Best Car Seat Newborn Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters
How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn
The most suitable car seat for newborns is one that is compliant with federal safety standards, fits your vehicle, comes with useful extras (like changing into a stroller) and fits within your budget. It's also important to ensure that the car seat for your baby clicks into and out of your car with ease especially if you frequently shift between taxis or rides in rental cars and grandparents' vehicles.
Safety
Car seats are designed to ensure your baby is safe, and a good one should include extra features that go beyond the safety standards set by the federal government. These include padded inserts for the head and shoulders, air-repellent fabrics to help keep them cool in hot cars and side-impact safety.
Another important safety consideration is how easy it is to set up and use the seat. Ideally, the seat must be simple to install and use, and with clear indicators of its level and position as well as security.
Find features that make it easier to do this, such as built-in lock offs and belt guides that can help you line up the car seat with the vehicle's seat belt. You also want to avoid purchasing used car seats, as they may not be tested for safety or have been involved in an accident, and could not be safe for your child. If you are forced to purchase an used car seat make sure that it has an expiration date and that the seller isn't an individual who does not have evidence of ownership.
It's also important to remember that you should only allow your baby in the car seat up to two hours a day, unless it is in an upright position. This is to avoid strain on their developing spine and ensure that they are able to breathe regularly.
Selecting a car seat for your infant is a major investment, so you'll want to be sure that it has a lengthy lifespan. Choose a seat that will grow with your child's age and last from toddlerhood to teens. One product that our testers for parents loved was the Axkid One i-Size, which is suitable from birth and is able to be used until 7 years old.
The Nuna pipa air rx is a different option that can be used for a lengthy time. It is 360-degree in rotation that means you can switch it from rear-facing to front-facing as your child grows. It's also among the lightest-weight car seats on the market and weighs less than 9 pounds without its base. It's a great choice for parents who transfer their baby between vehicles frequently or plan to take it on taxi rides, holiday fly-drives, and trips with grandparents.
Comfort
A good infant car seat is comfortable for your child, both when they are in the seat as well as when you are installing it. Look for padded straps that are comfortable to wear on their shoulders, and soft fabric that is soft under their tummy, especially if they will be in the seat for long trips.
The most effective infant car seats are easy to use. Some have LATCH connectors of premium quality that feature a SuperCinch force multiplier that tightens the seat. Some come with spring-loaded leveling legs as well as belt paths that make installing without a base easier than ever. Other features let you adjust the height of the harness and headrest which is crucial as your child grows.
Cosatto All in All Rotate is an example. Our test subjects gave it 10 out of 10. It features a clear, simple interface, a no-rethread, easy-to-reset harness, a 360-degree rotation, and a recline lock indication. This allows you to switch from forward-facing to rear-facing as your baby grows without needing to remove the seat and replace it.
Nuna Pipa Aire Rx is a different example. Our parent testers loved it for its ease of use simple and adaptability. Its padded shoulder straps as well as headrest are designed to support your newborn's head, and it comes with a soft infant pillow to ensure that they are comfortable. It can be used as an rear-facing car seat until your baby hits the max height or weight limits, and it converts into a stroller without the need for a separate adapter.
A quality car seat is durable, and some have a warranty. Find a seat that has robust materials and plenty of padding to protect your child from any injuries as well as a steel frame that absorbs impact energy and a "crumple zone" to reduce the risk of damage. It should also be easy to clean, as messiness is inevitable with a child. To simplify cleaning, look for a car seat that has removable covers and pads that can be washed in the machine.
Easy of Use
It's important that a car seat is simple to install and use, especially when it is going to be used in multiple vehicles periodically. Look for features like a quick-release buckle, an indicator that shows the state of the latch system (e.g. green for locked) and a simple-to-read manual to make it as easy as possible.
The Best of The Bump winner also comes with several useful extras that our parents testers loved, such as the headrest and harness that are padded as well as a plush fabric cup holder. It has a reclining function that lets your child sit in a comfortable and ergonomic position on longer journeys. It can be used in conjunction with a buggy that is compatible to create an entire travel system. This is perfect if you are planning to travel for a long duration.
The seat is suitable for babies from birth. infant car seat in front seat pushchairsandprams.uk found this car seat simple to put in and adjust. It has a recline lock and an excellent connector that has a SuperCinch tightener. This made it easy to secure your child. It can also be moved from side to side of the vehicle without the need for tools.
One of our top features is the recline feature that helps you get your infant into and out of the car. This is especially helpful if you have back issues or drive a smaller car. It also has the ability to reversibly hold your cup and a handy pocket for toys and snacks.
The seat is light and can be used in conjunction with or without the base. It can also be rotated 180 degrees. This is a great feature for those who are tight on space or have back pain. This feature has impressed our panelists, and was selected to be part of the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.
It's a great choice for anyone who wants to transform their car seat into a stroller at affordable cost. Its sleek design and premium materials will stand up to the test of time. Don't forget to wash the cover regularly because yoghurt spills and biscuits that have been crushed and even sickening toddler accidents can leave a mark.
Design
Car seats come in a variety of designs as the cars they're used in. Some parents prefer to skip infant car seats to opt for a convertible model, most new moms want a product that will develop with their baby as they reach toddlerhood. All-in-one car seats are most flexible and allow you to switch from rear-facing to forward-facing. It typically has a greater height and weight limit, and can often be used as a booster seat when your child is ready for one.
The ideal infant car seat for infants is light and easy to take off the base with your baby inside. Our parents loved the Maxi-Cosi Coral, which is only available in a handful of colors, but has a lot of safety features and is super lightweight (at 8.4 pounds with seat inserts and canopy). Other standout models include the Nuna PIPA URbN which was the winner of Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for Best Car Seat Group 0/0+, thanks to its high-end extras like the Dream drape and UPF 50+ full-coverage canopy.
The seat's design and the base should be considered as well. Certain car seats have bases that lock into the buckles for the seat belts. Others have steel reinforced connectors for LATCH which flip out of the sides of the base once properly connected. Parents found these convenient, especially if the vehicle only had front-facing seatbelts, and no ISOFIX anchor points.
Some infant car seats can be utilized with a regular seatbelt without the base, which is a bonus for parents who frequently take taxis or need to travel with their infant. Our testers with parents really liked the Nuna TODL NEXT that can be used with or without the base. It includes a smooth swivel motion that makes it easy to get your infant out and in the seat.
Other important considerations for design are whether a car seat comes with a flat design, and how it fits into your particular car (see our guide to car seat compatibility). If you're looking for a new infant car seat that can grow along with your child into a booster pick a model that has an adjustable backrest as well as side impact protection. It's also worth checking that your chosen infant car seat is i-Size certified and has the proper car seat attachment points, according to UK law.