What is an Infant Carrier Seat?
When it comes to choosing a car seat parents have two choices either infant car seats or convertible car seats. Car seats for infants have the shortest time for use since they are used with rear-facing.
Infant carrier seats are commonly compatible with strollers (adapters sold separately) to create a travel system. Parents can quickly take their child out of the car and into a stroller without disrupting their sleep.
Safety
Many parents are worried about the safety of an infant carrier seat, particularly when they buy one for their first time. As with all car seats, the
infant carrier seat was created to safeguard your child as safely as it is possible in the event of a collision. Most often they are set with the infant facing to the rear. This makes them the
best car seats infant option for infants with the highest chance of being injured in an accident.
They also have extra padding for added head protection, and lower anchors to fix the seat to your vehicle's chassis to prevent it from moving in the event of a collision. This is especially important for infants who have big necks and heads that are easily injured by the force of a collision or sudden stop. Most infant carrier seats can be used with strollers, creating a system that lets you easily move your baby from your car to your stroller without disrupting them.
Many infant car seats have a base that can be used in other vehicles. This allows you to take your child wherever you go. This is great for those who take taxis or ride-sharing services often. It can also make traveling with an infant on planes much easier.
Some models of infant carriers seats can be used on strollers that don't have an base. This lets you ensure your child's safety on all kinds of trips and adventures. This is a great option for grandparents who wish to help with transporting your baby, too!
It's also important to keep in mind that an infant carrier seat is not meant to be left unattended outside of the vehicle, since infants may roll or tip them over on soft surfaces, leading to injuries and even suffocation. This is why it is important to review the safety instructions thoroughly before using a car seat for your infant in a different place.
Portability
Many infant car seats are designed to function as part of the travel system, which is comprising a car frame and seat base that snap together to allow seamless transitions. Travel systems are ideal for babies since they give parents the option to transfer their baby from a
car seat newborn insert to a stroller without having to wake him up. This feature alone makes it a huge reason more than 90% of Babylist parents sign up for an infant seat!
Many infant car seats are compatible with the majority of strollers. The stroller compatibility feature allows parents to take their baby from their car and place it on a frame for a stroller so that they can stroll through a supermarket or park. This is also an excellent feature to consider when you're considering using taxi or ride share service, since most of these services require a child be in a car seat.
As opposed to convertible car seats, which must remain in the vehicle, infant car seats are often smaller and lighter making them a convenient choice for families on-the-go. Some infant car seats also come with a handle so that parents can carry the seat by themselves. This is especially useful for those planning a trip that you do not want to awake your baby for.
Some convertible car seats are designed to be rear-facing seats for infants, but can be converted into a forward-facing seat for older children. These seats all-in-one are a great option if you're looking to keep your child safe in a seat for as long as is possible. You can also find seats that convert to transform into a high back booster seat once your child has outgrown the harness (or exceeds the height and weight limits). Make sure to look for this when you browse choices!
Ease of Use
A baby carrier seat is a rear-facing car seat that clicks into a base installed in your vehicle. These seats are designed to keep babies and newborns safe until they reach weight and height requirements for the booster. Many infant car seats can be used with strollers. This makes it easy to move your baby from the car into the stroller without disrupting their nap schedule.
Find an infant car seat with a detachable car seat that easily attaches to the base or a stroller. This will make it easier to get your baby into and out of the car particularly when their nap is about to end or they are hungry, thirsty or bored. It is also essential to examine the slots on the shoulder straps and ensure they are properly positioned for your child's size. If the straps aren't low enough or high, they aren't properly used and could be dangerous in the event of a crash.
Some infant car seats also come with lower anchors that can be used without the base, which is ideal for taxi rides as well as when traveling on planes. It is essential to confirm that the lower anchors have a European routing path and are simple to set up and remove and look for an audible click to ensure the seat is securely secured. It is also beneficial to find a seat with an easy-to-use harness and carrier adjustment features, like Graco's Click Connect or the UPPAbaby SmartSecure feature.
Convertible car seats are the next step from an infant carrier and can be used until your child has reached their weight or height requirements for the booster seat. They can be used with strollers, but they don't offer the newborn fit and convenience of an infant car seat. Some convertible seats can be converted to boosters. However they tend to be more bulkier and less mobile. This makes them difficult to maneuver when traveling in small vehicles or in crowded areas.
Installation
Installing car seats, and especially infant car seats is difficult. It is crucial to install car seats safely and correctly. This can be affected by the position of your seat, the angle of base, and how you handle the handle.
The majority of infant car seats are made to be attached to a base that is in the vehicle, which is often called a travel system. These seats are made for rear-facing use and are safer than forward-facing. Most car seats have an indicator of angle built-in that you can use to verify if the seat is set in the correct semi-reclined angle for your child. The base may also have an adjustor to change the angle.
It is also important to determine if the seat allows you to adjust the shoulder straps' height without needing to unthread and repeat the process. This is a huge time saver, as you will need to do it multiple times throughout the infant's car seat usage.
Lastly, some cars have hard points in the back of the seat that are specifically designed to hold
infant car seats uk car seat newborn insert seats. These are usually tucked into the crease between the cushion on the back of the seat and the bottom cushion. These hooks ought to snap into place with ease since they are custom-made for the specific seat. Once they are attached to the seat, you might hear a distinct sound.
It is also a good idea to test the car seat with a child to be sure that it works for your family. If the car seat does not click into the base or your child is not comfortable, it's time to find another option.
Some car seats are able to be installed without the base. This is helpful when you travel by public transportation or taxi services like Uber. Follow the manufacturer's directions for removing and installing the vehicle without the base, but most will allow you to do so with the simple press of an lever or button. A lot of them will give you an "click" to let you know when it's secured.
