How to Select Good Infant Car Seats
When it comes to selecting a car seat for your infant, the options can be overwhelming. There are a few steps you can do to narrow your options.
High-end features such as load legs, an easy to tighten harness and a headrest that expands with your baby will make this parenting journey more enjoyable.
User-Friendliness
If you're planning to purchase an infant car seat prior to when your baby is born, it is important to consider height and weight limits. You should ensure that the seat will last for your child until they grow out of it, which usually happens around the age of two. It is also important to think about whether you'd like a car seat that goes all the way to the 90th percentile of weight or height, or one that's a bit smaller or taller. This will help you decide how long you'll be using the seat before deciding to switch to a convertible car seat.
You should also think about how it is simple to set up and use the seat. The ease of tightening or loosening straps, latch connectors, and the number of buckle positions all influence the accessibility. Take into consideration the comfort of padding for the body and head and any additional features like the cupholder or hideaway harness pad.
The more user-friendly a seat is, you are more likely to use it correctly. This can be a major factor in the safety of your baby. The most comfortable seats permit you to install them by yourself without hassle and then remove them from the base with a lot of effort.
The weight of the car seat and its portability are other important factors to consider. You want to be able to pick it up with a child inside and transport it with ease, particularly when you're planning longer trips. It is also important to look at the dimensions in terms of width and height to make sure it's appropriate for your vehicle. If you intend to use it with a stroller, search for a model that's compatible with many strollers.
Lastly, you should be sure to look over the results of the crash tests conducted by the manufacturer. You can locate these results on the official website of the manufacturer or through an online search. You can find out whether the seat has a history of protecting babies from crashes and what their policy is regarding replacement.
Safety
The primary concern for any parent shopping for an infant car seat is whether the seat will safeguard their child. All infant car seats must conform to the safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Opens in a new window (NHTSA) that include rigorous crash testing and a five-point harness system.
However, there are a few other factors to consider when shopping for an infant car seat. It is crucial to choose the best infant car seat for your child in accordance with their height and weight, as well as the type of vehicle you drive. It is also crucial to ensure that the seat is correctly installed, as improperly installed car seats can increase the risk of injury during the event of a crash.
A safe infant car seat will have clear installation guides, a clear indicator of the level that is easy to read and an locking clip that prevents the base from being accidentally removed. It should be lightweight and have features that are convenient such as an extended no-rethread strap, anti-rebound bar, and an extra-long leg that is designed to protect your baby's head in case of an accident.
While it's not an essential feature for every family however, some parents may wish to consider a baby car seat that can convert into a toddler car seat at the pull of a lever located on the base. This will allow them more versatility and let their child use the seat until they reach the manufacturer's weight and height limit.
It is also important to consider how it will be easy to use the car seat on a regular basis. The straps should be smooth to tighten and loosen, and the buckle should be easy to click in and out of place. The carrier should be easy to carry empty and the base should be easy to take off from the car with no needing to fiddle around.
It is also a good idea, prior to buying a car seat, to verify if there are any recalls. This can be done on the NHTSA website. Opens in an entirely new window. It includes an index of searchable databases of all current and past car seat recalls.
Comfort
When it concerns infant car seats, comfort is the main concern for parents. These seats that face the rear are designed to protect infants in the event of a crash, and many come with built-in body and head supports to keep your baby warm. Choose a seat that is adjustable to fit your growing child, with features like harnesses that do not need to be rethread, magnetic buckle holders and adjustable shoulder straps.
Installation and use that is simple is another characteristic that can either ruin or improve the quality of a car seat for infants. Ideally, you should be able detach the seat from its base using one hand while holding your child in the other. And when you're ready to put the seat back on its base, it should click easily into place and take less than a minute.
Many infant car seats can also be used without a base--perfect for parents who often switch cars or ride taxis. Be sure to check the weight and height restrictions of the seat before purchasing it to ensure that your child isn't big. Car seats also typically come with an infant insert that can be used if your baby is very small (like within the first few months or weeks of their life), until their shoulders are at the lowest slot on their harness.
If you want an infant car seat that provides convenience and safety, think about a convertible model. These seats can be used with strollers and have a mechanism to tuck them into the car when not in usage. However, they're typically larger than normal infant car seats and are more difficult to carry around.
A load leg is another thing to look out for. It's an arm resting between your seat and the floor of your vehicle. It adds stability. These aren't required but they can be very useful in small vehicles or for those with multiple car seats.
Convenience
A good infant car seat will give you peace of knowing that your baby is secure and comfortable on long drives. Consider features like straps for your shoulders that are padded, additional padding in the neck area to allow your baby to fit comfortably, a wide range of recline positions and more. You may also want to look into a car seat that has extra features, such as UPF 50+ sun-shields and a fully-coverage canopy with zip-open zippers that gives your baby the protection they require.
When Push Chairs And Prams comes to convenience, consider how easy the seat is to use, and also how easily it can be installed in the vehicle. You're likely to need to install your seat using the LATCH system and the belt of your vehicle. Select a model that allows for the most simple installation.
For instance our top pick for the best infant car seats The Nuna Pipa, has an easy-to-install process due to the steel-reinforced connectors that slide out from the base and flash green when correctly connected. This feature along with recline angle guides and colored belt-oath indicators make this a standout model among infant car seats because of its simplicity of use.
The seat is compact and light. This makes it a great option for parents who travel with their baby or who switch between cars often. Plus, it has a no-rethread harness and magnetic buckle holders that allow you to clip the harness with one hand.
A slim shell that's less than 17 inches wide means the seat will fit newborns better than others on the market, while additional padding in the shoulder and chest area provide additional comfort. It's also a little more expensive than other alternatives, but we think the top features, like an adjustable base and SnugLock lockoff, are worth it.
Infant car seats are a major investment, but with the proper information and considerations you can narrow your choices to a handful of models that will best suit your family's needs. Then, you can concentrate on the crucial task of getting ready for the arrival of your child!