller without the need for additional adapters. Other models have top features such as an adjustable harness with no-rethread straps or anti-rebound bars for extra safety in the event of an accident. While these extra features aren't essential to the safety of your ride, they can add to the overall experience using the seat.

Parents want their children to be in a comfortable, clean car seat. They also care about safety and convenience. Look for a model that's machine washable and stain-resistant, and also easy to remove for cleaning. Some seats are even dishwasher safe, making it even easier to keep them looking clean.

Some models go beyond to ensure their customers' experience is safe and smooth, such as the Graco SnugRide(tm) Elite, that comes with an anti-rebound bar and meets Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) standards to withstand front and rear collisions. The seat comes with a Silent Shade canopy to keep baby quiet and comfortable, as well an indicator to let you know when the seat is properly attached. The seat's carry handle is adjustable the harness tightener and indicator indicate that it's properly connected to the base.

Design

Car seat manufacturers design infant car seats with safety and ease of use in mind, however the variety of features available makes it difficult to decide what's the best fit for your family. Consider factors like the weight and height limits and the number of belt routes and buckles. Additional features like anti-rebound bars load legs, harnesses that do not have a rethread can increase the cost but could also increase the comfort of your baby. You might also consider features that help you get your child in and out of the seat, like rotational mechanisms. Be sure to pay attention to the dimensions and the weight of the seat because not every seat will fit in all vehicles.

The ease of attaching and detaching the base is a feature that's important. The quality of the LATCH connectors, and whether or not they're flexible or rigid, will influence this. You should also consider whether the straps are simple to loosen and tighten, and whether there's a single hand release mechanism for removing and installing the seat.

Certain models allow you to use the seat without a footrest, which is a great option if your plan is to change cars or take taxis often. To make top rated baby car seats pushchairsandprams.uk that your seat is securely installed be sure to look for models that have bubble level indicators as well as a built-in locking mechanisms.

Other features worth the cost include a headrest that expands with the growing baby, a five-position recline and an extended canopy that locks in place. Our product testers also mentioned that having a seat that can be used for a highback booster using belt positioning or a backless booster when the baby is no longer using it is an additional bonus.

The Doona is the kind of infant car seat that spoils parents. It's packed with features that address almost every complaint parents have about infant car seats, which is why our test participants scored it highly across all categories. It's affixed for air travel and comes with an anti-rebound handle and is able to be converted directly into a stroller. Its crash test result is outstanding and it's GREENGUARD Gold Certified.