How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn
The most suitable car seat for a newborn is one that meets all safety standards set by the federal government and is compatible with your vehicle. It should also have convenient extras, such as the capability to convert into a stroller and be within your budget. It’s also worth ensuring the car seat for your baby clicks into and out of your car with ease, particularly if you often switch between taxis or trips in rental cars or grandparents vehicles.
Safety
A quality BELINE Car Seat with Side Impact Protection seat comes with extra features that go beyond the federal safety standards. These include padded inserts to the shoulders and head, air-repellent fabrics to help keep them cool in hot vehicles and side-impact protection.
Another important aspect to consider is the ease to set up and use the seat. Ideally, the seat should be simple to install and use, as well as clear indicators of its height, position, and security.
There are features that will make this easier like belt guides and built-in lockoffs that will help you align the car seat to your vehicle’s seatbelt. Avoid purchasing used car seats that may not have been tested for crash or have been involved in an accident. They may not be Safe & Stylish Baby Car Seats for Every Family for your child. If you have to buy a used car seat, ensure that it has an expiration and that the seller is not an individual or a private party who doesn’t have evidence of ownership.
It’s also important to remember that you should only allow your child in the car seat for up to two hours a day, unless you are in a flat position. This is to reduce strain on their developing spine and to ensure they get a chance to breathe regularly.
You’ll want a seat to last for a long time, because it’s a major investment. Pick a seat that can grow with your child and last through toddlerhood to the teen years. Our testers for parents were pleased with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for babies from birth and can be used up to age 7.
Nuna pipa air rx is another option that you can use for a lengthy period of time. It is 360-degree in rotation, which means you can move it from front-facing to rear-facing as your child grows. It’s also among the lightest rotating car seats available and weighs less than nine pounds without its base. It’s the perfect option for parents who often transfer their babies between vehicles or plan to use it for taxi rides, fly-drive holidays and trips to grandparent’s homes.
Comfort
A quality infant car seat is comfortable for your baby both in the seat and when you are installing it. Look for padded straps that are comfortable to wear on their shoulders, and soft fabric that is soft under their tummy, especially when they are in the seat for long drives.
The most effective infant car seat is also user-friendly. Some have LATCH connectors of premium quality with a SuperCinch force multiplier tightener. Some have spring-loaded leveling legs and belt paths that make installing without a base easier than ever. Other features allow you to adjust the height of the harness and headrest, which is especially crucial as your child grows.
One example is the Cosatto All in All Rotate, which our parent testers scored 10/10 for its ease of use. It comes with an easy-to-use interface, and a simple-to-adjust no-rethread harness and also a recline lock indicator and 360-degree rotation. It is easy to switch your child’s position from front-facing to rear-facing as they grow without having to remove and replace the seat.
Nuna Pipa Aire Rx is a similar example. Our parents who tested it loved it for its comfort simple and adaptability. Its padded shoulder straps and headrest are designed to support your baby’s head and comes with an infant pillow that is soft to ensure that they are comfortable. It can be used in a rear-facing position until your child reaches the maximum weight or height limit. It then converts into the position of a stroller.
A quality car seat will be durable and some come with a warranty. Look for a seat with robust materials and plenty of padding to protect your baby from accidents and an aluminum frame that suffocates the force of impact and a “crumple zone” to reduce the risk of damage. It must also be easy to clean, since spills are commonplace when you have a baby. Look for car seats with removable seat covers and a pad that is machine washable to make cleaning easy.
Easy to Use
A car seat must be easy to install and use, especially if you’re likely to use it in an alternate vehicle from time to time. Look for features like an easy-release buckle, an indicator that shows the state of the latch system (e.g., green for locked) and a simple-to-read manual to make it as easy as is possible.
The Best of The Bump winner comes with a number of practical features that our testers for parents appreciated, including a padded headrest and harness, plush fabric, and the cup holder. It also has a reclining feature that allows your child to sit in an ergonomic position for longer journeys. It can be paired with a compatible buggy for an entire travel system. This is ideal when you plan to travel for a long time.
The seat is suitable for babies from birth. Our panelists found this car seat to be easy to put in and adjust. It has an indicator for recline and an exclusive LATCH connector with a SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener that made securing your child quick and easy. It’s also designed to be easily moved from side-to-side inside the vehicle without the necessity of tools.
One of our most loved features is the reclining feature that helps you take your baby in and out of the car. This is especially useful if you suffer from back pain or drive a car with a small size. It also comes with the ability to change the drink holder as well as a convenient storage compartment for snacks and toys.
The seat weighs less than nine pounds and can be installed with or without its base. It can be rotated 180 degrees. This is a fantastic feature for those who are tight on space or suffer from back pain. Our panelists were thrilled by this feature, which won a spot in our 2021 Mother&Baby awards.
It’s a great choice for anyone looking to convert their car seat into a stroller for an affordable price. Its sleek design and premium materials will stand up to the test time. Make sure to clean your cover frequently because smashed yogurt spills, biscuits, and the odd sick toddler accident will be certain to leave a footprints!
Design
Car seat designs are as diverse as the vehicles they’re placed in. Some parents opt to ditch the infant car seats in favor of convertible models. However, most new mothers prefer a product that can expand with their child through the toddler years. All-in-one car seats are the most flexible that allow you to change from rear-facing to forward-facing. It typically has a greater weight and height limit and can also be used as a booster once your child is old enough.
A great car seat for your infant newborn car seat is lightweight and easy to lift from the base and carry with your child. Our parents loved the Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix3 ISOFIX Base for Car Seats – Buy Now And Save Coral, which is only available in a few colors, but comes with plenty of safety features and is super lightweight (at 8.4 pounds with seat inserts and canopy). Nuna PIPA URbN is another model that stands out, as it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Car Seat Group category for 0/0+ due to top-of-the-line features such as the Dream drape, and a full-coverage canopy with UPF 50+.
The base and seat design should be considered as well. For instance, some car seats come with a base that is secured to the buckles of the seat belts, while others have LATCH connectors made of steel that slide out from the sides of the base and turn green when attached correctly. These were a great option for parents, particularly when the vehicle only had front-facing seat belts.
Some infant car seats can be utilized with a regular seatbelt that is not base-less this is a great benefit for parents who frequently use taxis or travel with their child. The Nuna TODL NEXT was a popular choice among our parents who tested it. It can be used either with or without the base and it has an easy swivel that allows you to easily get your baby in and out.
Additionally, the design of a car seat is important. It must fit into your car. (See our guide on car seat compatibility). If you’re looking for an infant car seat that will grow with your baby as he develops into a booster, look for a model with a reclining headrest and side impact protection. It’s also important to confirm that your chosen infant car seat is i-Size certified and has the proper car seat attachment points in accordance with UK law.
