How to Choose the
best car seats Car Seat Newborn
The
best car seat newborn is one that meets federal safety standards, is compatible with your vehicle, has convenient extras (like turning into the stroller) and works with your budget. It's also important to ensure that the car seat for your baby clicks into and out of your car with ease, particularly if you often shift between taxis or rides in rental cars or grandparents' vehicles.
Safety
A quality car seat comes with extra features that go beyond the federal safety standards. They include padded inserts for the head and shoulders and air-repellent fabrics to keep them cool when driving in hot temperatures.
The ease of installation and use of the seat is another important aspect of safety. Ideally, you want to be capable of snapping it in place with little effort and with clear indications that it's safe, level, and positioned properly.
You can find features that can help you with this like belt guides and built-in locks that will help you align the car seat to the seat belt of your vehicle. It is also important to avoid buying used car seats that may not be tested for safety or have been involved in an accident and might not protect your child. If you do decide to purchase a used one be sure that it's on the expiration date and isn't being sold by a private seller who doesn't have proof of ownership.
Another thing to bear in your mind is to only leave your infant in the car seat for up to 2 hours per day unless they are in a lie-flat position. This will help prevent strain on the spine of your child, and ensure that they get a chance to breath regularly.
The choice of a car seat for infants is a major investment, therefore you'll need to make sure that it has a long duration. Choose a seat that is designed to adapt to your child's needs that will last through toddlerhood and through the teen years. Our testers for parents were satisfied with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for babies from birth and can be used up to age 7.
Nuna pipa air rx is a second option that you can use over a long period of time. It can rotate 360 degrees so you can change it from front-facing to rear-facing as your child grows. It's also one of the lightest rotating car seats on the market, and weighs less than 9 pounds without its base. It's a great option for parents who move their infant frequently between vehicles or plan to use it for taxi rides, holiday fly-drives, and trips with grandparents.
Comfort
A good infant car seat is comfortable for your child, both in the seat and when you install it. Choose padded straps that fit snugly around their shoulders, and for plush fabric that feels good beneath their stomachs. This is especially important in the event that you plan to use the seat for a long duration.
The most effective car seat for infants is also user-friendly. Some have premium LATCH connectors that come with SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener, spring-loaded leveling feet as well as belt paths that make fitting without the base much easier than ever before. Other features can help you adjust the height of your harness and headrest, which is especially important as your child gets older.
Cosatto All in All Rotate is an example. Our testers from our parent company scored it a 10 out of 10. It features a clear, simple interface, no-rethread, easy-to-change harness, 360-degree rotation, and a recline lock indication. It is easy to switch your child's position from front-facing to rear-facing as they grow, without having to remove and replace the seat.
Nuna Pipa Aire Rx is a similar example. Our parents who tested it were impressed by its comfort simple and adaptability. Its padded shoulder straps as well as headrest are designed to support your baby's head, and it comes with an infant pillow that is soft to keep them comfy. It can be used as a rear-facing car seat until your baby hits the max height or weight limit and then it can be converted into a stroller without the need for a separate adapter.
A quality car seat is durable and some even have a warranty. Choose the seat with plenty of padding and sturdy materials to protect your child from any injuries. It should also have an aluminum frame to withstand the impact energy as well as a "crumple area" to stop damage from crashes. It must also be easy to clean, as messes are inevitable with a child. To simplify cleaning, look for a car seat with removable covers and an easy-to-clean pad.
Easy of Use
It's important that the car seat you choose to purchase is easy to install and use, particularly in the event that it will be used in a variety of vehicles at times. Look for features such as an easy-release buckle, an indicator that indicates the status of the latch system (e.g., green for locked) and a simple-to-read manual to make it as stress-free as is possible.
The
best car seat infant of The Bump winner comes with a variety of practical extras that our parent testers adored, such as an padded headrest and padded harness with a plush material and a cup holder. It also has a reclining feature that allows your child to sit in a more comfortable position for longer travels. It can also be used with an appropriate buggy to make a complete travel system, which is ideal if are planning to travel for long periods of time.
Our panelists found that this car seat was easy to set up and adjust. It comes with a recline lock and an excellent connector that has a SuperCinch tightener. This makes it easy to secure your child. It can also be moved from side to side of the vehicle easily without the need for tools.
One of our favorite features is the recline feature that allows you to easily get your infant in and out of the car. This is particularly helpful if you have back issues or have a smaller vehicle. It also comes with a reversible cup holder and a handy pocket for snacks and toys.
The seat weighs less than nine pounds and can be used with or without its base. It also rotates 180 degrees, which could be a lifesaver when you have limited space or are suffering from back pain. Our panelists were impressed by this feature, which earned a spot in our 2021 Mother&Baby awards.
This is a great choice for those looking to transform their car seats into strollers at an affordable cost. Its streamlined design and high-quality fabric will last for a long time as well. Don't forget to wash the cover frequently as spills of yoghurt, biscuits that have been crushed, or even sick toddler accidents can leave a mark.
Design
The designs of car seats can be as diverse as the vehicles they're installed in. While some parents opt to not use infant car seats to opt for convertible models, the majority of new mothers want a seat that will develop with their baby as they reach toddlerhood. All-in-one car seats are the most versatile that allow you to change from rear-facing to forward-facing. It typically has a higher height and weight limit, and can be used as a booster seat once your child is old enough to need one.
The ideal infant car seat for infants is light and easy to lift off the base with your child inside. Our parent testers loved the Maxi-Cosi Coral, which is only available in a handful of colors, but has a lot of safety features and is extremely lightweight (at 8.4 pounds with seat inserts and canopy). Other standout models include the Nuna PIPA URbN, winner of Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for
best infant seat Car Seat Group 0/0+, thanks to its high-end extras like the Dream drape and a full-coverage UPF 50+ canopy.
The design of the seat and base should be considered as well. Certain car seats have an attached base that is locked into the seat belt buckles. Others have steel-reinforced connectors for LATCH that flip out of the sides of the base once properly attached. Parents have found these to be convenient, especially if their vehicle had only front-facing seatbelts with no ISOFIX anchor points.
Some infant car seats can also be used with a standard seatbelt that is not base-less that is great for parents who often travel by taxi or travel with their child. Our parents who tested it really enjoyed the Nuna TODL NEXT which can be used with or without its base. It includes a smooth swivel motion that makes it easy to get your infant in and out of the seat.
Other important considerations for design are whether the car seat is an open design, and how well it fits into your particular car (see our guide to car seat compatibility). If you're looking for an infant car seat that can develop with your baby until a booster, look for a model with a reclining headrest and side impact protection. Make sure the baby car seat you pick is iSize compliant and also has the proper car seat attachment points as per UK law.
