How to Select Good Infant Car Seats
When it comes to choosing the right car seat for your child, the options can be overwhelming. There are a few things you can do to narrow down your search.
High-end features such as load legs, a super-easy to tighten harness and an extendable headrest that grows with your baby can make this parenting journey more enjoyable.
User-Friendliness
When buying a car seat for your infant be sure to consider the weight and height limits. You should ensure that the seat will last until your child outgrows it, which is typically around the age of two. Also, you should consider whether you want a car seat that goes all the way to the 90th percentile for weight or height, or one that is a little shorter or higher. This will help you determine how long you plan to use the seat.
In addition to the size and weight, you should be aware of how easy it is to put in and use. For example the ease of tightening and loosening straps and latch connectors, the ease with which it is to switch between forward and rear facing, and the number of buckle positions there are all affect the ease of use. Think about the comfort of the head and body pads and any other extra features like the cupholder or hideaway harness pad.
The more user-friendly the seat is, you are more likely to use it correctly. This can be a major factor in the safety of your infant. Seats that are easy to install and remove from the base with a minimum of effort are the most convenient.
The weight of the car seat and its portability are important aspects to take into consideration. car seats newborn must be able to carry the car seat with your baby in it and transport it with ease. This is particularly important if you are going on a long trip. Also, you should examine the dimensions for width and height to ensure it's suitable for your vehicle. If you plan on using it with a stroller for a model that's compatible with many strollers.
Finally, you should take a close look at the manufacturer's crash test results. These results can be found on the website of the manufacturer or by doing an online search. You can determine whether the seat has an history of protecting infants from crashes and what the policy for replacement.
Safety
When parents are looking for a new infant seat, they want to know if the product will keep their baby safe. All infant car seats must adhere to the safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Opens in a new window (NHTSA), which include rigorous crash testing and the five-point harness system.
There are other aspects to take into consideration when purchasing an infant car seat. It is essential to select the right infant car seat based on your baby's weight and height and also the type of vehicle you have. It is also important to ensure that the seat is properly fitted, as poorly installed car seats increase the chance of injury in an accident.
A safe infant car seat will have clear installation guides, a bubble indicator of the level that is easy to read and the locking clip, which stops the base from being accidentally removed. It should also be lightweight and have convenient features like an extendable no-rethread harness bar, anti-rebound bars and an extra-large load leg which can protect your infant from head injuries in the event of a crash.
While it's not an essential feature for every family however, some parents may wish to search for an infant car seat that can be converted into a toddler car seat at the pull of a lever at the base. This will provide them with greater flexibility and allow their child to use the seat until they reach the manufacturer's weight and height limit.
It is also important to consider how easy it will be to use the car seat on a regular basis. The straps should be smooth to tighten and loosen, and the buckle should be simple to snap in and out of place. The carrier should be easy to carry empty, and the base should be easy to remove from the vehicle without needing to fiddle around.
It's an excellent idea, before purchasing a car seat, to check whether there are any recalls. You can do this by visiting the NHTSA Opens in a New Window website that has a searchable database that lists all past and current car seat recalls.
Comfort
When it concerns infant car seats comfort is the primary consideration for parents. These rear-facing seats have been created to protect your baby in the event of an accident. Most include integrated back and head support to ensure that they are at a comfortable level. Choose a seat facing the rear that has features such as no-rethread straps and magnetic buckle holders and adjustable shoulder belts.
Another feature that can make or break an infant car seat is how simple it is to set up and use. Ideally you should be able of getting the seat off its base with just one hand while holding the baby in the other. When you're ready to return the seat to its base it should click into position and take less than one minute.
Many infant car seats can also be used without a base, which is ideal for parents who frequently change cars or ride taxis. Make sure you know the weight and height limits of the seat prior to purchasing it to ensure that your child isn't too big. Most car seats come with an infant insert which can be used by babies who are tiny (like in the initial few months or weeks of life) until their shoulders are able to reach to the lowest harness slot.
Convertible models are a great choice for an infant car seat. They provide convenience and safety. These seats can be used in conjunction with strollers, and they come with the ability to fold them into the car when not in use. They are generally larger than car seats for infants, and are sometimes more difficult to carry around.
Another thing to think about is whether the seat comes with a load leg that is a brace that sits between the seat and the floor to give you extra stability. They're not required, but they can be extremely helpful in smaller vehicles or those with multiple car seat.
Convenience
A well-designed infant car seat can provide you with peace of mind knowing your baby is safe and comfortable on long drives. Consider features like straps for your shoulders that are padded, additional padding around the neck to ensure your baby can sit comfortably, a wide range of recline positions and more. You might also want to consider a car seat with additional features, like UPF 50+ sun shields and a fully-coverage canopy with zip-open zippers that gives your baby the protection they need.
If you're looking for ease of use, consider how simple the seat is to use and how it can be easily installed in the vehicle. It is likely that you'll require the seat to be installed using the LATCH system and the belt of your vehicle. Select a seat that has the simplest installation.
The Nuna Pipa is our top pick as the best infant car seat. It's a simple installation process thanks to the steel-reinforced connectors on the base that appear and flash green when properly connected. This feature, along with recline angle guides as well as colored belt-oath indicators make this a standout model among infant car seats because of its convenience of use.
The seat is compact and lightweight. This makes it an ideal option for parents who travel with their baby or who switch between cars frequently. It also comes with a no rethread harness, as well as magnetic buckle holders that permit you to secure the seat using just one hand.
A slim shell that's less than 17 inches wide means that the infant seat is more comfortable than some others available, and the additional padding on the shoulder and chest area will provide extra comfort. The seat is more expensive than others, but we believe that the premium features such as the adjustable base and SnugLock locking system are worth it.
Infant car seats are a big expense, but with right information and considerations you can narrow your choices to a few models that will best suit your family's needs. Then, you can concentrate on the important task of making preparations for your child's arrival!