How to Choose the Best Infant car seat newborn insert Seat

Consider what you want from your car seat. "If you're looking for a car seat that will expand with your child look into an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton says. The seat has a long rear-facing weight limit and can be converted into a high-back and backless booster.

The soft, machine-washable cushioning is also a plus. Other helpful features include load legs which are shock-absorbing components on the base or car seat that limit the impact of a crash.

Safety

They are designed to fit smaller babies better, and therefore they have more padding than convertible car seats. They also tend to be lighter and easier to lift out of the car or set onto a stroller frame than convertible car seats, which is crucial since you'll likely have to transport your child in the car seat frequently out of your vehicle. Car seats for infants have the advantage of being designed to last for the first year of your child's life so you don't need to worry about them growing beyond their height or weight limits as fast as the convertible car seat might.

It's a good idea to conduct some research before you purchase. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has strict standards for car seats. Consider reading reviews from other parents as well as looking through safety guides from groups like Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have plenty of crash test data to provide to families.

You should also consider whether the seat comes with features that could be especially beneficial for your family, like the strap release that is one-handed and a harness with no rethread or a spring-loaded foot for leveling. These features assist in securing up your child, but remember that even the most secure seats can be dangerous in the event that they are not used in a proper manner.

Other things to consider are the weight and width of the car seat. Many infant seats are designed to be able to sit alongside older car seats in the back of your car, while others can grow with your child, and move to an adult seat while you're at it. If you plan to use the car seat to travel or to take taxis or taxis, then an infant car seat that can be fitted using only your vehicle's seatbelt is an ideal choice.

In general, it is recommended to buy the safest car seat you can afford. The cheapest models may not always meet the most stringent standards of crash safety. For instance, it's recommended to stay clear of models that do not include side impact crash testing and allow companies to self-certify their products.

Convenience

The best car seats for infants are those that can fit inside your vehicle with your family, are easy to install, and include useful features such as a built-in running stroller or a rotation feature. It must also be affordable. Infant seats range in price from around $180 to $500. If they're convertible, and are intended for both infants and toddlers the cost could be higher.

Convenience features include how simple it is to install the seat with either the LATCH system or a seatbelt, and whether you are able to adjust the harness and headrest without removing the infant out of the seat. Installing and removing the seat should be simple, especially when your child rides in Ubers or you often switch between cars. The seat should also be light and come with clearly labeled installation guidelines and bubble levels so that you can swiftly get the car seat correctly installed.

You must also be able to rotate the seat and lock it when not using it and have access to buckles and harness straps. Before purchasing an infant car seat, you need to check the weight and height limits. Also, think about whether your child will outgrow the seat before they reach their first birthday. A good guideline is to choose a seat that will grow with your child until they reach the 90th percentile.

While the safety standards of the federal government are the minimum, some manufacturers go above and beyond to include additional crash-testing and convenience features in their car seats. The Clek Ling is a top pick among our gear editors and Consumer Reports is a great example of an infant seat that offers much more than just good crash protection. It also has load legs, which helps stabilize the seat in the event of a crash and reduces the forces exerted on the child's body by 40%. This feature alone could save the life of a child, so it's worth the extra cost for a car seat that's safe and has added convenience features.

Comfort

Comfort is an important factor to consider when choosing the right car seat for your infant, because babies spend the majority of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable car seats have large, breathable fabrics and ample padding on the harness and headrest. They are equipped with simple adjustments, like strap covers, buckles and headrest adjustment mechanisms which don't require to be rethread.

The size and weight of an infant car seat can affect comfort, especially in the event that you intend to change cars or travel with the seat often. Some models are narrower which makes it easier to fit them in the back seat with other car seats or siblings seats. While all have minimum and maximum heights and weight restrictions, some are a bit lighter than others. This can help save your biceps from aching when you carry it between vehicles.

Some infant car seats have extra features to make them more versatile. For example they can be rotated or be clicked into a stroller without need for additional adapters. Certain models include top-quality features like an adjustable strap that doesn't rethread or anti-rebound bar to provide extra safety in case of the possibility of a crash. These features aren't required to ensure safety, however they can improve the overall experience.

In addition to safety and convenience factors, many parents also require a clean, comfortable infant car seat for their infant. Look for a model that's machine washable and stain-resistant and also easy to take off for cleaning. Some seats can be cleaned using the dishwasher which makes it easier to keep them looking new.

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

Design

The manufacturers of infant car seats create their products with safety and ease of use as their primary goals. However, the broad selection of features makes it difficult to choose which is best for your family. Take into consideration factors such as the weight and height limit, the number of belt routes and buckles. Other features like load legs, anti-rebound bars and straps that do not rethread could increase the cost of the seat, but will increase the comfort of your baby. Consider features that make it simple to get your child into and out of the car seats newborn seat, like rotating mechanisms. Be sure to pay attention to the dimensions and weight of the seat, since not all seats will fit in all vehicles.

The ease of attaching and detaching the base is a feature that is important. The quality of the LATCH connectors and whether or not they're flexible or rigid, could affect this. You'll also want to consider whether the straps are easy to loosen and tighten and whether there is a single-hand release mechanism to install and remove the seat.

Some models let you use the seat with no footrest, which can be useful if your plan is to switch cars or take taxis frequently. Find models that come with a built-in lock as well as bubble level indicators to help ensure that your seat is set correctly.

Other features worth the extra cost include a headrest that grows with the infant, a five-position recline and an extendable canopy that locks in place. Our product testers have observed that having a seat that can be used as a highback belt-positioning booster or a backless booster after the baby has finished using it is a plus.

The Doona is an infant car seat that spoils parents. It's loaded with features that solve nearly every complaint parents have about infant car seats, which is why our product testers gave it top marks across every category. For example, it's approved for travel on airplanes, features an exclusive handle that doubles as an anti-rebound bar, and can be converted directly into a stroller (no need to purchase separate stroller adapters). Its crash test result is excellent and it's GREENGUARD Gold Certified.