How to Choose Infant Car Seats Best
Parents must have car seats. What makes one car seat better than another?
A specially designed infant seat is the best option for babies who are small. It is also lighter, which makes it easy to transport outside of the vehicle. Look for convenience features such as premium lower-anchor connectors, non-rethreading harness pads, and single button handles. Also, look for security features like load legs and head/body cushions.
Safety
As any parent knows that choosing the best car seat is among the most crucial decisions you'll make for your child. The correct seat will ensure they're positioned correctly in the car, and ensure they're secured in the event of a crash.
While every car seat sold in the US must adhere to strict standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Not all car seats are created equal. Certain models come with special features to safeguard infants, such as load legs that limit the impact of crashes by absorbing the force of impact on the car seat and base, while others include built-in bubble levels that make for easy installation and adjustable headrests that increase with your baby.
Choi says that car seats for infants are designed to fit babies the best. They usually include crash-tested inserts which can help achieve this. Plus, they're usually lighter than convertible car seats and are easily moved to strollers, making them ideal for daycare and ride-share drop-offs and pick-ups. You can purchase used ones at a fraction of the price because they're only good for the first 12 months.
Another factor to be aware of is that, while having a high NHTSA rating and great crash test results are crucial but the way you use your car seat is more critical for your child's safety. A study by Portland's leading children's hospital revealed that 95% parents made at least one mistake when installing or changing their car seat.
It is important to familiarize yourself before your baby arrives with the appropriate guidelines for car seats. We recommend looking for car seats that have clear and concise instructions, is light enough to be able to carry your child, and has simple adjustments.
You should also check to see whether the infant car seat you're considering meets the requirements for size for your vehicle. If you're concerned about your capability to set up and operate the car seat correctly yourself, you may consider taking it to a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) before your baby is born to receive a hands-on instruction.
Convenience
Certain infant car seats come with extra features that make them more user-friendly. Some infant car seats have features that make them simpler to use. For Pushchairs And Prams , they might have a base on which the seat can be pushed in and out, or they might have an easy-to-use adjusting mechanism. These features make it easier to install and remove the car seat - especially 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 your child is growing rapidly it may be worth investing in an infant car seat with higher limits to ensure you can utilize it for as long as you'd like.
Apart from the safety features, an infant car seat should be comfortable for your baby. Choose padded straps that don't rub or pinch their shoulders, and look for plush fabric which feels comfortable under them. Select a seat with a lie-flat position. This allows your baby to sit in an upright position, which helps to keep their airways open and oxygen saturation levels high.
Dr. Segura warns that you should not purchase any accessories for infant car seats that aren't included in the seat, since they are not tested for crash safety and could be dangerous. Avoid purchasing a used car seats for infants because they might have been involved in an accident and may be damaged or worn.
The best infant car seats can cost anywhere from $100 to $600, there are a few things that the top choices have in common. They're all light, easy to set up and remove, and comfortable for babies. Some have features that make them more flexible such as the ability to rotate and clip into strollers without the need for adapters. For more information on the different options available, check out our list of the top infant car seats.
Comfort
The best infant car seats feature comfort features that make it easy to get your baby in and out of the seat. This features a single-handed latch system that eliminates the need to grip both sides of the strap at once, plus cushioned padding that makes it less painful to lift the seat. In addition, you'll need to consider how much weight the seat weighs. You'll be using it without a base after all and a lighter weight is the best. This Baby Trend Secure Lift, for example, weighs less than 13 pounds.
The weight limit and height of the infant car seats are also crucial. If you intend to keep the car seat for a period of time, look for one that will grow with your baby and will allow them to transition into the toddler years. Then, you'll be capable of using it for longer and save money on a second car seat.
You should also take into consideration the dimensions of the seat and whether it is wider or narrower than other models. The first can be useful for smaller vehicles. The second may be beneficial if you have three kids in the rear seat or two children in back-to-back car seats. If you plan to use your car seat along with strollers, you should look for one that can be detached from car seats that are compatible with most popular strollers. Brands such as Graco or Nuna have options that will meet your needs.
Review the rating of a car seat to determine its user-friendliness. Clear guides and indicators, such as bubble levels or color-coding which indicate whether the seat is secure and level can help relieve the stress of new parents. Some seats have innovative features, like load legs. These are shock-absorbing parts that extend from the seat base or underneath the seat to the vehicle's floor and absorb some force during a crash.
There are also a few accessories that claim to improve the comfort and ease of use, but remember that any accessory not included in conjunction with the car seat hasn't yet been tested or approved for safety. "Anything you purchase that's not from the manufacturer, even an accessory like a harness or blanket is not recommended to put in the car seat," Segura says.
Style
It can be a challenge for new parents to figure out the best infant car seats. It's crucial to know the budget you have set and the features you want. There are many options for special features, stroller compatibility and fabrics. But it all comes down to comfort.
For example it's worth noting that infant seats designed specifically for babies fit small babies better than convertible car seats and can be used for the first year of life (though some might have extensions that have been tested for crash to ensure they last longer). They also tend to include more recline settings for proper positioning of smaller children, and are generally lighter, which makes it easier to carry. They are also more likely to be compatible with a travel system, which can be helpful for new parents who are trying to save time and money by purchasing one seat that will serve two purposes.
Car seat weight and width are important factors to consider for families with a large number of children. Some infant car seats, for example, are narrower to be able to fit in the back of your car or next to other seats. Some are so heavy that they test your biceps when you lift them up and transfer them from the car to the stroller.
Many parents prefer infant car seat that can be changed from base to carrier, and then convert into a stroller without needing any extra attachments. This will save you lots of time, particularly during busy times when you have to run around for errands.
Other convenient features include a no-rethread harness as well as magnetic buckle holders and an easy installation process. Look for a head and body support insert to stop infants from settling into the seat or carrier when they fall asleep.
Most car seats use flexible straps to secure the lower anchor connectors, however some feature rigid latches that flip out of the base and turn green when correctly installed. This type of installation is more secure and limits the amount that a seat can move in a crash.