How to Choose the best car seats for newborns Infant Car Seat

Think about what you'd like from your car seat. "If you're looking for a car seat to grow with your child, think about an all-in-one model such as the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton recommends. It has a lengthy rear-facing weight limit and is able to convert into a high-back and backless booster.

It also scores highly for comfort and quality with soft cushioning that is machine washable. Load legs are a beneficial feature. They are shock-absorbing parts which are attached to the car seat base and limit movement during a crash.

Safety

The infant car seats uk car seats are designed to fit small babies best, so they generally have more padding and cushioning than convertible carseats. They are also lighter and easier to take from your car or attach to a stroller frame, which is crucial since you will need to transport your child in the car seat out of the vehicle frequently. Dedicated infant car seats also have the advantage of often being designed to last for your child's first year, so you don't have to worry about them growing beyond their weight or height as fast as the convertible car seat might.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's standards for car seats are stringent however it's recommended to conduct your own research before making a purchase. Consider reading reviews from other parents and checking out car seat safety guides from groups like Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have a wealth of crash testing data to provide to families.

Find features that will be useful to your family. This could include the ability to release the strap, a no-rethread harness or a leveling foot with spring-loaded mechanism. These kinds of features can help you buckle your child faster and more convenient however, you must remember that even the safest of seats can be a waste in the event that you don't utilize them correctly.

Other things to keep in mind are the size and weight of the car seat. A lot of infant seats can be installed in your vehicle alongside older car seats. Some can expand with your child and can be converted to a booster simultaneously. Also, if you intend to use your car seat for transport or to take taxis, a baby car seat that is installed with only the vehicle's seatbelt is a good infant car seats alternative.

In general it's best to buy the most secure car seat you can afford, as the cheapest models usually don't meet the highest safety standards for crash protection. For instance, it's recommended to stay clear of models that do not include side crash testing and allow companies to self-certify their seats.

Convenience

The best car seats for infants are those that can fit in your family vehicle and are simple to install, and have convenient extras like a built-in jogging stroller or rotation capability. It should also be affordable. The price of infant seats is between $180 and $500. They can cost more when they're convertible and used as a toddler and infant seat.

Convenience features include how simple it is to put in the seat with either the LATCH system or a seatbelt and whether you can adjust the harness and headrest without taking the baby out of the seat. Installing and taking it off should be simple, especially when your child rides in Ubers or you frequently switch between cars. The seat should also be lightweight and have clearly labeled installation guides and bubble levels to ensure you can quickly install the car seat properly installed.

You should be able easily to adjust the harness and buckles, as well as move the seat when not in use. Before you buy an infant car seat, be sure to determine its weight and height limits. Also, consider whether your child will outgrow the seat by the time they reach their first birthday. In general, you should select a seat for your child that grows with them until they reach the 90 percentile.

While federal safety standards are the minimum requirement, some manufacturers go beyond to include additional crash-testing and other features that are included in their car seats. The Clek Liing, a top pick by our gear editors as well as Consumer Reports, is an excellent example of an infant seat that offers more than just excellent crash protection. It also has load legs, which stabilizes the seat in a crash and reduces the force on the body of the child by 40%. This feature could save a child’s life. It's worth spending more on car seats with added safety features and convenience.

Comfort

Comfort is a major factor to consider when selecting an infant car seat, as babies spend most of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable ones feature comfortable, breathable fabrics and plenty of padding in the headrest and harness. They come with easy-to-use adjustments such as strap covers, buckles and headrest adjustments that don't require to be rethread.

The weight and size of the infant car seat can also impact comfort especially if it's being used in multiple vehicles or for frequent travel. Some models are narrower than others, which makes them easier to fit in the back seat alongside another car seat or your siblings' seats. And, while they all have minimum and maximum height and weight limits, some are lighter than others, which can prevent your biceps from getting sore when carrying it around town or between vehicles.

Some infant car seats offer additional features that make them more flexible including rotating options or the ability to click into a stroller without the need for extra adapters. Some models come with high-end features like an adjustable harness with no-rethread straps or bars that prevent rebounding to provide additional security in the event of the possibility of a crash. Although these features aren't essential to an enjoyable ride, they can add to the overall experience of using the seat.

Parents want their children to have a comfortable, clean car seat. They also care about safety and convenience. Look for a model that's machine washable and stain-resistant and also easy to remove for cleaning. Some seats are even dishwasher safe, which makes it even easier to keep them looking clean.

Certain models go above and beyond to ensure that their customers get an enjoyable and safe experience. For example, the Graco SnugRide (tm) Elite has an anti-rebounding bar that is able to meet Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) which is designed to withstand front and rear collisions. The seat also comes with a Silent Shade canopy that keeps baby safe and quiet and also an indicator that lets you know when it's properly attached to the base. The seat's adjustable carry handle the harness tightener and indicator let you know whether it's securely attached to the base.

Design

Car seat manufacturers design infant car seats with safety and comfort in mind, but the dizzying array of features available can make it difficult to decide what's the best fit for your family. Consider factors like the weight and height limit and the number of belt paths and buckles. Additional features like anti-rebound bars load legs, no-rethread harnesses can add to the cost but could also increase the comfort of babies. You might also consider features that make it easier to get your child in and out of the seat, for example, rotating mechanisms. Be sure to be aware of the dimensions and weight of the seat as not every seat will fit in all vehicles.

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, could affect this. You should also think about whether the straps are able to be easily tightened or loosen and if there is a one-hand release mechanism to install and remove the seat.

Some models let you use the seat without a footrest, which can be useful for those who plan to change cars or take taxis often. To make sure that your seat is securely installed, look for models with bubble level indicators and a integrated locking mechanism.

Some features may be worth the extra cost for example, the headrest that grows with your child, a five-position recline feature, and a canopy that extends and is locked in place. Our product testers have also noted that a seat that can be used as a high-back belt-positioning booster, or a backless one after the baby is finished using it is an advantage.

Doona is an infant car seat newborn car seat that will spoil parents. It's packed with features that address almost every complaint families have about infant car seats, which is the reason our testers scored it highly across every category. It's affixed for air travel and comes with an anti-rebound handle, and can be converted directly into a stroller. Its crash test results are excellent and it is GREENGUARD Gold certified.