How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn
The best car seat for newborns is one that is compliant with federal safety standards, fits in your vehicle, has convenient extras (like turning into the stroller) and fits within your budget. It is also important to ensure that the car seat is easily inserted into and out of any vehicle, especially if you are frequently switching between taxis, rental cars or your grandparents' vehicles.
Safety
A good car seat comes with extra features that go beyond the safety standards of 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 cars and side-impact protection.
Easy installation and use of the seat is an important safety consideration. Ideally, the seat must be simple to install and use, with clear indicators of its height and position as well as security.
There are features that aid in this process, such as belt guides and built-in locks that will help you align the car seat with your car's seatbelt. Also, you should avoid buying used
car seat For Newborn seats, which may not be 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 has an expiration and that the seller is not a private person who does not have proof of ownership.
Another thing to keep in mind is that it's best to keep your baby in the
car seat inserts for newborns seat for a maximum of two hours per day unless they're in a lying-flat position. This will help prevent strain on the spine of your child and ensure they get a chance to breath regularly.
The choice of a car seat for infants is a significant investment therefore you'll need to make sure that it has a lengthy life span. Pick a seat that can grow with your child and last from toddlerhood through the teen years. Our parents were satisfied with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for children as young as birth and can be used up to age 7.
Nuna pipa air rx is a second option that can be used for a long time. It has a 360-degree rotation that means you can move it from rear-facing to front-facing as your child grows. It's also one of the lightest car seats that rotate on the market, and weighs less than 9 pounds without its base. It's an excellent choice for parents who move their baby between vehicles frequently or plan to use it for taxi rides, holiday fly-drives, and trips with grandparents.
Comfort
A quality infant car seat will be comfortable for your child, both in the seat as well as when you are installing it. Look for straps that are padded to are comfortable to wear on their shoulders, and soft fabric that is soft under their stomach, particularly when they are in the seat for long trips.
The most effective infant car seats are simple to use. Some have premium LATCH connectors with a SuperCinch force multiplier tightener. Some come with spring-loaded leveling legs and belt paths to make installation without a base much easier than ever. Other features will help you adjust the harness height and headrest, which is especially important as your child gets older.
Cosatto All in All Rotate is a good example. Our parent testers gave it a score of 10 out of 10. It features a clear, simple interface, a no-rethread easy-to adjust harness, a 360-degree rotation and recline lock indicator. It is easy to switch your child's position from front-facing to rear-facing as they grow, without needing to take out and replace the seat.
Another instance is the Nuna Pipa aire rx, which our testers who were parents loved for its comfort, ease of use and versatility. Its cushioned shoulder straps and headrests are designed to help support the head of your newborn and comes with pillows that are soft for your comfort. It can be used as a rear-facing car seat up until your baby is at the maximum height or weight limit, and it converts into a stroller without the need for a separate adapter.
A good car seat is durable and some even come with a warranty. Find an item that is made up of padding and sturdy materials to protect your child from accidents. It should also have steel frames to absorb the impact energy and a "crumple area" to avoid damage from a crash. It should also be easy to clean as messiness is inevitable when you have a baby. To make cleaning easier, look for a car seat that has removable covers and an easy-to-clean pad.
Easy to Use
A car seat must be easy to use and install particularly if you're likely to be using it in a different vehicle at least once in a while. To make it as simple as possible, look for features like a quick-release belt as well as an indicator to indicate the status of the latch (e.g. green for locked), and a manual that is easy to read.
The Best of The Bump winner also has a number of practical extras that our parent testers loved, such as a padded harness and headrest with a plush material and a cup holder. It also comes with a reclining feature that allows your baby to sit in a more comfortable position for longer travels. It can also be used with a compatible buggy to create a complete travel system, which is ideal if you intend to travel for extended periods of time.
Our panelists noted that the car seat was simple to set up and adjust. It features a recline lock and an excellent connector that has a SuperCinch tightener. This makes it easy to secure your child. It's designed to be easily moved from side to side in the vehicle without the necessity of tools.
One of our favorite features is the reclining feature that makes it easier to take your baby in and out of the car. This is particularly helpful for those who have back problems or have a small car. It also comes with the ability to reversibly hold your cup and a handy pocket for toys and snacks.
The seat weighs less than nine pounds and can be installed with or without its base. It can be rotated 180 degrees. This is a fantastic feature for those who are tight on space or have back pain. This new feature impressed our panelists and was selected to be part of the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.
This is a great choice for those looking to convert their car seats into strollers for a reasonable price. Its sleek design and high-end material will also stand the test time. Make sure to clean your cover regularly because smashed yogurt spills, biscuits, and the occasional sick toddler accident are sure to leave their footprints!
Design
Car seat designs are as diverse as the cars they're installed in. Some parents choose to skip infant car seats and opt for a convertible model. However, most new mothers are looking for something that can expand with their child through the toddler years. The most flexible option is an all-in one baby car seat, which allows you to switch between forward-facing and rear-facing. It typically has a greater weight and height limit and can be used as a booster once your child is old enough.
The ideal car seat for a
newborn car seat insert car seat is lightweight, making it easy to lift it from the base and carry with your child. The Maxi-Cosi Coral is available in only a handful of colors but it offers a lot of safety features, and is light (8.4 pounds including canopy and seat inserts). Nuna PIPA URbN is another model that stands out, as it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Car Seat Group category, thanks to features that are high-end, such as the Dream drape and a fully-covered canopy with UPF 50+.
The design of the base and seat should be considered. For instance, some car seats use a special base that locks into the buckles of the seat belts as well as others with 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 if the vehicle only had front-facing seatbelts and no ISOFIX anchor points.
Certain infant car seats work with regular seatbelts without the base. This is a fantastic feature for parents who travel frequently or take taxis with their infants. Our parent testers really liked the Nuna TODL NEXT, which can be used with or without its base. It features a smooth swivel movement that makes it simple to get your infant into and out of the seat.
Other important design considerations are whether a car seat comes with a lie flat design, and how it fits into your particular car (see our guide to car seat compatibility). If you're in search of a car seat that can grow with your baby as he develops into a booster, choose one with an adjustable headrest that can be reclining and side impact protection. It's also important to confirm that the
infant car seat that swivels car seat is iSize compatible and has the right car seat attachment points, in accordance with UK law.
