How to Choose Infant Car Seats Best
Parents should have car seats. What is it that makes one car seat better than another?
A specially designed infant seat is ideal for the most tiny babies, and is lighter for easier transportation outside of the vehicle. Look for features that make life easier like premium lower-anchor connectors with non-rethreading harness pads and single button handles. Also, look out for safety features like load legs or head/body cushions.
Safety
As every parent knows choosing the correct car seat is one of the most crucial decisions you'll make for your child. The correct seat will ensure that your child is placed correctly and properly protected in the event in the event of a car crash.
While every car seat sold in the US must conform to strict standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Not all seats are created equal. Certain models come with special features to safeguard infants, like load legs that reduce the impact of crashes by absorbing the force of impact on the car seat and base as well as built-in bubble levels for easy installation and adjustable headrests that grow with your child.
Choi says that car seats for infants are designed to fit babies the best. They usually include crash-tested inserts which help to achieve this. Plus, they're usually lighter than convertible car seats and can be easily transferred to a stroller, making them ideal for ride-sharing and daycare drop-offs and pick-ups. You can buy a used one at a fraction of the price because they're only good for your baby's first 12 months.
Another factor to be aware of is that while an excellent NHTSA rating and great crash test results are important, the way you use your car seat is more critical to your child's safety. A study by Portland's most renowned children's hospital found that 95% of parents have made a mistake at least once when installing or changing their car seat.
That's why it's a good idea to spend a few minutes to get familiar with the proper car seat usage guidelines before your baby arrives. We recommend looking for car seats that have clear and concise instructions, is lightweight enough to be easy to carry your child, and that has easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms.
You should also see whether the car seat for infants you're thinking of purchasing meets the size requirements for your vehicle. If you're worried about your capability to set up and operate the car seat properly yourself, you might consider taking it to a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) before your baby is born for a hands on instruction.
Convenience
Some infant car seats have additional features that make it simpler to use. Certain infant car seats have features that make them easier to use. For instance, they could have a base into which the seat can be pushed into and out, or they may feature an easy-to-use adjustment mechanism. These features make it simpler to remove and install the car seat - particularly in the event that you have a child in your care.
The weight and the height limits of an infant car seat are other important aspects to take into account. If you have a baby who is growing quickly, it may be worth the extra money to invest in an infant car seat with higher limits to ensure that you use it for as long as possible.
Apart from the safety features, an infant car seat is a must for a comfortable baby. Find padded straps that won't rub or pinch their shoulders, and a soft fabric that is soft underneath them for long durations of time. Select a seat that is in the ability to lie flat. This allows your child to sit in an upright position, which helps keep their airways wide open and oxygen saturation levels high.
Dr. Segura advises that you should not buy any accessories for infant car seats that aren't included in the seat because they haven't been crash-tested and may be unsafe. Avoid purchasing a used infant car seats as they could have been in an accident and could be damaged or worn.
While the top infant car seats range anywhere from $100 to $600, there are a few things that all of the top options have in common. All are lightweight and easy to install and take down, and are comfortable for the infant. Some even have special features that make them more versatile, like the ability to swivel and clip into strollers, without the need for adapters. For more information on the different options available, check out our review of the top infant car seats.
Comfort
The best infant car seats come with features that provide comfort and make it easy to take your child into and out of the seat. This includes a one-handed latch system that eliminates the need to grip both straps at the same time, and cushioned padding that makes it less painful to lift the seat. In addition, you'll need to take into consideration the weight of the seat--you'll be using it without a base for instance so a lighter model is better. This Baby Trend Secure Lift, for example, weighs less than 13 pounds.
The height and weight limit of the infant car seats are important. If visit here intend to keep the car seat, choose one that can expand with your child and fit them into toddlerhood. You can keep it for longer and save money by not buying a second seat.
You should also take into consideration the dimensions of the seat, and whether it is narrower or wider than other models. This could be an advantage for vehicles with smaller dimensions, while the latter may be helpful if you have two kids in back-to-back car seats, or have to drive with three kids in the back seat at some time. If you plan to use your car seat in conjunction with strollers, you should look for one that is able to be removed from car seats and is compatible with the majority of strollers. Brands like Graco or Nuna have options that meet your needs.
To make it easier to use, check out the ratings that a car seat gets for installation. Guides and indicators clearly labeled that inform you that the seat is level and securely fastened - like bubble levels or color codes--can help reduce stress on parents who are new. Some seats also have unique features like load legs, which are shock-absorbing pieces found under the seat or at the base that extend out to the floor of the vehicle and absorb some of the force of a crash.
There are additional accessories that claim to increase the convenience and comfort of your car seat. However, remember that anything that's not included in the seat hasn't been subjected to safety tests. "Anything you purchase that's not from the manufacturer, including the harness or blanket is not recommended to put in the car seat," Segura says.
Style
For new parents, figuring out how to pick the best infant car seat can be a bit of an issue. It's crucial to know the budget you have set and what features you're looking for. There are many options for special features, stroller compatibility and fabrics. But it all boils down to comfort.
For instance, it's worth noting that dedicated infant seats fit small babies better than convertible car seats and are suitable for the first year of their lives (though some may come with crash-tested extension kits to ensure they last longer). They usually come with more recline settings to facilitate the proper positioning of small children. They are also lighter and easier to carry. They are also more likely to work with a travel system which can be helpful for parents who are trying to save time and money by buying one seat that can serve two purposes.
Car seat weight and width are also important factors to consider for families with a large number of children. Certain infant car seats, for instance are narrower and can be able to fit in the back of your vehicle or close to other seats. Some are so heavy that they will test your biceps as you lift them and then transfer them from the car to the stroller.
Many parents opt for an baby car seats that can be changed from base to carrier, and then convert into a stroller without any additional attachments. This can save a lot of time, especially during busy times when you're out running errands with your kids.
Other features that are useful include a harness that doesn't need to be rethread with magnetic buckle holders, as well as an easy-to-install process. Look for a head-and-body support insert to stop infants from slumping into the seat or in the car as they sleep.
The majority of car seats utilize flexible straps to secure their lower anchor connectors but there are some that have latches that are rigid and flip out of the base and turn green once installed. This type of install is more secure and can limit the amount a seat moves in the event of the event of a crash.