How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat
What do you want from your car seat? "If you need an automobile seat that can grow with your child look into an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton says. The seat can be converted to a high-back booster or an unbackless booster. It comes with a huge rear-facing weight limitation.
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
newborn car seat seat that limit the movement of the car seat in a crash.
Safety
Dedicated infant car seats are designed to fit tiny babies the best, which is why they typically offer more cushioning and padding than convertible carseats. They are also lighter and easier to take out of the car, or put onto a stroller frame, unlike convertible car seats, which is vital because you'll probably have to transport your child in the seat frequently outside of your vehicle. The car seat for infants is also designed to last your child for the first year. This means you won't need to worry about your child exceeding the weight limit or height.
It's a good idea to do some research prior to you make a purchase. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has strict standards for car seats. Consider reading reviews from other parents as well as looking through safety guides from groups like Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have a wealth of crash test data to give to families.
Find features that can help your family. These include a one-handed release of the strap, a no rethread harness or a leveling foot with spring-loaded mechanisms. These kinds of features could help you buckle your baby faster and easier, but keep in mind that even the safest seats will be useless when you don't use them correctly.
Other things to consider are the weight and width of the car seat. A lot of infant seats can be installed in your vehicle along with older car seats. Some of them can expand with your child, and convert to an adult booster simultaneously. And finally, if you intend to use your car seat to transportation or for taxis, an infant car seat that can be fitted using only the seatbelt of your vehicle is a great alternative.
In general, it is recommended to purchase the safest seat that you can afford. The cheapest models may not always meet the most stringent standards of crash safety. For instance, it's
best car seat for newborn uk to avoid models that don't include side impact testing and permit companies to self-certify their products.
Convenience
The
best car seat infant car seats (
click the up coming article) for infants are those that can fit in your family vehicle, are easy to install and have convenient extras such as a built-in running stroller or the ability to rotate. It should be reasonably priced. Infant seats can vary between $180 to $500. They can cost more if they are convertible and used as a toddler and infant seat.
The convenience features include whether the seat can be fitted using the LATCH system, or a seatbelt. Also, if you can adjust the headrest and harness without removing the infant from the seat. You want to be able to install and take it out easily, especially if you switch frequently between vehicles or take Uber rides with your child. The seat should be light and clearly labeled with instructions for installation and bubble levels to make it easier to install the car seat.
You should be able to adjust the harness and buckles and rotate the seat when not in use. It's also important to know the height and weight limits of the infant car seat prior to you buy it, and think about whether your baby will outgrow it before its first birthday. A good rule of thumb is to select a car seat that will grow with your baby until they reach the 90th percentile.
Some manufacturers go above and beyond federal safety standards to incorporate additional features such as crash-testing, comfort and convenience in their car seats. The Clek Ling, a top choice among our gear editors and Consumer Reports is a great example of a baby seat that offers much more than just good crash protection. It also comes with a load leg, which can help stabilize the seat in the event of a crash and reduces the force on the body of the child by 40 percent. 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 infant car seat is the comfort, as infants spend a lot of time in their car seats. The most comfortable ones have large, breathable fabrics as well as plenty of padding in the headrest and harness. They come with easy-to-use adjustments like strap covers, buckles, and headrest adjustments that don't need the rethreading.
The weight and size of the infant car seat can also impact comfort particularly if it's being used in multiple vehicles or for frequent travel. Certain models are smaller than others, which makes them easier to fit in the back seat with another car seat or other siblings' seats. Although all models have weight and height limitations Some are lighter. This will help your biceps from aching when you carry it from one place to another or between cars.
Some infant car seats offer extra features that make them more adaptable like rotational options or the capability to convert into strollers without the need for extra adapters. Some models come with top-quality features like an adjustable no-rethread strap or anti-rebound bars to offer extra security in the event of an accident. While these additional features aren't essential for an enjoyable ride, they can add to the overall experience of using the seat.
Parents want their children to be comfortable and have a clean car seat. They also value safety and convenience. Choose a model which 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 new.
Some models go above and beyond 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 features a Silent Shade canopy to keep your baby comfortable and quiet and also an indicator that lets you know when the seat is properly secured. Its adjustable harness tightener and carry handle make easy one-handed adjustments.
Design
Car seat manufacturers make infant car seats with safety and ease of use in mind, however the dizzying array of features available can make it difficult to decide what's the best fit for your family. You'll want to consider aspects like weight and height limits as well as the number of buckles and belt paths. Additional features such as load legs, anti-rebound bars and no-rethread straps could increase the price of the seat but improve the comfort of your infant. You might also consider features that make it easier to get your child into and out of the seat, like rotational mechanisms. You should also pay attention to dimensions and base weight as not all seats fit in every vehicle.
The ease of attaching and detaching the base is one feature that is important. The quality of the LATCH connectors and whether they're flexible or rigid, will affect this. You should also consider whether the straps are simple to loosen and tighten, and whether there is a single-hand release mechanism for installing and uninstalling the seat.
Certain models allow you to use the seat with no footrest, which is convenient if your plan is to change taxis or cars frequently. Look for models that come with a built-in lock as well as bubble level indicators to make sure that the seat is placed correctly.
Other features worth the extra cost include a headrest that increases with the baby or a recline with five positions, as well as an extendable canopy that locks in place. Our product testers also mentioned the fact that a seat can be used for a highback booster using belt positioning or a backless booster when the baby is no longer using it is an added benefit.
The Doona is the type of infant car seat that spoils parents. It's packed with features that address nearly every complaint parents have about
infant car seats, which is the reason our product testers gave it top marks in every category. It's affixed for air travel, has an anti-rebound handle and can be converted into a stroller. The crash test results are impressive and it's GREENGUARD Gold certified.
