How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat
What do you want from your car seat? "If you're in need of an automobile seat that can adapt to your child's needs think about an all-in-one seat like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton says. The seat can be changed into a high-back booster or an unbackless booster. It comes with a huge rear-facing weight limit.
The soft cushioning that is machine washable is an advantage. Load legs are an additional beneficial feature. They are shock-absorbing components which are attached to the car seat base and reduce movement during an accident.
Safety
They are designed to fit smaller babies better, so they are more cushioned than convertible car seats. They are also lighter and easier to remove from your car or attach to a stroller frame, which is important because you will be required to transport your child's car seat out of the vehicle frequently. Car seats for infants have the advantage of being built to last for the first year of your child's life, which means you don't have to worry about them outgrowing their weight or height as fast as a convertible car seat may.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's guidelines for car seats are rigorous however it's recommended to conduct your own research prior to purchasing. Take a look at reviews from other parents and reviewing safety guidelines from groups such as Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have a lot of crash testing data to provide to families.
You will also want to look into whether a seat has features that could be particularly helpful for your family, like a one-handed strap release and a harness with no rethread or a spring-loaded leveling foot. These kinds of features could make buckling up your child faster and more convenient however, you must remember that even the safest of seats will be useless if you don't use them correctly.
The weight and the width of the car seat are equally important. Many infant seats can be installed in your vehicle alongside older car seats. Others can be able to grow with your child, and then convert to a booster at the same time. Also, if you plan to use your car seat for transportation or for taxis, a baby car seat that can be fitted using only the vehicle's seatbelt is a great alternative.
In general, it is recommended to purchase the safest seat that you can afford. The most affordable models don't always meet the highest standards of crash safety. For instance, it's best to stay clear of models that do not include side crash testing and allow companies to self-certify their products.
Convenience
The ideal car seat for your infant is one that can fit comfortably in the vehicle of your family It is simple to install and use, and has handy features such as an integrated stroller or a rotation capability. It should also be affordable. Infant seats range in price between $180 to $500. They can cost more if they are convertible and used as a toddler and infant seat.
The convenience features include the ability to be installed using the LATCH system, or a seatbelt. Additionally, if you can adjust the headrest and harness without removing the infant from the seat. Installing and removing the seat should be simple, especially if your child rides in Ubers or frequently switches between cars. The seat should also be lightweight and clearly labeled for installation guidelines and bubble levels so that you can easily get the car seat correctly installed.
You should also be able turn the seat around and lock it when you're not using it and have access to buckles as well as harness straps. Before purchasing Push Chairs & Prams , you need to verify the weight and height limits. Also, consider if your child will outgrow the seat by the time they reach their first birthday. As a rule, choose a seat for your child that grows with them until they reach the 90% percentile.
While the safety standards of the federal government are the minimum, a few manufacturers go beyond to offer additional crash-testing and convenience features in their car seats. The Clek Ling is a top pick among our gear editors as well as Consumer Reports is a great example of an infant seat that offers more than just great crash protection. It also has a load leg, which can help stabilize the seat in a crash, and reduces the forces exerted on the child's body by 40 percent. This feature alone could save a child's life, so it's worth paying more for a car seat that is secure and comes with additional convenience features.
Comfort
Comfort is an important factor to take into consideration when selecting an infant car seat because babies spend the majority of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable car seats have the thick, breathable fabric as well as plenty of padding on the headrest and harness. They also have easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms, such as buckles, strap covers, and headrest adjustments that do not require the rethreading.
The weight and size of the car seat for infants will also affect comfort particularly if it's being used in multiple vehicles or for frequent travel. Some models are more narrow than others, making them easier to fit into the back seat with another car seat or other siblings seats. Although all have maximum and minimum heights and weight limits, certain models are a bit lighter than others. This could help keep your biceps from getting sore when you carry it around town or between vehicles.
Some infant car seats have additional features to make them more versatile. For example they can be rotated or be clicked into a stroller with no need for adapters. Other models have top features such as an adjustable no-rethread harness or anti-rebound bars for additional security in the case of a crash. While these extra features aren't essential for the safety of your ride, they can contribute to the overall experience using the seat.
Parents want their children to have a comfortable, clean car seat. They also consider safety and convenience. Pick a car seat that is machine washable, stain-resistant and easy to take off for cleaning. Some seats can be cleaned using the dishwasher making it easier to keep them looking new.
Some models go the extra mile to ensure that their customers' experiences are safe and smooth, such as the Graco SnugRide(tm) Elite, which boasts an anti-rebound bar and meets the Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) standards to withstand rear and front collisions. It also has a Silent Shade canopy that keeps baby comfortable and quiet and an indicator that lets you know when it's properly attached to the base. Its adjustable harness tightener and carry handle make easy single-handed adjustments.
Design
Car seat manufacturers design infant car seats with safety and ease of use in mind, but the variety of features available can make it difficult to determine which one is most suitable for your family. You'll want to consider factors like weight and height limits and the number of belt buckles and belt paths. Additional features like anti-rebound bars load legs, harnesses with no-rethread straps can increase the cost, but they can also improve the comfort of babies. Look for features that make it easy to get your child in and out of the car seat, like rotational mechanisms. You should also be aware of the dimensions and the weight of the seat since not all seats can be used in all cars.
The ease of attaching and detaching the base is a feature that is crucial. The quality of the LATCH connectors and whether they're flexible or rigid, can affect this. You should also consider whether the straps are simple to loosen and tighten and whether there's a single-hand release mechanism to install and remove the seat.
Some models let you use the seat without a base, which can be convenient if you take taxis often or if you are planning to switch cars frequently. Make sure you choose a model equipped with a built-in lock, as well as bubble level indicators to make sure that the seat is placed properly.
Other features that may be worth the cost include a headrest that grows with the growing baby or a recline with five positions, as well as an extendable canopy that locks in the position. Our product testers have observed that having a seat that can be used as a high-back belt-positioning booster or a backless booster after the baby is finished using it is a plus.
Doona is an infant car seat that will delight parents. It's packed with features that address almost every complaint parents have about infant car seats, which is why our product testers have rated it as top in all categories. For instance, it's approved for travel on airplanes, features a unique handle that doubles as an anti-rebound bar and converts directly into a stroller (no need for separate stroller adapters). The crash test results are excellent and it is GREENGUARD Gold certified.