A Reference To Good Infant Car Seats From Beginning To End
How to Select Good Infant Car Seats
When it comes time to choose the right car seat for your child, the options can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are some things to look for to aid in narrowing your search.
The premium features like load legs, a super-easy harness to tighten and a headrest that grows with baby will make this parenting journey smoother.
Simple to Use
When you are buying an infant car seat take into consideration the weight and height limits. You want to make sure the seat will last until your child has outgrown it, which usually happens around the two-year mark. You should also consider whether you need a car seat with the weight limit or height of 90th percentile or should you choose one that is a little shorter or taller. This will help you decide the length of time you'll use the seat.
In addition to the size and weight, you must consider how easy it is to install and use. For instance the ease of loosening and tightening straps and latch connectors, how easy it is to change between forward and rear facing, and how many buckle positions are available have an impact on the user's experience. Also, you should take into consideration whether the padding for your head and body are comfortable and if the chair includes any extras for convenience, such as cups or hidden harness pads.
The more easy-to-use the seat is, the more you are more likely to use it properly. This can have a significant impact on the safety of your infant. Seats that are simple to set up and remove from the base with minimal effort are the easiest.
The weight of the car seat as well as its portability are also important factors to consider. It is essential to be able to carry the car seat with your child in it and carry it easily. This is crucial in the event of long trips. Make sure to check the seat's width as well as height to ensure it's suitable for your vehicle. If you intend to use it with a baby stroller, choose a model compatible with different strollers.
Lastly, you should be sure to look over the manufacturer's crash test results. You should be able find these on the car seat's website, or through an online search. You can determine whether the seat has been used to protect babies from crashes and what their policy is for replacement.
Safety
When parents are shopping for a baby seat, they must be sure that the product will keep their child safe. All infant car seats must conform to the safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Opens in a new window (NHTSA), which include rigorous crash testing and a five-point harness system.
There are other aspects to consider when buying an infant car seat. It is important to select the appropriate infant car seat based on the baby's weight and height as well as what kind of vehicle you own. It is also essential to ensure that the seat is installed correctly, as improperly installed car seats can increase the chance of injury during an accident.
A safe infant car seat will have clear installation guides, a bubble level indicator that is easy to read, and a locking clip which prevents the base from being accidentally removed. It should also be light and include useful features such as an expandable harness that is not rethread bar, anti-rebound bars and an extra-large load leg which can protect your infant from head injuries in the event of an accident.
Some parents might be interested in a car seat for their infant which can be converted into a toddler car seat by pulling a lever at the base. This will allow them more flexibility and let their child use the seat until they reach the height and weight limit.
It is also important to consider how easy the car seat is to use regularly. The straps should be easy to loosen and tighten and the buckle should be simple to click in and out of. The carrier should be easy to carry even when empty and the base must be easy to take off from the car without having to fumble around.
It's an excellent idea, prior to purchasing a car seat, to check whether there are any recalls. This can be done on the NHTSA website Opens in a new window. It has a searchable database of all the current and previous recalls on car seats.
Comfort
Parents are the most concerned about the comfort of their baby car seats. These rear-facing seats are engineered to safeguard babies in the event of a crash, and a majority of them come with support for the body and head to keep your baby cozy. Look for a rear-facing seat with features like no-rethread straps, magnetic buckle holders, and adjustable shoulder belts.
Another factor that can make or break an infant car seat is how easy it is to set up and use. In the ideal scenario, you'll be able to remove the seat from its base with one hand while securing your child in the other. And when you're ready to place the seat back on its base it should snap easily into the position, and it should take less than an hour.
A lot of infant car seats are also suitable for use without a base. forward facing infant car seat is a great option for parents who often switch between cars or take taxis. If you opt for a seat with this capability be sure to check its weight and height limits to make sure your baby isn't too big for it. Car seats usually come with an infant insert that can be used if your baby is very small (like in the initial few months or weeks of their life) up to the point that their shoulders reach the lowest harness slot.
If you're looking for an infant car seat that is a combination of convenience and security, you should consider a convertible model. These seats are designed to be used in conjunction with strollers and come with an mechanism that allows them to be tucked in when they are not in use. They tend to be bigger than car seats for infants, and may be more difficult to carry around.
A load leg is another feature to look for. It's a brace which sits between your seat and the floor of your vehicle. It adds stability. While they're not required however, they can be useful for smaller vehicles or those with multiple car seats.
Convenience
A well-designed infant car seat will give you peace of knowing that your baby is secure and comfortable on long drives. Look for features such as padded shoulder straps and extra padding around the neck to ensure your baby fits comfortably. Also, look for several recline positions. You might want to search for car seats with additional features like UPF 50+ protection and a canopy that zips open for complete coverage.
Take into consideration the ease of use and installation of the seat when it comes to convenience. It's likely that you will require the seat to be installed using the LATCH system as well as the belt for your vehicle. Select a seat that has the most simple installation.
For instance our top pick for best infant car seats, the Nuna Pipa is equipped with an easy-to-install process due to the steel-reinforced LATCH connectors that slide out from the base and flash green when properly connected. This feature, in conjunction with the recline angle indicators as well as colored belt-oath indicators make this model stand out from other infant car seats with regard to the ease of use.
The seat is small and light. This makes it an excellent option for parents who travel with their baby or will switch between multiple vehicles frequently. Plus, it has an unrethread harness as well as magnetic buckle holders that allow you to attach the harness with just one hand.
The seat is narrower than other seats on the market and fits newborns better. The additional padding in the chest area and shoulder area offers additional comfort. The seat is a bit more expensive than other options but we believe the premium features, like the adjustable base and SnugLock locking system are worth the cost.
Infant car seats are a major expense, but with proper information and considerations you can narrow your options to a few models that will best suit your family's requirements. Then, you can concentrate on the essential task of preparing for your little one's arrival!