How to Select good infant car seats (read full article)When it comes to selecting a car seat for your infant the choices can be overwhelming. There are a few steps you can do to narrow down your search.
The premium features like load legs, an easy harness to tighten, and an adjustable headrest that expands with your baby can make this parenting journey easier.
User-Friendliness
If you're planning to purchase an infant car seat before the time your baby is born it is important to consider weight and height limitations. You want to make sure that the seat will last for your child until they grow out of it, which is usually around the age of 2. It is also important to think about whether you want a car seat that goes up to the 90th percentile of height or weight or one that is a little smaller or taller. This will help you decide the length of time you intend to use the seat.
You should also think about how it is simple to set up and use the seat. For instance, the ease of adjusting straps and latch connectors, how easy it is to switch between forward and rear facing infant car seat facing positions, and how many buckle positions there are all impact ease of use. Consider the comfort of the padding for the body and head, as well as any other extra features like the cupholder or hideaway harness pad.
The more user-friendly a chair is the more likely you'll be to use it correctly and be a huge factor in your baby's safety. The easiest seats are those that let you easily install them yourself without hassle, as well as detach them from the base with a lot of effort.
Another thing to take into consideration is the car seat's weight and how portable it is. You must be able to take the car seat with your baby in it and move it with ease. This is crucial if you are going on an extended trip. You should also examine the dimensions in terms of width and height to ensure it's suitable for your vehicle. If you plan on using it with a stroller, look for a model that is compatible with many strollers.
You should also take a look at the results of testing conducted by the manufacturer. You can locate these results on the manufacturer's website or through an online search. You can then decide whether the car seat has a solid record of protecting babies from accidents, and also what their replacement policy is.
Safety
When parents are looking for a baby seat, they must be aware of whether the product will keep their child safe. All infant car seats are required to adhere to safety standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Opens in a New Window which include rigorous crash tests and a five point harness system.
However, there are a few other things to take into consideration when choosing an infant car seat. It is crucial to choose the appropriate infant car seats cheap car seat based on your baby's height and weight and also the type of vehicle you have. It is also important to ensure that the car seat is correctly fitted, as poorly installed car seats increase the risk of injury in an accident.
A safe infant car seat travel car seat will come with clear installation guides, a bubble indicator for the level that is easy to read and the locking clip, which stops the base from being accidentally removed. It should also be light and have convenient features like an extendable harness that is not rethread bar, anti-rebound bars and an extra-large load leg which can protect your infant from head injuries in the event of an accident.
While it's not a mandatory feature for all families however, some parents may wish to consider a baby car seat that converts into a toddler car seat at the pull of a lever on the base. This will give parents more flexibility and allow them to use the seat up until their child has reached the weight and height limits.
It is also important to consider how the car seat will be to use regularly. The straps should be smooth to tighten and loosen, and the buckle should be simple to click into and out of position. The carrier should be easy to carry when empty, and the base should be simple to remove from the car with no fumbling around.
Also, it's a good idea to check for recalls on the car seat you're thinking of purchasing before you buy. You can do this by going to the NHTSA Opens in New Window website, which has a searchable database that includes the most recent and past recalls of car seats.
Comfort
When it comes to infant car seats comfort is the primary factor for parents. These rear-facing seats have been designed to safeguard your child in the case of an accident. Many come with integrated back and head support to ensure they are at a comfortable level. Choose a seat facing the rear with features like no-rethread straps, magnetic buckle holders, and adjustable shoulder belts.
Simple installation and use is yet another aspect that can make or ruin an infant car seat. Idealy you should be able of getting the seat off its base using just one hand while holding your baby in the other. Once you're ready, the seat should snap into its place within a fraction of one second.
Many infant car seats can also be used without a base - ideal for parents who often switch cars or use taxis. If you opt for a seat with this capability make sure you check the weight and height limits to ensure your baby isn't too large for it. Most car seats come with an infant insert that can be used for babies who are small (like in the initial few months or weeks of life) until their shoulders are able to reach to the lowest harness slot.
If you want an infant car seat that provides convenience and security, you should consider a convertible model. These seats are compatible with strollers and have a mechanism to tuck them in when they're not in use. They tend to be bigger than infant car seats, and can be harder to carry around.
Another thing to consider is whether the seat has a load leg or brace that sits between the seat and the floor of your vehicle to provide extra stability. Although they're not a requirement however, they can be beneficial for small cars or cars with multiple seats.
Convenience
A good infant car seat will provide you with peace of mind knowing that your baby is secure and comfortable on long trips. Consider features like padded shoulder straps, extra padding around the neck to allow your baby to get comfortable, a wide range of recline positions and more. You might want to search for car seats with additional features like a UPF 50+ shield and a canopy that zips open for all-encompassing coverage.
When it comes to convenience, think about how easy the seat is to use and also how it can be easily installed in the vehicle. It is likely that you will need to install the seat using the LATCH system and the vehicle belt to ensure that it is an option that makes it as easy as is possible.
For example, our top rated baby car seats pick for best infant car seats The Nuna Pipa, has an easy-to-install process due to the steel-reinforced LATCH connectors that open from the base and flash green when correctly connected. This feature, in conjunction with recline angle guides as well as colored belt-oath indicators make it the most popular infant car seats for ease of use.
The seat is compact and lightweight. This makes it an ideal choice for parents who travel with their infant or switch between cars often. It also comes with a no rethread harness, and magnetic buckle holders that permit you to secure the seat using just one hand.
The seat is more narrow than other seats on the market and can be more comfortable for infants. Additional padding in the chest and shoulder area provides added comfort. It's also a bit more expensive than other alternatives, but we believe the best features, such as an adjustable base and SnugLock lockoff, are well worth it.
Infant car seats can be a costly investment. With the proper information, you can narrow your choices down to a handful of models that best fit your family. Then you can focus on the essential task of making preparations for your child's arrival!
