Watch This: How Best Car Seat Newborn Is Taking Over And What To Do About It
How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn
The most suitable car seat for a baby is one that complies with all safety standards of the federal government and fits your vehicle. It should also include useful extras, like the ability to transform into a stroller and be within your budget. It's also important to ensure that the infant car seat can be inserted into and out of your car without difficulty especially if you frequently change between trips to the taxi or in rental cars and grandparents' vehicles.
Safety
Car seats are designed to ensure your baby is safe and a quality one should include extra features that go beyond the federal safety standards. These include padded inserts on the head and shoulders and also air-repellent fabric to keep them cool while driving in hot temperatures.
Another crucial safety aspect is how easy it is to install and use the seat. Idealy, the seat should be simple to install and use, with clear indicators of its level, position, and security.
You can find features that will help you with this like belt guides and built-in lockoffs that will help you align the car seat to your car's seatbelt. It is also important to avoid buying used car seats, as they might not be tested for crash safety or have been involved in an accident and may not be safe for your child. If you are forced to purchase an old car seat, ensure that it is not expired. an expiration date and that the seller isn't an individual or a private party who doesn't have evidence of ownership.
It's also important to keep in mind that you should only allow your baby in the car seat for up to two hours per day, unless you are in a flat position. This will prevent strain on the spine of your child, and ensure that they have a chance to breathe regularly.
The choice of a car seat for infants is a significant investment, therefore you'll need to make sure it has a long duration. Select a seat that will develop with your child and last from toddlerhood to teen years. Our parents were pleased with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for children from birth, and can be used up to age 7.
The Nuna pipa air rx is an alternative that can be used for a long time. It rotates 360 degrees, which means you can switch it from rear-facing into front-facing as your child grows. It is also one of lightest rotating car seat available, weighing less than nine pounds. It's a great option for parents who move their infant frequently between vehicles or are planning to make use of it for taxi rides, holiday fly-drives and trips with grandparents.
Comfort
It is essential that your child is at ease in their car seat both in it and when you install it. Look for straps that are padded to fit snugly on their shoulders, and soft fabric that is comfortable on their stomach, particularly when they are in the seat for long trips.
The best infant car seat is also user-friendly. Some feature premium LATCH connectors that come with a SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener, spring-loaded leveling feet and belt paths that make fitting without the base easier than ever before. Other features will help you adjust the height of your harness and headrest, which is crucial as your child grows.
Cosatto All in All Rotate is a prime example. Our test subjects scored it a 10 out of 10. It has a clear, simple interface, no-rethread, easy-to adjust harness, a 360-degree rotation, as well as recline lock indicators. It is easy to switch your child's seat from front-facing to rear-facing as they grow, without needing to take out and replace the seat.
Nuna Pipa Aire Rx is a different example. Our parent testers were impressed by its comfort, simplicity and versatility. Its cushioned shoulder straps and headrest are designed to accommodate the head of your infant and includes an extra soft pillow to ensure comfort. It can be used as an rear-facing car seat until your baby hits the max weight or height limits and then it can be converted into a stroller without the need for an additional adapter.
A good car seat is sturdy and many come with a warranty. Look for an item that is made up of padding and sturdy materials to shield your child from accidents. It should also have steel frames to absorb the force of impact as well as a "crumple area" to avoid damage from a crash. It must be easy to clean as accidents are bound to happen when you have a child. Find a car seat with removable seat covers and a pad that is machine washable to make cleaning easy.
User-Friendliness
It is crucial that the car seat you choose to purchase is simple to install and use, particularly in the event that it will be used in different vehicles periodically. Look for features like a quick-release buckle, an indicator that shows the status of the latch system (e.g. green for locked) and a user-friendly manual to make it as easy as possible.
The Best of The Bump winner includes a variety of useful features that our testers for parents appreciated, including a padded headrest and harness, plush fabric and the cup holder. best car seats newborn has a reclining function that lets your child sit in a comfortable position for longer trips. It can also be used with a compatible buggy to create a complete travel system, which is perfect if you plan on traveling for long periods of time.
Suitable from birth, our panelists found this car seat easy to install and adjust. It has a recline lock and a premium connector with a SuperCinch tightener. This made it easy to secure your child. It's designed to be easily moved from side-to-side inside the vehicle without the need for tools.
One of our favorite features is the recline feature that helps you get your infant into and out of the car. This is particularly helpful if you have back issues or are driving a smaller vehicle. It also comes with a reversible cup holder and a handy storage pocket for toys and snacks.
The seat weighs less than nine pounds and can be installed with or without its base. It can also be rotated around 180 degrees. This is a great feature for those who are tight in space or have back pain. This new feature impressed our panelists and was selected for inclusion in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.
It's a great option for those who want to convert their car seat into a stroller at an affordable price. Its sleek design and premium material will also stand the test time. Be sure to clean the cover regularly because yoghurt spills or biscuits that are crushed and even sickening toddler accidents will leave their footprints.
Design
The designs of car seats can be as diverse as the vehicles they're installed in. Some parents prefer to leave infant car seats out and opt for convertible models, most new mothers want a seat that will continue to grow with their child into toddlerhood. All-in-one car seats are most flexible and allow you to switch from rear-facing to forward-facing. It usually has a higher weight and height limit, and is often used as a booster seat if your child is old enough to need one.
The ideal infant car seat for babies is light and easy to remove from 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 extremely light (at 8.4 pounds with seat inserts and canopy). Other models that stand out are the Nuna PIPA URbN which was the winner of Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for Best Car Seat Group 0/0+ with its high-end extras like the Dream drape and full-coverage UPF 50+ canopy.
The design of the base and seat must be considered. Certain car seats have bases that lock into the vehicle seat belt buckles. Others have steel reinforced connectors for LATCH which flip out of the sides of the base when correctly joined. Parents found these convenient particularly if their car only had front-facing seatbelts and no ISOFIX anchor points.
Some infant car seats work with regular seatbelts without the base. This is a great feature for parents who travel frequently or travel with their infants. The Nuna TODL NEXT was a top pick among our testers who are parents. It can be used either with or without the base and has an easy swivel that makes it easier to take your baby in and out.
Also, the design of a car seat is important. It must fit into your car. (See our guide to car seat compatibility). If you're in search of an infant car seat that can expand with your child's growth into a booster seat pick a model that features an adjustable backrest as well as side impact protection. It's also worth checking that your selected infant car seat is i-Size compliant and uses the correct car seat attachment points in accordance with UK law.