How to Choose Infant Car Seats Best
Car seats are a must-have for parents. But what makes one superior to another?
A special infant seat fits the smallest of babies and is lighter for easier transport outside of the vehicle. Look for convenience features such as premium lower-anchor connectors and harness pads that are not rethreading, and single button handles. Also, think about safety features such as load legs and body cushions for the head and neck.
Safety
As any parent will tell you that choosing the best car seat is one of the most crucial decisions you'll make for your child. The correct seat will ensure that they're placed properly in the car and that they're adequately secured in the event of a crash.
Not all car seats are equal. Although every seat sold in the US must adhere to the strict safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Not all seats have the same features. Certain models have features specifically designed to protect infants, like load legs that reduce the impact of crashes by absorbing the impact forces on the base of the car seat as well as built-in bubble levels to make it easy for installation and adjustable headrests that grow with your child.
Car seats for infants are also designed to fit tiny babies best and often include crash-tested inserts to help achieve this, says Choi. They're also lighter than a convertible car seats and can be easily transformed into a stroller. This makes them ideal for drop-offs at daycares, rides and pickups. And because they'll only last for the first year of your baby's life it's possible to purchase a second-hand one for less than the price.
Another point to consider is that while a high NHTSA rating and excellent crash test results are important but the manner you use your car seat is more important to the safety of your child. In fact, a study conducted by Portland's leading children's hospital revealed that 95% of parents made at the very least one crucial mistake when installing or positioning their car seat.
It's important to familiarize yourself before your baby arrives by ensuring that you know the correct car seat guidelines. We recommend you pick a car seat that has clear and concise instructions. It must also be light enough it's easy to carry around your child.
Examine if the infant car seat that you're thinking about purchasing meets the car's dimensions. If car seat for newborn worried about your capability to install and operate the car seat properly yourself, you may be able to bring it to a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) before your baby is even born for a hands on tutorial.
Convenience
Certain infant car seats come with extra features that make them easier to use. For instance, they might include a base the seat can be clicked into and out of, or they might feature easy-to-use adjustments. These features can help make it easier to attach and remove the car seat, especially when you have a child to attend to.
It is also crucial to consider the weight and height limits of an infant car seat. If your child is growing quickly it may be worth investing in a car seat with greater limits to ensure that you are able to use it as long as you want.
In addition to safety features, your child's car seat should also be comfortable. Choose padded straps that will not rub or pinch their shoulders, and for soft fabrics that feel at ease underneath them. Select a seat with the ability to lie flat. This allows your child to sit upright position, which helps to keep their airways open and oxygen saturation levels high.
Dr. Segura warns that you should avoid buying any accessories for infant car seats that aren't included in the seat because they haven't been tested for crash safety and could be dangerous. Avoid purchasing a used infant car seat as they could be involved in an accident and may be damaged or worn.
While the best infant car seats range between $100 and $600, there are a few things that the top choices have in common. They're all lightweight, simple to put in and take off and comfortable for infants. Some have features that make them more adaptable such as the ability to rotate and clip into strollers without the need for additional adapters. For more information on the various options available, take a look at our comparison of best infant car seats.
Comfort
The best infant car seats feature comfort features that make it easier to get the baby in and out of the seat. This includes a one-handed latch system that eliminates the need to grip both straps at the same time, and cushioned padding that makes it easier to lift the seat. It is also important to consider the weight of the seat. Since you'll be using it with no base, a lighter seat is preferred. This Baby Trend Secure Lift, for instance, weighs less that 13 pounds.
Other important factors include the weight and height limits of the infant car seat. If you plan on keeping the car seat for a while you should look for an infant car seat that will grow with your baby and will allow them to transition into toddlerhood. It is possible to use it for a longer time and save money by not buying an additional seat.
You should also consider the dimensions of the seat and if it is narrower or wider than other models. The first one is useful for vehicles with smaller dimensions. The second could be useful if you have three children in the rear seat or two children in back-to back car seats. If you intend to use the car seat in conjunction with strollers, you should look for one that can be detached from car seats that are compatible with a wide range of strollers. Car seat brands such as Graco and Nuna offer options that meet this requirement.
To make it easier to use, check out the ratings a car seat receives for installation. Clear guidelines and indicators, like bubble levels or color-coding which indicate whether the seat is secured and level, can ease stress for parents who are new. Some seats also come with innovative features like load legs, which are shock-absorbing components located beneath the seat or on the base that extend to the floor of the vehicle to absorb some of the force during a crash.
There are additional accessories that claim to improve the comfort and convenience of your car seat. Be aware that anything not included in the seat hasn't passed safety tests. "Anything you purchase that isn't directly from the manufacturer, such as the harness or blanket you shouldn't put in the car seat," Segura says.
Style
For new parents trying to figure out how to pick the best car seat for your infant can be a bit of a puzzle. It is important to determine the budget you have set and what features you want. There are plenty of different options for special features, stroller compatibility, and fabrics, but it all depends on what's most comfortable for baby.
For instance, it's worth noting that dedicated infant seats fit small babies better than convertible car seats and are suitable for the first year of their lives (though some may come with extended kits that have been tested and crash-tested to make them last longer). They also tend to offer more recline options to allow proper positioning of small children and are generally lighter, which makes it easier to carry. They are also more likely to work with a travel system, which is beneficial for new parents trying to save time and money by buying one seat that will perform double duty.
Car seat weight and width are also important factors to consider for families with a large number of children. Some infant car seats, like are narrower, which allows them to be able to fit in the back of your car or close to other seats. Some are so heavy that they test your biceps as you lift them and transfer them from the car to the stroller.
Many parents choose an infant car seat that can be transformed from a base to a carrier and then click into a stroller without any extra attachments. This will save you lots of time, particularly during busy times when you are running the errands.
Other useful features include an adjustable buckle holder that is magnetic as well as a strap that does not need to be rethread and a simple installation process. Look for a head and body support insert to prevent infants from slumping into the carrier or seat as they sleep.
The majority of car seats utilize flexible straps for their lower anchor connectors, however, some have latches that are rigid and flip out of the base and turn green once installed. This type of installation is more secure and can limit the amount of time a car seat moves in the event of the event of a crash.