Pay Attention: Watch Out For How Best Infant Car Seat Is Taking Over And How To Stop It
How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat
What do you want from your car seat? "If you need a car seat that can grow with your child, consider an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton says. The seat comes with a long rear-facing weight limit and can convert to both a high-back and backless booster.
It also scores well for comfort and quality thanks to soft and machine-washable padding. Other features that are helpful include load legs that absorb shock on the base of the car seat that limit the movement of the car seat in a crash.
Safety
The infant car seats are designed to fit tiny babies the best, which is why they usually offer more cushioning and padding than convertible carseats. They are also lighter and easier to lift out of the car or set onto a stroller frame than convertible car seats, which is crucial because you'll probably need to transport your baby in the car seat frequently out of your vehicle. The car seat for infants is designed to last your child for the first year. This means that you don't need to be concerned about your child growing beyond the weight limit or height.
It is a good idea to conduct some research before you purchase. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has strict standards for car seats. You might want to read reviews from other parents and looking at car seat safety guidelines from organizations like Consumer Reports or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both have crash test data that can be shared with families.
Find features that will help your family. For instance, an easy release of the strap, a no rethread harness, or a leveling foot with spring-loaded mechanism. These features can assist in securing up your child, but keep in mind that even the most safe seats will not be useful in the event that they aren't used properly.
The weight and the width of the car seat are equally crucial. A lot of infant car seats are designed to fit alongside older car seats in the back of your car Some can grow with your child and then transition to an adult seat while you're at it. And finally, if you intend to use your car seat for transportation or for taxis, an infant car seat that can be installed using only the seat belt 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 highest standards of crash safety. For example, it's best to avoid models that don't include side 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 the car of your family and is easy 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 between $180 and $500. They can cost more when they're convertible and used as an infant and toddler seat.
Convenience features include how easy it is to set up the seat using either LATCH system or a seatbelt and whether you can adjust the headrest and harness without removing the infant out of the seat. Installing and taking it off is not difficult, particularly when your child rides in Ubers or you often switch between cars. The seat must also be lightweight and clearly labeled for installation guides and bubble levels to ensure you can easily get the car seat correctly installed.
You should also be able to turn the seat around and lock it when you're not using it and have easy access to buckles as well as harness straps. When you purchase an infant car seat, you need to determine its weight and height limitations. Also, consider whether your child will outgrow the seat by the time they turn one. As a rule, choose the seat for your child that will grow with them until they reach the 90 percentile.
While federal safety standards are the minimum, some manufacturers go beyond to offer additional crash-testing and convenience features in their car seats. The Clek Liing, a top pick among our gear editors and Consumer Reports, is an excellent example of a highly rated infant seat that offers more than just excellent crash protection. It also comes with an extra load leg that stabilizes the seat in the event of a crash and reduces the forces exerted on the body of the child by 40 percent. This feature could save a child's life. It's worth the extra money spent on car seats with added convenience features and safety.
Comfort
The comfort factor is one of the most important factors 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 feature the thick, breathable fabric as well as plenty of padding on the headrest and harness. They also have easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms like strap covers, buckles and headrest adjustments that do not require rethreading.
The size and weight of an infant car seat can affect the comfort of your child, particularly in the event that you intend to change cars or use the seat frequently. Some models are tinier making it easier to fit them in the back seat with other car seats or siblings seats. Although all models have weight and height limitations certain models are lighter. This could save your biceps from aching when you move it around town or between cars.
Certain infant car seats come with additional features to allow them to be more flexible. For example they can be rotated or be clicked into a stroller without need for additional adapters. Certain models include high-end features, such as the adjustable no-rethread strap and anti-rebound bars to offer extra security in the event of the possibility of a crash. These features aren't necessary to ensure safety, however they can improve the overall experience.
In addition to safety and convenience factors, many parents want a clean, comfortable car seat for their infant. Look for a model that's machine washable and stain-resistant, and also easy to remove for cleaning. Some seats are dishwasher safe, which makes it even easier to keep them looking new.
Some models go above and beyond to ensure their customers' experiences are safe and smooth, like the Graco SnugRide(tm) Elite, which comes with an anti-rebound bars and meets the Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) standards to withstand rear and front collisions. The seat also includes a Silent Shade canopy that keeps your baby calm and comfortable and also an indicator that lets you know whether it's securely attached to the base. best car seats for infants Push Chairs And Prams 's carry handle is adjustable as well as harness tightener indicator will let you know when it is properly attached to the base.
Design
Car seat manufacturers create infant car seats with safety and comfort in mind, however the myriad of features available makes it difficult to determine which one is the best fit for your family. You'll want to consider factors such as weight and height limits as well as the number of belt buckles and belt paths. Additional features like an anti-rebound bar, load legs, and no-rethread straps may increase the price of the seat, but will increase the comfort of your infant. Consider features that make it easier to get your child in and out of the seat, such as rotational mechanisms. 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's important. This is influenced by the quality of the LATCH connectors as well as whether they're rigid or flexible. You should also consider whether the straps can be easily tightened or loosen and if there is an easy release mechanism that allows you to remove and install the seat.
Certain models let you use the seat without a base, which is a great option when you frequently take taxis or if you are planning to switch cars frequently. To make sure that your seat is securely installed, look for models with bubble level indicators and built-in locking mechanisms.
Some features may be worth the extra cost for example, the headrest that grows with your child, a five-position reclining feature, and an extension canopy that secures into the position. Our product testers also said that having a seat which can be used as a highback booster using belt positioning or a backless booster once the infant has finished using it is a nice benefit.
The Doona is the type of infant car seat that spoils parents. It has many features that address nearly every complaint families have regarding infant car seats. This is the reason our test participants have rated it highly across the board. For example, it's approved for travel on airplanes, has a unique handle that doubles as an anti-rebound bar. It also transforms directly into strollers (no need to buy a separate stroller adapters). The results of its crash tests are top-quality and it's GREENGUARD Gold certified.