How to Choose Infant Car Seats Best

Parents should have car seats. What makes one car seat better than another?

A specially designed infant seat is ideal for the most tiny babies, and is lighter to facilitate transport outside of the vehicle. Look for convenience extras such as premium lower anchor connectors, harnesses with no-rethread pads, and one button handles. Also, look for safety features such as load legs and head/body cushions.

Safety

As any parent will tell you, choosing the best car seat newborn car seat for your child is among the most crucial decisions that you can make. The right seat will ensure that your child is positioned correctly and adequately protected in the event of a car crash.

Not all car seats are created equal. While every car seat sold in the US is required to conform to the strict safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Not all seats have the same features. Some have special features designed to safeguard infants, for instance, load legs that reduce movement in crashes by absorbing the force of impact on the base and car seat, while others include built-in bubble levels for easy installation and adjustable headrests that expand with your child.

Choi says that dedicated infant car seats are designed to provide the perfect fit for babies. They typically have crash-tested inserts which can help achieve this. They're also lighter than convertible car seat and can easily be converted into a stroller. This makes them perfect for drop-offs at daycares, rides, and pickups. Since they'll only last through your baby's first year it's possible to purchase an older model for only a fraction of the cost.

A high NHTSA score and great crash test results are crucial, but the method you use to install your child's car seat is more important. In fact, a study by Portland's leading children's hospital revealed that 95 percent of parents made at the very least one crucial error when installing or putting in their car seat.

It's essential to familiarize yourself prior to when your baby arrives with the appropriate guidelines for car seats. We recommend you pick a car seat with clear and concise instructions. It should also be lightweight so it's easy to carry around your child.

You should also check to verify that the car seat for infants you're considering meets the requirements for size for your vehicle. If you're concerned about your capability to set up and operate the car seat properly yourself, you might want to take it to a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) before your baby is born for a hands-on instruction.

Convenience

Some infant car seats have extra features that make them more user-friendly. For example, they may include a base the seat clicks into and out of, or they might come with easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms. These features make it simpler to install and remove the car seat, especially if there is another child in your care.

The weight and height limits of an infant car seat are also important factors to consider. If you have a child who is growing quickly it might be worth the extra cost to purchase a car seat with higher limits so that you can use it for as long as possible.

In addition to safety features, your baby's car seat must also be comfortable. Look for padded straps that won't rub or pinch their shoulders, and a soft fabric that is soft underneath them for long durations. It's also an excellent idea to select a seat with a lie-flat mode that allows your baby to be in a reclined position that helps keep their airways open and oxygen saturation levels high.

Dr. Segura advises that you should not purchase any accessories for infant car seats that aren't included in the seat as they have not been crash-tested and may be unsafe. Avoid buying used car seats for infants as they could have been involved in an accident and may be damaged or worn.

The best car seat newborn infant car seats cost from $100 to over $600. However they all have some features. They're all lightweight, simple to put in and take off and are comfortable for infants. Some even come with special features that make them more flexible including the ability to swivel and clip onto strollers without the need for adapters. For more information on the different choices available, read our review of the top infant car seats.

Comfort

Top forward facing infant car seat car seats come with features that provide comfort and allow you to easily take your child into and out of the seat. This features a single-handed latch system that removes the need to grasp both sides of the strap 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. Because you'll be using it without a base, a lighter one is preferred. The Baby Trend Secure Lift, for instance, weighs less that 13 pounds.

Other important aspects include the weight and height limits of the infant car seat. If you intend to keep the car seat, pick a model that will expand with your child and allow them to transition into the toddlerhood. You can keep it for longer and save money by not buying another seat.

You'll also want to think about the seat's dimensions and whether it's wider or larger than other models. The former can be an advantage for vehicles with smaller dimensions, while the latter may be helpful if you have two kids in car seats that are back-to-back or need to drive with three kids in the back seat at some point. If you are planning to use the car seat in conjunction with strollers, choose one that has detachable car seats and is compatible with a wide range of strollers. Brands such as Graco or Nuna have options that will meet your needs.

For ease of use, check out the score the car seat is given for installation. Clearly labeled guides and indicators that indicate the seat is level and securely fastened -- like bubble levels or color codes--can assist in easing the burden on parents who are new. Some seats also have unique features like load legs, which are shock-absorbing pieces that are located under the seat or at the base which extend to the floor of the vehicle to absorb some of the force during a crash.

There are also accessories that claim to increase the convenience and comfort of your car seat. But remember that anything that's not sold with the seat hasn't undergone safety testing. Segura advises that you shouldn't place anything in your car seat, including a blanket or harness you bought from a different source.

Style

It can be difficult for new parents to choose the right infant car seats. It's important to know the budget you have set and the features that you'd like to have. There are a variety of options for special features, stroller compatibility and even fabrics. However, it all comes down to comfort.

For example it's important to note that infant seats designed specifically for babies fit small babies better than convertible car seats and are suitable for the first year of their lives (though some might include extensions that have been tested for crash to ensure they last longer). They typically have a greater number of recline settings to facilitate the correct positioning of small children. They are also lighter and more convenient to carry. They are more likely to be compatible when used with an existing travel system. This is beneficial for new parents wanting to save money and time by buying seats that serve two purposes.

Another important thing to remember is that car seat weight and width are crucial elements for families with a large number of children. For instance, certain infant car seats are designed to be a bit narrower than others for a better fit in the back seat of your car or for use alongside siblings seats. Some are heavy enough to test your biceps strength and move from car to stroller.

In terms of convenience, many parents opt for infant car seats with the ability to move from base to carrier and then click into a stroller, without the need for extra attachments. This can help you save a lot of time, especially on busy days where you have to run around for errands.

Other features that are useful include the magnetic buckle holder as well as a strap that does not need to be rethread and a simplified installation process. Also, look for a head and body support insert, which can aid in preventing infants from slumbering in the carrier or seat when they are asleep.

Most car seats use flexible straps to secure the lower anchor connectors, but there are some that come with latches that can be flipped out of the base and turn green when properly installed. This kind of installation is more secure and may limit the amount of time a car seat moves in the event of the event of a crash.