Do Not Make This Blunder When It Comes To Your Best Infant Car Seat
How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat
What do you want from your car seat? "If you are looking for a car seat that can develop with your child you should consider an all-in-one model such as the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton recommends. It has a lengthy rear-facing weight limit and can convert into an incline-back booster and a backless one.
The soft cushioning that is machine washable is an advantage. Load legs are an additional useful feature. They are shock-absorbing parts that are attached to the base or car seats and reduce movement during a crash.
Safety
They are specifically designed to fit babies of smaller sizes better, which is why they are more comfortable than convertible car seats. They also tend to be lighter and easier to lift out of the car or put on a stroller frame rather than convertible car seats, which is crucial considering you will likely have to transport your child in the car seat frequently out of your vehicle. The infant car seat is also designed to last your child for the first year. This means you won't need to be concerned about your child growing beyond its weight or height limits.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's standards for car seats are rigorous but it's an excellent idea to conduct your own research before buying. You should consider reading reviews from other parents as well as reviewing safety guidelines from groups such as Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have a lot of crash testing information to give to families.
Find features that can be useful to your family. For instance, a one-handed release of the strap, a no-rethread harness or a leveling foot with spring-loaded mechanism. These types of features can make buckling up your baby faster and easier but remember that even the safest seats will be useless in the event that you don't utilize them properly.
The weight and the width of the car seat is also important. Many infant car seats can be placed in your car alongside older car seats. Some can grow with your child and then convert to an adult booster simultaneously. Also, if you intend to use your car seat for transportation or for taxis, a baby car seat that can be installed using only the seatbelt of your vehicle is a good option.
In general, you should purchase the safest seat that you can afford. The most affordable models don't 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 ideal infant car seat for you is the one that will fit comfortably in your family's vehicle and is easy to install and use, and has convenient extras like a built-in stroller or rotation capability. It should be reasonably priced. Infant seats can vary in price from around $180 to over $500. If they're convertible, and will be used for both infants and toddlers the cost could be higher.
Convenience features include how easy it is to set up the seat using either LATCH system or a seatbelt, and whether it is possible to adjust the headrest and harness without taking the baby out of the seat. The process of installing and removing the seat should be easy, especially when your child rides in Ubers or you frequently switch between cars. The seat should also be light and come with clearly labeled installation guides and bubble levels so you can quickly install the car seat properly installed.
You should be able easily to adjust the harness and buckles and move the seat when not in use. When you purchase an infant car seat, it's important to check its weight and height limitations. Also, consider whether your child will outgrow the seat before they turn one. A good rule of thumb is to select a car seat that grows with your baby until they reach the 90th percentile.
Some manufacturers go over the federal safety standards to include additional features such as crash-testing, comfort and convenience in their car seats. The Clek Liing is a top choice among our gear editors and Consumer Reports, is an excellent example of a highly rated infant seat that provides more than just crash protection. It also has a load leg, which stabilizes the seat in a crash and reduces forces on the child's body by 40 percent. This feature could save a child’s life. It's worth it to invest more in a car seat with added safety and convenience features.
Comfort
One of the most important aspects to consider when choosing an infant car seat is comfort, as infants spend a lot of time in their car seats. The most comfortable car seats are made of large, breathable fabrics and plenty of padding on the harness and headrest. They also have easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms, like strap covers, buckles and headrest adjustments that do not require the rethreading.
The weight and size of the car seat for infants will also affect comfort particularly if it's intended to be used in multiple vehicles or for frequent travel. Certain models are smaller than others, which makes them more suited to be placed in the back of the car with a car seat or your siblings seats. And, while they all have minimum and maximum heights and weight restrictions, some are lighter than others--which can prevent your biceps from aching when carrying it around town or between vehicles.
Some infant car seats have additional features to allow them to be more flexible. For instance they can rotate or be clicked into a stroller with no need for additional adapters. Some models come with high-end features, such as the adjustable no-rethread strap and bar that prevents rebound to give you extra security in the event of the possibility of a crash. Although these features aren't essential to a safe ride, they can add to the overall experience using the seat.
In addition to convenience and safety factors, many parents also need a clean and comfortable car seat for their baby. Find a seat that's machine washable and stain-resistant, and also easy to clean. Some seats are even dishwasher safe, making it even easier to keep them looking fresh.
Certain models go over and beyond to ensure their customers have the most secure and comfortable ride. For instance, the Graco SnugRide (tm) Elite has an anti-rebounding bar, and is compatible with Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) which is designed to stand up to front and rear collisions. The seat comes with a Silent Shade canopy to keep your baby comfortable and quiet and has an indicator to let you know when the seat is properly secured. The seat's adjustable carry handle, harness tightener, and indicator indicate when it is properly attached to the base.
Design
Car seat manufacturers design infant car seats with safety and comfort in mind, but the myriad of features available can make it difficult to decide what's best for your family. Consider factors like the weight and height limit as well as the number of belt routes and buckles. Other features like anti-rebound bar, load legs and straps that do not rethread could increase the cost of the seat, but will increase the comfort of your infant. Look for features that make it simple to get your child in and out of the car seat, such as rotational mechanisms. You should also be aware of the dimensions and base weight because not all seats fit in every vehicle.
The ease of attaching and detaching the base is one feature that is important. This can be affected by the quality of the LATCH connectors as well as whether they're rigid or flexible. You'll also want to consider whether the straps are simple to loosen and tighten, and whether there's a single-hand release mechanism to install and remove the seat.
Certain models allow you to use the seat with no footrest, which can be useful for those who plan to change taxis or cars frequently. Look for models equipped with a built-in lock, as well as bubble level indicators to help ensure that your seat is set properly.
Other features worth paying extra for include a headrest that increases with the infant or a recline with five positions, as well as an extendable canopy that locks in the position. infant car seats that swivel have also noticed that a seat that can be used as a high-back belt-positioning booster, or a backless one after the baby is finished using it is a plus.
The Doona is the type of infant car seat that delights parents. It comes with a variety of features that solve almost every complaint families have regarding infant car seats. This is why our product testers gave it top marks all over the spectrum. For example, it's approved for travel on airplanes, features a unique handle that doubles as an anti-rebound bar and converts directly into strollers (no need to buy a separate stroller adapters). Its crash test result is excellent and it's GREENGUARD Gold Certified.
