Infant Car Seats - Which One is Right For Your Baby?

The right car seat for your baby is a key parenting purchase. With a wide variety of child car seats and baby car seats to select from, it's essential to be informed.

These rear-facing seats, which are usually R129 or Group 0+ (i-Size) baby car seats for babies are suitable from birth. These seats are often paired with strollers to create travel systems.

Group 0+

A car seat for your newborn baby or infant is a must. These seats are designed to safeguard infants from dangers of the road, including head injuries, by ensuring that they remain in the recommended position. Although all-stage car seats can also provide protection for infants, they lack the enhanced safety features found in rotating infant car seat car seats.

The typical infant car seat is rear-facing, and allows babies to ride in the seat until around 15 months old. A lot of these models come with a newborn insert to support smaller babies and ensure they are comfortable. Good infant car seats include recline recommendations to safeguard the child's brain during the journey.

All infant car seats have to be approved according to the iSize standard and must meet European safety standards. The I-Size standard is more sophisticated than R44/04, which means that cars approved to this regulation are more likely to pass more effective side-impact tests, which are crucial for infants and newborns. Additionally, iSize seats utilize more sophisticated Q-series crash test dummies, which provide even more safety protection for infants and toddlers.

If you decide to purchase an infant car seat should be aware of how often they'll have to move it between vehicles. If you are a frequent user of taxis and car sharing services often you should look for a seat that has a unique design, like the Nuna PIPA Urbn. This allows the seat to easily be installed within seconds. This allows the seat to be easily moved between cars, making it ideal for parents who require multiple trips.

The Silver Cross Dream i-Size has been given an excellent safety rating by ADAC which means it offers extremely good protection for babies and infants. In addition, it has an ISOFIX base that is built-in and an EPS energy absorbing foam.

Group 1

The Cosatto All in One, like other infant car seats that swivel car seats designed for babies, can be used from birth until your child is 12 years old (or 36kg). It can rotate to make it easier to get your baby in and out. It can be fitted with ISOFIX or a car seatbelt that has an over-tether. It is also easy to clean, which is great for spills and stains.

It's important to keep in mind that your child can outgrow an infant car seat quite quickly. Many parents are forced to replace the seat by nine months or earlier. The majority of manufacturers advise switching seats when your child's height is within a centimeter of the top edge of the seat.

To be sold, a car seat must meet certain European safety standards. This includes rigorous tests of accident simulations as well as the use of certain kinds of material to protect your child from injuries caused by collisions. Two standards are in effect at the moment in force - ECE R44 and R129 called i-Size. It is more stringent and takes into consideration the height and weight when determining the weight of car seats.

In our experience, seats that conform to the R129 standard (i-Size) tend to be more secure, less difficult to install and allow your child facing rearward for a longer period of time. The only downside is that they can't be used with a front-facing airbag which might not be suitable for certain families. It is important to speak with the manufacturer prior to purchasing if you're worried. They should be able provide you with the most current information and advice specific to your situation.

Group 2

A car seat for group 2 is designed for infants that are big enough to be upgraded from a Group 0+, but not yet old enough to be able to use a convertible Group 1 car seat. It's not quite as common as all-in-ones but it's worth a look when you're looking for an appropriate car seat for your child from birth up until around four years of age.

It is important that the car seat you choose is compliant with European safety standards. Look for the E mark to ensure that it is compliant with ECE R44/04, also known as i-Size (which will eventually replace the old regulations) to ensure you're buying a seat that will protect your baby well in a crash. Seats that have the i-Size certification are simpler to install and offer greater protection against side impacts and can keep your child rear-facing longer.

The Maxi Cosi Pebble 360 Pro is designed for babies up to 15 months old, is a great choice with impressive crash test results. The LATCH connectors, which are rigid, change color when properly connected. It also has a swivel base that helps to limit movement in the vehicle, and a hugging inlay for the baby's neck, head and back to help maintain proper posture.

Another good option is the Cybex Aviounaut Pixel Pro, which also features the 360-degree swivel base, and has a unique GELL system that maintains the seat's protection in case of side impacts. It's more expensive than other seats, but it offers excellent protection and good value for money. Jasper found the seat comfortable for long drives and it also looks nicer than other seats we've tried.

Group 3

A group 3 infant car seat is a three-in-one seat that can be used by your child from birth right up to the booster stage. These seats are designed to be rear facing (some to at minimum 9kg), but can be changed to be used forward-facing until the weight limit of 36kg.

These seats are typically very comfortable and provide excellent neck and head support. A lot of them have removable and machine-washable padding that is suitable for newborns to keep them germ-free. One of the best car seats newborn models that we tested, Nuna PIPA air Rx comes with two inserts – one made of eco-friendly materials and the other made of GOTS certified organic cotton – to ensure that your baby feels more comfortable.

This model not only has impressive crash test results, but it also has a user-friendly design. It has an adjustable reclining feature that is single-handed and 12 different headrest positions. It's also easy to install with ISOFIX and has a convenient color-changing indicator to indicate when it's secure.

We do not recommend changing seats too quickly, as children in the lower limit are more susceptible to injury in an accident. It's better to keep your old seat until they reach their new limit. There are still some excellent options in this group. We recommend the Silver Cross Motion All Size 360 that will last until their 12th birthday.

Another great alternative is the Cozy N Safe Arthur, which can take your baby from the time they were born to their four-year-old booster phase. It's not as costly as the top-rated Silver Cross and has a variety of comfort and safety options, including a one handed recline setting as well as 13 headrest positions.

Group 4

The infant car seat is the latest addition to our list of best car seats infant baby car seats. It is slightly more age range than the previous ones and is aimed at children up to six years old. It can be used as a booster seat or in the rear-facing position. This seat was highly praised for its versatility and for the fact that it can be used without the need for a base. It's ideal for taxi rides, holiday fly-drives, or trips in grandparent's or rental vehicles. The ISOFIX connectors are built into the seat and can be inserted into the position with a satisfying click. It also has a variety of features that make it ideal for newborns, including the brand's hugging-style inlay an innovative ClimaFlow ventilation system and G-CELL side-impact technology to ensure your child's safety as he develops.

Our team of testers has reviewed various group 4 car seats in order to find the best car seat infant option for you and your family. We assessed each model on its user-friendliness as well as the quality of its materials, and how comfortable the seat is for your child to sit in. We also looked at the safety of each seat, considering whether it was iSize certified and how it performed in crash tests. We took into account the safety ratings given by independent safety experts, such as the Swedish Plus test, which looks at the performance of a car seat in both high-speed collisions and short braking distances.

We also looked at the value of each model, as this is a major factor for many parents. Our top-rated car seats for infants are at a low cost, easy to put in and come with useful features like a sleeping bag that can be removed, as well as an reversible cover.