20 Fun Facts About Best Infant Car Seat
How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat
Consider what you'd like from your car seat. "If you are looking for an automobile seat that will grow with your child, then consider an all-in one model such as the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton suggests. The seat can be transformed into a high-back booster, or an unbackless booster. It comes with a huge rear-facing weight limit.
It also scores well for comfort and quality with soft, machine-washable padding. Other helpful features include load legs which are shock-absorbing components on the base or in the car seat that limit movement in a crash.
Safety
Car seats for infants are made to fit small babies best, and so they usually offer more cushioning and padding than convertible carseats. They are also lighter and easier to take from your car or attach to a stroller frame which is crucial because you will need to transport your child's car seat out of the vehicle frequently. The dedicated infant car seat is designed to last for your child through the first year. This means that you don't have to worry about your child exceeding its weight or height limit.
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 before purchasing. You should consider reading reviews from other parents as well as looking through safety guides from organizations like Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have a lot of crash test data to provide to families.
It is also important to examine whether a seat comes with features that could be particularly helpful for your family, such as an easy strap release with one hand or a harness that doesn't need rethreads, or an adjustable foot with springs. These features can help you buckle up your child, but remember that even the safest seats are useless if they aren't used properly.
Other things to consider are the width and weight of the car seat. Many infant seats are designed to be narrow enough to fit alongside older car seats in the back of your car While others can expand with your child, and move to a booster seat simultaneously. If you are planning to use your car seat to travel or to take taxis, then an infant car seat that can be fitted using only your car's seatbelt will be a convenient choice.
In general it's a good idea to purchase the most secure seat you can afford, because the cheapest models usually don't meet the most rigorous safety standards for crash safety. For instance, it's recommended to avoid models that don't include side impact testing and permit companies to self-certify their products.
Convenience
The ideal infant car seat is one that can work well in the vehicle of your family It is simple to install and use, and includes convenient extras like a built-in stroller or rotation ability. It should be affordable. Infant seats range in price from around $180 to $500. They may cost more when they're convertible and will be used as a toddler and infant seat.
The convenience features include the fact that the seat can be installed using the LATCH system or a seatbelt. Additionally, if you can adjust the harness and headrest without having to remove the baby from the seat. You need to be able to set up and remove the seat easily and quickly, particularly if you need to switch it between cars frequently or take Uber rides with your child. The seat should be lightweight and clearly labeled with instructions for installation and bubble levels to help you quickly install the car seat.
You must 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. It is also essential to verify the weight and height limits of the infant car seat before you purchase it, and think about whether your baby will outgrow it before its first birthday. A good rule of thumb is to select a car seat that grows with your baby until they reach the 90th percentile.
While federal safety standards are the minimum requirement, some manufacturers go beyond to offer additional crash-testing and other features that are included in their car seats. The Clek Ling, a top choice among our gear editors as well as Consumer Reports is a great example of a baby seat that offers more than just good crash protection. It also has load legs, which helps stabilize the seat in a crash and reduces the force on the body of the child by 40 percent. This alone could save a child's life, so it's worth the extra cost for car seats that are safe and has additional safety features.
Comfort
Comfort is an important factor to take into consideration when selecting an infant car seat as babies spend most of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable car seats are made of thick, breathable fabric and plenty of padding on the harness and headrest. They also have easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms, like buckles, strap covers, and headrest adjustments that do not require the rethreading.
The weight and size of an infant car seat can also impact comfort, especially if you plan to change cars or take the seat with you on a regular basis. Some models are tinier, making it easier to fit them in the backseat with other car seats or siblings seats. While they all have weight and height restrictions Some are lighter. This can save your biceps from aching when you carry it from one place to another or between cars.
Certain infant car seats come with additional features to make them more versatile. For example they can rotate or be converted into a stroller, without the need for additional adapters. Other models have top features such as harnesses that are adjustable and do not rethread or anti-rebound bars to add additional safety in the event of a crash. While these additional features aren't essential for the safety of your ride, they can contribute to the overall experience of using the seat.
Parents want their infants to have a comfortable, clean car seat. They also value safety and convenience. Choose a model which is machine washable, stain-resistant and easy to take off to clean. Some seats can be cleaned using the dishwasher making it easier to keep them looking new.
Some models go over and beyond to ensure that their customers get a safe and comfortable experience. For instance the Graco SnugRide (tm) Elite has an anti-rebounding bar, and is compatible with Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) which is designed to withstand front and rear collisions. The seat features a Silent Shade canopy to keep baby quiet and comfortable, as well an indicator to let you know when the seat is properly attached. The adjustable carry handle and harness tightener allow for simple one-handed adjustments.
Design
The manufacturers of infant car seats design them with safety and comfort as their primary objectives. However, the vast variety of features can make it difficult to decide which one is the best fit for your family. You'll want to consider aspects like weight and height limits and the number of belt buckles and belt paths. Additional features like an load legs, anti-rebound bars and no-rethread straps could raise the cost of the seat, but will increase comfort for your baby. Consider features that allow you to easily get your child into and out of the seat, like rotational mechanisms. You should also be aware of the dimensions and base weight as not all seats fit in every vehicle.
One feature that's especially important is the ease of installing and disconnecting from the base. The quality of the LATCH connectors, and whether they're flexible or rigid, could influence this. You should also consider whether the straps are simple to loosen and tighten and whether there's a single-hand release mechanism for installing and uninstalling the seat.
Some models let you use the seat without a base, which is useful if you take taxis often or if you plan on switching cars frequently. To ensure that your seat is securely installed, look for models with bubble level indicators as well as a built-in locking mechanism.
Other features worth the extra cost include a headrest that increases with the baby, a five-position recline and an extendable canopy that locks into place. Our product testers have also noticed that a seat that can be used as a highback belt-positioning booster or a backless booster after the baby is finished using it is a benefit.
travel infant car seat is an infant car seat that delights parents. It's packed with features that solve nearly every complaint parents have about infant car seats, which is why our testers scored it highly across every category. For instance, it's certified for airplane travel, has an exclusive handle that doubles as an anti-rebound bar. It also can be converted directly into strollers (no need to buy a separate stroller adapter). The crash test results are excellent and it's GREENGUARD Gold Certified.