It's The Best Infant Car Seat Case Study You'll Never Forget

How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat

Think about what you want from your car seat. "If you're looking for a car seat to grow with your child, think about an all-in-one model such as the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton suggests. The seat can be transformed into a high-back booster or an unbackless booster. It comes with a huge rear-facing weight limitation.

It also scores highly in terms of comfort and quality, thanks to soft and machine-washable padding. Load legs are a useful feature. They are shock-absorbing parts that are attached to the car seat base and help to limit movement in a crash.

Safety

They are designed to fit smaller babies better, and therefore they are more comfortable than convertible car seats. They are also smaller and lighter to remove from the car or connect to a stroller frame, which is important because you will need to transport your child in the seat outside of your vehicle often. Car seats for infants have the advantage of often being built to last for the first year of your child's life, so you don't need to worry about them growing beyond their weight or height as quickly as convertible car seats can.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's standards for car seats are extremely stringent however it's a good idea to do your own research before buying. Take a look at reviews from other parents as well as checking out car seat safety guides from organizations like Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have plenty of crash testing information to give to families.

You will also want to look into whether a seat has features that can be beneficial to your family, like the strap release that is one-handed or a harness that doesn't need rethreads, or an adjustable foot with springs. These features can assist in securing up your child, but remember that even the most safe seats are useless when they are not used correctly.

The weight and width of the car seat are equally important. A lot of infant car seats are designed to be narrow enough to fit alongside older car seats in the back of your car While others can expand with your child and then transition to a booster seat simultaneously. If you are planning to use your car seat to travel or take taxis or taxis, then an infant car seat which can be fitted using only your car's seatbelt is a good option.

In general, you should buy the safest car seat that you can afford. The most affordable models don't always meet the highest standards of safety in crashes. Avoid models that do not include side impact tests, and allow manufacturers to self-certify.

Convenience

The best infant car seat is the one that will work well in your family's vehicle, is easy to install and use, and has convenient extras like the built-in stroller or rotating ability. It should be affordable. Infant seats range in price between $180 and $500. They can be more expensive when they are convertible and will be used as a toddler and infant seat.

Convenience features include how simple it is to set up the seat using either the LATCH system or a seatbelt and whether it is possible to adjust the headrest and harness without taking the infant out of the seat. You need to be able to install and remove the seat easily, especially if you switch frequently between vehicles or take Uber rides with your child. The seat must also be lightweight and clearly labeled for installation guides and bubble levels so you can quickly get the car seat correctly installed.

You should also be able to turn the seat around and lock it when not using it and have access to the buckles and harness straps. Before purchasing an infant car seat, it's important to determine its weight and height limits. Also, consider if your child will outgrow the seat by the time they reach their first birthday. A good rule of thumb is to select a seat that grows with your baby until they reach the 90th percentile.

While the safety standards of the federal government are the minimum, some manufacturers go over to provide additional crash testing and other features that are included in their car seats. The Clek Liing one of the top picks from our gear editors and Consumer Reports, is an excellent example of an infant seat that provides more than just excellent crash protection. It also has an extra load leg that helps stabilize the seat in a crash and reduces the force on the child's body by 40%. This feature could save a child's life. It's worth the extra money spent on a car seat with added safety features and convenience.

Comfort

Comfort is a major factor to consider when choosing an infant car seat as babies spend most of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable car seats feature thick, breathable fabric and generous padding on the harness and headrest. They also have easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms, such as strap covers, buckles and headrest adjustments that don't require the rethreading.

The weight and size of a car seat for infants can affect comfort, particularly when you are planning to change cars or take the seat with you on a regular basis. Certain models are smaller than others, making them easier to fit in the back of the car with a car seat or your siblings' seats. Although all have minimum and maximum height and weight restrictions, some are a bit lighter than others. This can help save your biceps from becoming sore when carrying it between vehicles.

Some infant car seats offer extra features that make them more versatile, such as rotational options or the ability to click into a stroller without the need for extra adapters. Some models come with premium features like an adjustable harness with no-rethread straps or anti-rebound bars to add additional security in the event of an accident. While these extra features aren't essential for an enjoyable ride, they can add to the overall experience of using the seat.

In addition to convenience and safety factors, many parents need a clean and comfortable infant car seat for their infant. Pick a car seat that is machine washable, stain resistant and easy to take off to clean. Some seats are even dishwasher safe, which makes it easier to keep them looking clean.

Some models go further to ensure that their customers get a safe and comfortable experience. For example the Graco SnugRide (tm) Elite has an anti-rebounding bar, and is compatible with Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) which is designed to withstand rear and front collisions. The seat has a Silent Shade canopy to keep baby quiet and comfortable, as well an indicator to let you know when the seat is securely attached. The seat's carry handle is adjustable as well as harness tightener indicator will let you know that it's properly connected to the base.

Design

Car seat manufacturers design infant car seats with safety and comfort in mind, but the variety of features available makes it hard to determine what's best for your family. Consider factors like the weight and height limit, the number of belt paths and buckles. Additional features like anti-rebound bars, load legs and no-rethread harnesses can add to the cost, but they can also improve comfort for baby. Consider features that make it easy to get your child into and out of the car seat, for example rotating mechanisms. Also, pay  best car seat  to dimensions and weight of the base because not all seats will fit in every car.

The ease of attaching and detaching the base is one feature that's important. The quality of the LATCH connectors and whether they're flexible or rigid, will affect this. Also, you should consider whether the straps can be easily tightened and loosened and if they have a one-hand release mechanism to install and remove the seat.

Some models let you use the seat with no footrest, which is a great option for those who plan to switch cars or take taxis frequently. Look for models that come with a built-in lock as well as bubble level indicators to help ensure that your seat is set properly.

Other features that may be worth the cost include a headrest that expands with the growing baby, a five-position recline and an extended canopy that locks in place. Our product testers have noticed that a seat that can be used as a high-back belt-positioning booster or backless booster after the infant is done using it is a benefit.

The Doona is the kind of infant car seat that delights parents. It's packed with features that address nearly every complaint parents have about infant car seats, which is the reason our testers have rated it as top in every category. For instance, it's approved for airplane travel, has an exclusive handle that doubles as an anti-rebound bar, and transforms directly into strollers (no need to purchase separate stroller adapter). Its crash test results are top-quality and it's GREENGUARD Gold certified.