How to Select Good Infant Car Seats
The choices available when it comes to choosing the right car seat for your child can be overwhelming. There are a few steps you can do to narrow your search.
The premium features like load legs, a simple to tighten harness and an extendable headrest that grows with your baby can make this parenting journey easier.
Easy to Use
If you're planning to purchase an infant car seat prior to when the time your baby is born it's important to think about weight and height limitations. It is important to ensure that the seat will last for your child until they grow out of it, which usually happens around the age of two. You also need to consider whether you want a car seat that can go all the way to the 90th percentile of weight or height, or one that's shorter or taller. This will help you determine how you'll need the seat for before you decide to upgrade to a convertible car seat.
It is also important to consider how it is simple to install and use the seat. The ease of loosening or tightening straps, latch connectors and the number of buckle positions all influence the user-friendliness. Also, you should take into consideration whether the padding for your head and body are comfortable and if the seat includes any extras for convenience, such as a cupholder or hideaway harness pads.
The more user-friendly a seat is the more likely you'll be to use it correctly, which can have a big impact on your baby's safety. Seats that are simple to put on and take off from the base with a minimum of effort are the most convenient.
Another thing to take into consideration is the weight of the car seat and how portable it is. It is essential to be able to take the car seat with your baby in it and move it easily. This is especially important if you are going on long trips. Also, you should examine the dimensions for width and height to make sure it's appropriate for your vehicle, and if you intend to use it with a stroller for a model that is compatible with many strollers.
In the end, it is recommended to take a close look at the manufacturer's crash test results. You can find these results on the website of the manufacturer or through an online search. You can find out if the seat has a history of protecting babies from injuries in crashes and what the policy for replacement.
Safety
The most important consideration for any parent shopping for an infant car seat is whether the product will keep their child safe. All infant car seats are required to adhere to safety standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) It opens in a New Window which include rigorous crash tests as well as a five point harness system.
However, there are a few other aspects to consider when choosing an infant car seat. It is crucial to choose the right infant car seat based on your child's height and weight and also the kind of vehicle you own. It is also essential to ensure that the seat is installed correctly, as improperly installed car seats may increase the risk of injury in a crash.
A good infant car safety seat should have clear installation instructions, a bubble indicator of the level that is easy to read and a locking clip which prevents the base from being accidentally removed. It should be lightweight, and feature convenient features like an extended strap with no-rethread, anti-rebound bar, and a high-quality leg that protects your baby's head in case of an accident.
Some parents might be interested in a car seat for their infant that can be transformed into an adult seat by pulling an incline at the base. This will give parents more flexibility and let them use the seat until their child has reached the manufacturer's weight and height limit.
It is also important to consider how the car seat will be to use on a regular basis. The straps should be easy to loosen and tighten and the buckle should be simple to click into and out of position. The bag should be lightweight and easy to carry even when empty. The base must be easy to remove without any fumbling.
It is also a good idea, prior to buying a car seat, to verify whether there are any recalls. This can be done via the NHTSA website Opens in a new window. It includes an index of searchable databases of all past and current recalls on car seats.
Comfort
When it concerns infant car seats comfort is the primary factor for parents. These rear-facing seats are designed to safeguard your child in the case of an accident. best car seats for newborns uk come with built-in head and back supports to ensure they are at a comfortable level. Choose a seat facing the rear that has features such as no-rethread straps as well as magnetic buckle holders and adjustable shoulder belts.
Another aspect that can be the difference between a good and bad an infant car seat is how simple it is to install and use. In ideal circumstances, you should be capable of removing the seat from the base using just one hand while holding your baby in the other. When you're ready to place the seat back on its base, it should click easily into place and take less than an hour.
A lot of infant car seats are suitable for use with no base. This is ideal for parents who often switch between vehicles or taxis. If you choose a seat with this capability make sure you check the weight and height limits to make sure your child isn't too big for it. Car seats are also often equipped with an infant insert which can be used when your baby is tiny (like within the first few months or weeks of life) up until their shoulders are at the lowest harness slot.
Convertible models are the ideal choice for an infant car seat. They offer convenience and security. These seats can be used in conjunction with strollers, and they come with an option to put them into the car when not in usage. They tend to be larger than infant car seats, and are sometimes more difficult to transport around.
Another thing to consider is whether the seat comes with a load leg, which is a brace that is placed between the seat and your vehicle's floor to offer additional stability. These aren't required but they can be very helpful in smaller vehicles or those with multiple car seat.
Convenience
A well-designed infant car seat can provide you with peace of mind knowing that your child is safe and comfortable during long journeys. Consider features like padded shoulder straps and extra padding around the neck to ensure your baby is comfortable. Also look for several recline positions. You may also want to look into a car seat that has additional features, like UPF 50+ sun protection and a canopy that zips open fully which gives your baby the protection they require.
Consider the ease of installation and use of the seat in relation to convenience. You're likely to need to install your seat using the LATCH system and the belt for your vehicle. Choose a model with the easiest installation.
For example, our top pick for the best infant car seats is the Nuna Pipa is equipped with an easy installation process due to the steel-reinforced LATCH connectors that open from the base and flash green when properly connected. This feature, in conjunction with recline angle guides as well as colored belt-oath indicators make this a standout model among infant car seats due to its ease of use.
The seat is also small and lightweight, which makes it an ideal choice for parents who have to travel with their baby or will be switching between multiple vehicles frequently. Additionally, it comes with an unrethread harness as well as magnetic buckle holders that allow you to clip the harness with one hand.
A shell that's smaller than 17 inches wide means the seat will fit newborns better than other seats on the market, and the extra padding in the shoulder and chest area will provide extra comfort. The seat is a bit more expensive than other models, but we believe the premium features such as the adjustable base and SnugLock locking system are worth it.
Car seats for infants can be costly. With the right information, you can reduce your options to a few models which best fit your family. Then you can focus on the crucial task of getting ready for your baby's arrival!