How to Choose the best infant carrier car seat Infant Car Seat

Think about what you'd like from your car seat. "If you want a car seat that can expand with your child, then consider an all-in one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton advises. The seat comes with a long rear-facing weight limit and is able to convert into an incline-back booster and a backless one.

The soft cushioning that can be machine washed is an advantage. Load legs are another beneficial feature. They are shock-absorbing parts that are affixed to the base or car seats and reduce movement during an accident.

Safety

Dedicated infant car seats are made to fit small babies best, and so they generally offer more cushioning and padding than convertible carseats. They are also lighter and easier to remove from the car or attach to a stroller frame, which is crucial since you'll need to carry your child in the car seat out of the vehicle frequently. The car seat for infants is designed to last your child through the first year. This means you won't have to worry about your child exceeding its weight or height limits.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's guidelines for car seats are extremely stringent but it's an excellent idea to conduct your own research prior to buying. You might want to read reviews from other parents and looking at Shop Kinderkraft I-360 I-SIZE Car Seat - Black seat safety guidelines from organizations like Consumer Reports or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both have crash test data that can be shared with families.

You should also look into whether a seat has features that could be particularly helpful for your family, such as an easy strap release with one hand and a harness with no rethread or a spring-loaded foot for leveling. These types of features can help you buckle your baby faster and easier however, you must remember that even the safest of seats are useless in the event that you don't utilize them correctly.

Other factors to be aware of are the weight and width of the car seat. Many infant car seats can be put in your vehicle along with older car seats. Some of them can grow with your child, and then convert to a booster in the same time. If you are planning to use your car seat to travel or to take taxis or taxis, then an infant car seat that can be installed by using only your car's seatbelt will be a convenient choice.

In general it's best to buy the safest seat you can afford, because the cheapest models typically do not meet the highest crash safety standards. For instance, it's best to stay clear of models that do not include side impact testing and permit companies to self-certify their seats.

Convenience

The most suitable infant car seats are those that can fit in your family vehicle and are simple to install, and come with useful extras like a built-in jogging stroller or the ability to rotate. It should also be affordable. Infant seats cost between $180 and $500. They may cost more when they're convertible and will be used as an infant and toddler seat.

Convenience features include how simple it is to install the seat using either the LATCH system or a seatbelt and whether you can adjust the harness and headrest without taking the baby out of the seat. The process of installing and removing the seat should be easy, especially for children who ride Ubers or you frequently switch between cars. The seat should also be lightweight and come with clearly labeled installation guidelines and bubble levels so that you can quickly install the car seat properly installed.

You should also be able to turn the seat around and lock it when you're not using it and have easy access to the buckles and harness straps. When you purchase 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 turn one. In general, you should select the seat for your child that can grow with them until they reach the 90 percentile.

While federal safety standards are the minimum requirement, some manufacturers go above and over to provide additional crash testing and other features that are included in their car seats. The Clek Ling is a top pick of our gear editors and Consumer Reports is a great example of a baby seat that provides more than just excellent crash protection. It also comes with a leg that stabilizes the seat during a crash, reducing forces on the child by 40%. This feature could save a child's life. It's worth spending more on a car seat with added convenience features and safety.

Comfort

The comfort factor is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting an infant car seat, because babies spend the majority of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable ones have comfortable, breathable fabrics and ample padding in the headrest and harness. They also come with easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms like buckles, strap covers, and headrest adjustments that do not require the rethreading.

The weight and size of the car seat for infants can also impact comfort particularly if it's being used in multiple vehicles or for frequent travel. Some models are narrower than others, making them easier to fit in the back seat with another car seat or other siblings' seats. While they all have weight and height limitations certain models are lighter. This can save you from having sore biceps when you move it between cars.

Some infant car seats have extra features to allow them to be more flexible. For instance, they can rotate or be converted into a stroller, without the need for additional adapters. Certain models include premium features such as the adjustable no-rethread strap and bar that prevents rebound to give you additional security in the event of the possibility of a crash. These features aren't required for safe riding, however they can improve the overall experience.

Parents want their babies to be comfortable and have a clean car seat. They also care about safety and convenience. Choose a model which is machine washable, stain-resistant and easy to remove to clean. Some seats are dishwasher safe, making it even easier to keep them looking clean.

Some models go further to ensure their customers have an enjoyable and safe experience. For instance the Graco SnugRide (tm) Elite has an anti-rebounding bar that is able to meet Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm), which is designed to stand up to front and rear collisions. The seat also comes with a Silent Shade canopy that keeps your baby calm and comfortable and an indicator that tells you whether it's securely attached to the base. The seat's carry handle is adjustable as well as harness tightener indicator will let you know when it is properly attached to the base.

Design

Car seat manufacturers design infant car seats with safety and ease of use in mind, however the dizzying array of features available can make it difficult to decide what's most suitable for your family. It is important to take into account aspects like weight and height limits as well as the number of belt buckles and belt paths. Additional features like an load legs, anti-rebound bars and straps that do not rethread could increase the cost of the seat, but they will improve comfort for your baby. Look for features that make it easy to get your child into and out of the car seat, for example rotating mechanisms. Also, be aware of the dimensions and weight of the base, as not all seats will fit in every vehicle.

One aspect that is particularly important is the ease of installation and disconnecting from the base. The quality of the LATCH connectors and whether or not they're flexible or rigid, can influence this. Also, you should be aware of whether the straps can be easily tightened and loosened and if there is a single-hand release mechanism to install and remove the seat.

Some models let you use the seat without a footrest, which can be useful when you plan to change taxis or cars frequently. To make sure that your seat is correctly installed be sure to look for models that have bubble level indicators and a built-in locking mechanism.

Certain features could be worth the extra cost for example, the ability to grow with your child, a five-position recline feature, or an extension canopy that is locked in the correct position. Our product testers have also noted the fact that a seat can be used as a highback belt-positioning booster or backless booster after the baby is finished using it is an advantage.

Doona is an infant car seat that will pamper parents. It's packed with features that solve nearly every complaint families have about infant car seats, which is the reason our product testers have rated it as top in all categories. For instance, it's approved for airplane travel, features a unique handle that doubles as an anti-rebound bar, and transforms directly into strollers (no need for separate stroller adapter). The results of its crash tests are top-quality and it's GREENGUARD Gold certified.