How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat
What do you want from your seat? "If you're in need of a car seat that can expand with your child, consider an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton says. The seat can be converted into a high-back booster or an unbackless booster. It has a big rear-facing weight restriction.
The soft, machine-washable cushioning is also an advantage. Load legs are a useful feature. These are shock-absorbing elements which are attached to the car seat base and reduce movement during the event of a crash.
Safety
They are designed to fit smaller babies better, which is why they have more padding than convertible car seats. They are also lighter and easier to remove from the car or attach to a stroller frame, which is crucial because you will be required to transport your child in the car seat out of the vehicle frequently. The dedicated infant car seat is also designed to last your child for the first year. This means that you don't have to worry about your child outgrowing 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 prior to making a purchase. You should consider reading reviews from other parents as well as looking through safety guides from organizations like Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have a wealth of crash test data to share with families.
Find features that will help your family. This could include the ability to release the strap, a no-rethread harness or a leveling foot with spring-loaded mechanisms. These features assist in securing up your child, but keep in mind that even the most secure seats are useless when they are not used in a proper manner.
Other things to keep in mind are the size and weight of the car seat. best car seats for newborns uk of infant seats can be placed in your vehicle along with older car seats. Some of them can grow with your child, and then convert to a booster in the same time. Also, if you intend to use your car seat to travel or to take taxis, an infant car seat that is fitted using only the seatbelt of your vehicle is a great alternative.
In general, you should purchase the safest seat that you can afford. The cheapest models may not always meet the highest standards of safety in crashes. Avoid models that do not have side impact crash tests and allow manufacturers to self-certify.
Convenience
The best car seat for your infant is the one that will fit in your family's vehicle It is simple to install and use, and has convenient extras like an integrated stroller or a rotation capability. It should be affordable. Infant seats range in price between $180 and $500. If they're convertible, and are designed to be used by toddlers and infants The price could be higher.
The convenience features include the ability to be installed using the LATCH system or a seatbelt. Also it is possible to adjust the headrest and harness without removing the infant from the seat. You want to be able to set up and remove the seat easily particularly if you move it between cars often or take Uber rides with your child. The seat should be light and have clearly labeled instructions for installation and bubble levels to assist you in quickly install the car seat.
It should be easy to adjust the harness and buckles and also turn the seat around when it is not in use. It's also important to check the weight and height limits of the infant car seat prior to you buy it, and consider if your baby will outgrow it before the time he turns one. A good guideline is to choose a seat that will grow with your child until they reach the 90th percentile.
While federal safety standards are the minimum, a few manufacturers go above and beyond to offer additional crash-testing and other features that are included in their car seats. The Clek Liing one of the top picks 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 a load leg, which helps stabilize the seat in a crash, and reduces the force on the body of the child by 40 percent. This feature could save a child's life. It's worth spending more on a car seat with added convenience features and safety.
Comfort
One of the most important considerations when selecting a baby car seat is comfort, as infants spend a lot of time in their car seats. The most comfortable ones feature thick, breathable fabrics and plenty of padding in the headrest and harness. They are equipped with simple adjustments, like strap covers, buckles and headrest adjustment mechanisms which don't require the rethreading.
The weight and size of the car seat for infants can also impact comfort, especially if it is being used in multiple cars or for frequent travel. Certain models are smaller making it easier to fit in the backseat alongside other car seats or siblings' seats. Although all models have weight and height limitations, some are lighter. This will help you from having sore biceps when you move it between cars.
Some infant car seats offer additional features that make them more flexible, such as rotational options or the capability to connect to a stroller without the need for additional adapters. Other models include top features such as harnesses that are adjustable and do not rethread or anti-rebound bars to add additional security in the case of the possibility of a crash. These features aren't necessary for a safe ride but they can improve the overall experience.
In addition to convenience and safety factors, many parents also want a clean, comfortable car seat for their infant. Choose a seat that is machine washable and stain-resistant, and also easy to clean. Some seats are dishwasher safe, which makes it even easier to keep them looking clean.
Some models go above and beyond to ensure their customers' experiences are safe and smooth, such as the Graco SnugRide(tm) Elite, which boasts an anti-rebound bar and meets Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) standards to withstand front and rear collisions. The seat features a Silent Shade canopy to keep your baby calm and comfortable and has an indicator to let you know when the seat is properly secured. The seat's adjustable carry handle the harness tightener and indicator let you know whether it's securely 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 decide what's the best fit for your family. Take into consideration factors such as the weight and height limits as well as the number of belt paths and buckles. Additional features like anti-rebound bars load legs, harnesses with no-rethread straps can increase the cost but could also increase comfort for baby. You may also think about features that allow you to easily get your child in and out of the seat, such as rotational mechanisms. Be sure to pay attention to the dimensions and the weight of the seat since not all seats will fit in all cars.
One feature that's especially important is the ease of installation and disconnecting from the base. 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 and loosened and if they have a one-hand release mechanism to remove and install the seat.
Certain models allow you to use the seat without a footrest, which is a great option for those who plan to change cars or take taxis often. Find models equipped with a built-in lock, as well as bubble level indicators to ensure that your seat is set properly.
Other features that may be worth the cost include a headrest that expands with the baby or a recline with five positions, as well as an extendable canopy that locks into the position. Our product testers have also noticed that a seat that can be used as a highback belt-positioning booster or backless booster after the baby is finished using it is a plus.
The Doona is the type of infant car seat that spoils parents. It's loaded with features that solve nearly every complaint families have about infant car seats, which is why our test participants scored it highly in every category. It's approved for travel on air and has an anti-rebound handle and is able to be converted directly into a stroller. The results of its crash tests are excellent and it is GREENGUARD Gold certified.