How to Choose Infant Car Seats Best
Car seats are an essential item for parents. What is it that makes one car seat more effective than the other?
A dedicated infant seat fits the smallest of babies and is lighter for easier transport outside the vehicle. Look for convenience features like premium connectors for lower anchors with non-rethreading harness pads and single button handles. Also, look for security features like load legs and head and body cushions.
Safety
As any parent knows choosing the correct car seat is one of the most important decisions you'll have to make for your child. The right seat will ensure that they're in the right position properly in the car and that they are adequately protected in the event of a crash.
While every car seat sold in the US must meet the strict standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), not all seats are created equal. Some models have features that are specifically designed to protect infants. For instance load legs help minimize movement during crashes by absorbing impact forces onto the base and car seat. Some include bubble levels that make installing easy and adjustable headrests for your growing baby.
Dedicated infant car seats are also designed to fit babies at their best and often come with extra crash-tested inserts to aid in this, according to Choi. They're also lighter than a convertible car seat and can be easily converted to a stroller. This makes them ideal for daycare drop-offs, ride-shares and pick-ups. You can purchase a used one at only a fraction of the cost because they're only good for the first 12 months.
A high NHTSA score and impressive crash test results are important however, the way you use your child's car seat is more important. A study by Portland's most renowned children's hospital showed that 95% of parents made at least one mistake when installing or altering their car seat.
It is important to familiarize yourself prior to when your baby is born with correct car seat guidelines. We recommend that you choose a car seat that has clear and concise instructions. It must also be light so it's easy to carry around your baby.
Make sure that the infant car seat that you are considering fits the requirements of the vehicle's size. If you're worried about your capability to set up and operate the car seat properly by yourself, you may be able to bring it to a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) before your baby is even born for a hands on instruction.
Convenience
Certain infant car seats come with additional features that make them more user-friendly. Certain
rotating infant car seat car seats have features that make them simpler to use. For instance, they may have a base on which the seat can be clicked in and out, or they might feature an easy-to-use adjustment mechanism. These features can help make it easier to set up and remove the car seat, particularly when you have a child to look after.
The weight and height limits of a
baby car seat are also important factors to take into consideration. If you have a baby who is growing quickly it might be worth the extra cost to invest in an infant
newborn car seat insert seat with higher limits to ensure that you keep it in use for as long as is possible.
In addition to safety features, your infant's car seat should also be comfortable. Choose padded straps that don't rub or pinch their shoulders, and for soft fabric that feels comfortable beneath them. Choose a seat that has the ability to lie flat. This allows your baby to sit upright position, which helps to keep their airways open and oxygen saturation levels high.
Dr. Segura warns that you should not buy any accessories for infant car seats that aren't included in the seat since they are not tested for safety in a crash and could pose a risk. You should also avoid purchasing used infant car seats, as they may have been in an accident and may be damaged or worn out.
The best infant car seats range between $100 and $600, there are a few things that the top choices have in common. All are lightweight and easy to install and take down, and are comfortable for the infant. Some models have additional features that make them more adaptable. For instance they can swivel, or clip into strollers without adapters. Check out our review of the best infant car seats to get more information on the various choices available.
Comfort
The best infant car seats are equipped with comfort features that make it easy to get your baby into and out of the seat. The best infant car seats have one-handed clasps which eliminates the need to grasp both sides at the same time. They also have cushioned padding to make it easier to lift the seat. In addition, you'll need to think about how much weight the seat weighs. You'll be using it without a base, after all so a lighter model is better. This Baby Trend Secure-Lift, for example, weighs less than 13 pounds.
The height and weight limit of the infant car seats are crucial. If you are planning to keep the car seat, choose a model that will adapt to your child's needs and accommodate them into the stage of toddlerhood. This way, you'll be able to use it for longer and save money on a second car seat.
It is also important to consider the dimensions of the seat and whether it's wider or larger than other models. The first can be useful for vehicles with smaller dimensions. The second option could be helpful when you have three children in the rear seat or two children in back-to-back car seats. If you are planning to use a car seat in conjunction with a pram, you should choose one that is compatible with most popular strollers and comes with removable seats. Brands such as Graco or Nuna have options that meet your needs.
Review the rating of a car seat to determine its ease of use. Guides and indicators clearly labeled that let you know the seat is level and securely fastened--like bubble levels or color coding--can help reduce stress on new parents. Some seats also have innovative features such as load legs, which are shock-absorbing components that are located under the seat or on the base that extend to the vehicle floor and absorb some of the impact force of a crash.
There are also some accessories that claim to increase your car seat's comfort and ease of use, but remember that any accessory not included in conjunction with the car seat hasn't yet been tested or vetted for safety. "Anything you purchase that's not from the manufacturer, including an accessory like a harness or blanket, you should not put in the car seat," Segura says.
Style
For new parents, figuring out how to select the best infant car seat can be quite an exercise. It's essential to understand your budget and what features you want. There are a variety of options for special features, stroller compatibility and fabrics. But it all comes down to comfort.
For instance it's important to note that infant-specific seats are more suitable for babies than convertible car seats and are suitable for the first year of their lives (though some might come with extended kits that have been tested and crash-tested to help them last longer). They also have more recline modes to allow proper positioning of small children and are generally lighter, making it easier to carry. They are also more likely to be compatible with a travel system which is beneficial for parents who are trying to save time and money by buying one seat that is able to perform double duty.
Car seat weight and width are important aspects to take into consideration for families with a large number of children. Certain infant car seats, like, are narrower to be able to fit in the back of your vehicle or in the vicinity of other seats. Some are so heavy that they test your biceps as you lift them and transfer them from the car to the stroller.