See What Good Infant Car Seats Tricks The Celebs Are Using

How to Select Good Infant Car Seats

The choices available when it comes to selecting a car seat for infants can be overwhelming. There are a few steps you can do to narrow down your search.

The premium features like load legs, an easy to tighten harness and an adjustable headrest that grows with your baby can make this parenting journey easier.

Easy of Use

If you're planning to purchase an infant car seat before the time your baby is born it's crucial to consider height and weight limits. You should make sure that the seat will last for your child until they grow out of it, which usually happens at around the age of two. Also, be aware of whether you require a car seat with a maximum weight or height of 90th percentile, or should you choose one that is shorter or taller. This will help you decide the length of time you intend to use the seat.

In addition to size and weight, it is important to consider the ease of the seat to install and use. For example, the ease of tightening and loosening straps and latch connectors, how easy it is to switch between rear and forward facing, and how many buckle positions there are all have an impact on the user's experience. Think about the comfort of the padding for the body and head and any other extra features like the cupholder or hideaway harness pad.

The more user-friendly the seat, the more likely you'll utilize it properly which could have a big impact on your baby's safety. Seats that are easy to install and remove from the base with a minimum of effort are the best car seats infant.

Another thing to take into consideration is the weight of the car seat and how easy it is to move. You want to be able to pick it up with a baby inside and take it around easily, especially in case you're taking longer trips. It is also important to examine the seat's height and width dimensions to ensure it fits your vehicle. If you intend to use it with a stroller, search for a model that's compatible with many strollers.

It is also important to look at the results of testing conducted by the manufacturer. You should be able to find these on the car seat's website or via an online search. You can determine if the seat has an history of protecting infants from crashes and what their policy is for replacement.

Safety

The most important consideration for parents who are shopping for an infant car seat is whether the product will protect their child. All infant car seats have to conform to the safety standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Opens in a new window (NHTSA), which include rigorous crash testing and a five-point harness system.

However there are other aspects to consider when selecting an infant car seat. First, it is important to select the appropriate infant car seat for your baby based on their height and weight and also the type of vehicle you drive. It is also essential to ensure that the seat is properly fitted, as poorly installed car seats increase the risk of injury in an accident.

A good infant car seat will have clearly identified installation guides, a clear bubble level indicator and the ability to lock the clip to prevent accidental removal of the base. It should be light, and feature convenient features like an extended strap that is not rethread, anti-rebound bar, and a high-quality leg that protects your baby's head in the event of an accident.

While it's not an essential feature for every family however, some parents may wish to look for an infant car seat that converts into a toddler seat with the push of a lever located on the base. This will provide them with more versatility and allow their child to use the seat until they reach the height and weight limit.

It's also important to think about how it will be easy to use the car seat newborn insert seat on a daily basis. The buckle should be simple and easy to snap into and out of. The straps need to be easy to loosen and adjust. The bag should be simple to carry even when empty, and the base should be easy to take off from the vehicle without having to fumble around.

It is also a good idea prior to purchasing a car seat, to check whether there are any recalls. You can do this by going to the NHTSA Opens in New Window website, which includes an index that can be searched to find the most recent and past car seat recalls.

Comfort

Parents are most concerned about the comfort of their infant car seat. These rear-facing car seats have been created to protect your baby in the case of an accident. Most include built-in back and head supports to keep them at a comfortable level. Find seats that can be adjusted to fit your growing child, with features like harnesses that do not need to be rethread magnetic buckle holders, as well as adjustable shoulder straps.

Another aspect that can determine the success or failure of an infant car seat is how easy it is to set up and use. In the ideal scenario, you'll be able to remove the seat from its base using one hand while holding your child in the other. When you're ready, the seat should snap into its place in less than a second.

Many infant car seats can be used without a base--perfect for parents who often switch cars or ride taxis. If you decide to purchase the seat with this feature, check its weight and height limits to ensure your child isn't too big for it. Car seats also typically come with an infant insert that can be used when your baby car seat is tiny (like in the initial few months or weeks of their life) up until their shoulders are at the lowest slot on their harness.

Convertible models are a great choice for an infant car seat. They offer convenience and safety. These seats are compatible with strollers and have the ability to fold them in when they're not in use. They are generally larger than car seats for infants and may be more difficult to carry around.

A load leg is another feature to look out for. This is a brace which sits between your seat and the floor of your vehicle. It offers additional stability. They aren't necessary, but they can be very helpful in small vehicles or for those with multiple car seats.

Convenience

A good infant car seat will provide you with peace of mind knowing that your child is safe and comfortable on long drives. Consider features like straps that are padded for shoulder and padding around the neck to ensure that your baby fits comfortably. Also, look for several recline positions. You might also want to look into a car seat that has additional features, such as UPF 50+ sun-shields and a canopy that zips open fully which gives your baby the protection they require.

In terms of convenience, think about how easy the seat is to use and also how it can be easily installed in a vehicle. You're likely to require the seat to be installed using the LATCH system as well as the vehicle belt. Select a seat that has the simplest installation.

For example our top pick for the best infant car seats, the Nuna Pipa, has an easy installation process due to the steel-reinforced LATCH connectors that open from the base and flash green when properly connected. This feature, along with the recline angle indicators and colored belt-oath indicator make this model stand out among infant car seats in terms of user-friendliness.

The seat is also small and light, which makes it a great choice for parents who must travel with baby or who will be changing between cars frequently. Additionally, it comes with a no-rethread harness and magnetic buckle holders that let you secure the harness using just one hand.

A slim shell that's less than 17 inches wide means the seat will fit newborns better than others available, and additional padding in the chest and shoulder areas provide additional comfort. The seat is more expensive than other models, but we believe that the premium features such as the adjustable base and SnugLock locking system are worth the cost.

Infant car seats can be a costly investment. But, with the proper information, you can reduce your options to a few models which best car seats infant fit your family. Then you can focus on the important task of preparing for your little one's arrival!