How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn
The best car seat newborn is one that is compliant with federal safety standards, fits in your vehicle, has convenient extras (like changing into a stroller) and fits within your budget. It’s also worth ensuring the car seat for your baby clicks into and out of your car without difficulty, particularly if you often shift between taxis or rides in hire cars and grandparents vehicles.
Safety
A good car seat will have extra features that are above the safety standards of the federal government. These include padded inserts for the head and shoulders, air-repellent fabrics to help keep them cool in hot vehicles, and side-impact protection.
The ease of installation and use of the seat is another important aspect of safety. Ideally, you want to be able to snap it in place with little effort, and with clear signs that it’s secure, level, and positioned properly.
There are features that will aid in this process, such as belt guides and built-in locks which will assist you in aligning the car seat to the seat belt of your vehicle. You also want to avoid buying used car seats, which may not be tested for crash safety or have been involved in an accident and may not protect your child. If you must purchase a used car seat, make sure that it has an expiration date and that the seller is not a private person who does not have proof of ownership.
It’s also important to keep in mind that you should only leave your baby in the car seat up to two hours per day, unless you are in an upright position. This is to avoid stress on their spine and to ensure that they are able to breathe regularly.
Choosing an infant car seat is a significant investment, so you’ll want to be sure it has a long lifespan. Select a seat that will develop with your child and last from toddlerhood through teen years. One that our parent testers liked was the Axkid One i-Size that is suitable from birth and is able to be used until 7 years.
The Nuna pipa air rx is a different option that can be used for a long time. It has a 360-degree rotation which means that you can switch it from rear-facing to front-facing as your child grows. It’s also among the most light-weight car seats on the market, weighing less than nine pounds. It’s the perfect option for parents who frequently transfer their babies between vehicles or plan to use it for taxi rides, fly-drive holidays, and trips to grandparent’s homes.
Comfort
It is important that your child is comfortable in their car seat both in it as well as when you install it. Choose padded straps that are comfortable to wear around their shoulders, and look for plush material that feels comfortable under their tummy. This is especially important when you intend to use the seat for a long duration.
The most effective car seat for infants is also user-friendly. Some feature premium LATCH connectors that come with the SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener spring-loaded leveling feet and belt paths that make fitting without a base more simple than ever before. Other features allow you to adjust the height of the headrest and harness which is crucial as your child grows.
Cosatto All in All Rotate is a prime example. Our test subjects gave it a score of 10 out of 10. It has a clear, simple interface, a no-rethread easy-to-change harness, 360-degree rotation, and a recline lock indication. This allows you to switch between forward and rear-facing positions as your baby grows without having to remove the seat and replace it.
Nuna Pipa Aire Rx is a similar example. Our parents who tested it loved it for its comfort, simplicity and versatility. Its padded shoulder straps as well as headrest are designed to support the head of your newborn and comes with an infant pillow that is soft to ensure that they are comfortable. It can be used in a back-facing position until your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit. Then, it transforms into a stroller.
A high-quality car seat is durable and some even come with a warranty. Choose a seat made of robust materials and plenty of padding to shield your child from any injuries as well as a steel frame that absorbs the force of impact and a “crumple zone” to prevent damage. It should be easy to clean, as accidents are sure to happen with the growing age of a child. Find car seats with removable seat covers and a machine-washable pad to make cleanup a breeze.
Ease of Use
It is crucial that a car seat is simple to install and use, particularly if it will be used in different vehicles periodically. Look for features such as an easy-release buckle, an indicator that displays the state of the latch system (e.g. green for locked) and a user-friendly manual to make it as simple as possible.
The Best of The Bump winner also comes with several useful extras that our parents testers adored, such as an padded headrest and padded harness, plush fabric and a cup holder. It also features a recline feature that allows your baby to be seated in a more comfortable position for longer travels. It can be paired with a compatible buggy to make an entire travel system. This is perfect for those who plan to travel for a long duration.
Our panelists reported that the car seat was simple to install and adjust. It has recline locks as well as an excellent connector that has a SuperCinch tightener. This made it simple to secure your child. It’s also designed to be shifted from side-to-side in the vehicle without the necessity of tools.
The reclining feature helps you to carry your child out and into the vehicle. This is especially useful for those with back problems or drive a smaller car. It also comes with the ability to reversibly hold your cup and a handy pocket for toys and snacks.
The seat weighs less than nine pounds and can be used with or without its base. It can be rotated 180 degrees. This is a great feature for those who are tight on space or have back pain. Our panelists were thrilled by this feature, which earned a spot in our 2021 Mother&Baby awards.
It’s a great choice for anyone who wants to transform their car seat into a stroller for affordable cost. Its sleek design and premium fabric will last for a long time, too. Be sure to clean the cover frequently because yoghurt spills and biscuits that have been crushed, or even sick accidents with toddlers will leave their marks.
Design
The styles of car seats are as varied as the cars they’re placed in. Some parents opt to ditch the infant car seat and opt for convertible models. However, the majority of new mothers are looking for something that will grow with their child into the toddler years. The most flexible choice is an all-in-one infant car seat, which allows you to change between forward-facing and rear-facing. It typically has a greater height and weight limit, and can often be used as a booster seat when your child is ready for one.
The ideal car seat for infants for newborns is lightweight and easy to take off the base while your child is inside. Our parent testers loved the Maxi-Cosi Coral, which is only available in a handful of colors, but comes with plenty of safety features and is super light (at 8.4 pounds with seat inserts and canopy). Other models that stand out are the Nuna PIPA URbN and the Nuna PIPA URbN, which was a winner of Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for Best Car Seat Group 0/0+ with its high-end extras such as the Dream drape and UPF 50+ full-coverage canopy.
The base and seat design must also be taken into consideration. For example, some car seats use a special base that locks into the buckles of the seat belts and others use steel-reinforced LATCH connectors which flip out from the sides of the base and turn green when they are attached correctly. Parents appreciated these connectors especially when their car only had front-facing seatbelts, and no ISOFIX anchor points.
Some infant car seats can also be utilized with a regular seatbelt without the base this is a great benefit for parents who regularly use taxis or travel with their child. Our parent testers really liked the Nuna TODL NEXT that can be used with or without its base. It includes a smooth swivel motion that makes it easy to get your baby out and in the seat.
Other important considerations for design are whether a car seat comes with a flat design, and how well it will fit into your specific car (see our guide to car seat compatibility). If you’re looking for an infant car seat newborn that will develop with your baby until an adult, select a model with the option of reclining headrests and side impact protection. It’s also worth checking that your selected infant car seat swivel car seat is iSize compliant and uses the correct car seat attachment points according to UK law.
