How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat What do you want from your seat? "If you want a car seat to expand with your child, think about an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton recommends. The seat comes with a long rear-facing weight limit and can convert to both an incline-back booster and a backless one. It also scores highly for comfort and quality thanks to soft, machine-washable padding. Load legs are a beneficial feature. They are shock-absorbing components which are attached to the car seat base and limit movement during the event of a crash. Safety Car seats for infants are designed to fit small babies the best, which is why they generally have more padding and cushioning than convertible carseats. They are also smaller and lighter to remove from your car or attach to a stroller frame which is crucial since you'll need to carry your child in the car seat out of the vehicle often. The infant car seat is also designed to last your child for the first year. This means that you don't need to worry about your child outgrowing the weight limit or height. It is an excellent idea to do some research before you purchase. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has strict guidelines for car seats. You should consider reading reviews from other parents as well as reviewing safety guidelines from groups such as Consumer Reports and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, both of which have a lot of crash testing information to provide to families. Find features that will be useful to your family. For instance, a one-handed release of the strap, a no-rethread harness or a foot that can be leveled with a spring-loaded mechanism. These features assist in securing up your child, but remember that even the safest seats will not be useful if they are not used in a proper manner. Other things to consider are the size and weight of the car seat. A lot of infant car seats are designed to be narrow enough to be able to sit alongside older car seats in the back of your car Some can grow with your child, and move to a booster seat simultaneously. If you plan to use the car seat to travel or take taxis, then an infant car seat that can be put in place using only your car's seatbelt will be a convenient choice. In general, you should purchase the safest seat you can afford. The most affordable models don't always meet the most stringent standards of crash safety. For example, it's best to stay clear of models that do not include side impact testing and permit companies to self-certify their products. Convenience The ideal infant car seat for you is the one that will work well in the vehicle of your family, is easy to install and use, and includes convenient extras like a built-in stroller or rotation ability. It should also be affordable. Infant seats range in price between $180 and $500. If they're convertible, and are designed to be used by toddlers and infants the cost could be higher. The convenience features include whether the seat can be fitted using the LATCH system, or a seatbelt. Additionally, if you can adjust the harness and headrest without removing the baby from the seat. Installing and removing https://www.pushchairsandprams.uk/categories/baby-car-seats should be simple, especially if your child rides in Ubers or you frequently switch between cars. The seat should be lightweight and clearly labeled with instructions for installation and bubble levels to assist you in quickly install the car seat. You must also be able to rotate the seat and lock it when not using it, and have easy access to buckles as well as harness straps. When you purchase an infant car seat, be sure to verify the weight and height limits. Also, consider if your child will outgrow the seat by the time they reach their first birthday. In general, you should select the seat for your child that will grow with them until they reach 90% percentile. Some manufacturers go beyond the federal safety standards to include other features, such as crash testing as well as comfort and convenience in their car seats. The Clek Liing, a top pick by our gear editors as well as Consumer Reports, is an excellent example of an infant seat that offers more than just excellent crash protection. It also comes with a load leg, which can help stabilize the seat in the event of a crash and reduces the force on the child's body by 40 percent. That feature alone could save a child's life, so it's worth the extra cost for a car seat that is secure and comes with additional convenience features. Comfort One of the most important aspects to consider when choosing an infant car seat is the comfort, as babies spend a significant amount of time in their car seats. The most comfortable car seats have thick, breathable fabric and ample padding on the headrest and harness. They also come with easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms such as buckles, strap covers, and headrest adjustments that don't require rethreading. The weight and size of the infant car seat can also impact comfort especially if it's going to be used in multiple cars or for frequent travel. Some models are tinier making it easier to place them in the backseat with other car seats or siblings seats. Although all have minimum and maximum heights and weight limits, some are lighter than others, which can prevent your biceps from becoming sore when you carry it around town or between vehicles. Certain infant car seats come with additional features that make them more versatile including rotating options or the ability to click into strollers without the need for additional adapters. Some models are equipped with top-quality features like an adjustable strap that doesn't rethread or anti-rebound bars to offer extra safety in case of an accident. These features aren't essential for safe riding, however they can improve the overall experience. In addition to safety and convenience factors, many parents want a clean, comfortable infant car seat for their infant. Find a seat that's machine washable and stain-resistant and also easy to remove for cleaning. Some seats are dishwasher safe, which makes it easier to keep them looking clean. Some models go further to ensure that their customers get an enjoyable and safe experience. For instance, the Graco SnugRide (tm) Elite has an anti-rebounding bar, and is compatible with Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm), which is designed to withstand both front and rear collisions. The seat features a Silent Shade canopy to keep your baby comfortable and quiet, as well an indicator to let you know that the seat is properly secured. The seat's carry handle is adjustable as well as harness tightener indicator indicate whether it's securely attached to the base. Design Car seat manufacturers create infant car seats with safety and comfort in mind, but the variety of features available can make it difficult to decide what's the best fit for your family. You'll want to consider factors such as weight and height limits, as well as the number of belt buckles and belt paths. Additional features like anti-rebound bars, load legs and no-rethread harnesses can add to the price but may improve comfort for baby. Consider features that make it easier to get your child in and out of the car seat, such as rotating mechanisms. You should also be aware of the dimensions and weight of the seat because not every seat can be used in all cars. One feature that's especially important is the ease of installing and disconnecting from the base. The quality of the LATCH connectors, and whether or not they're flexible or rigid, could affect this. It is also important to be aware of whether the straps can be easily tightened and loosened and if they have a single-hand release mechanism to install and remove the seat. Some models allow you to use the seat without a base which is useful for those who frequently use taxis or if you plan to switch cars frequently. To make sure that your seat is properly installed make sure you choose models with bubble level indicators and a integrated locking mechanism. Some features may be worth the extra expense, such as the headrest that grows with your child, a five-position recline feature and the canopy that expands and is locked into the correct position. Our product testers have noticed that a seat that can be used as a high-back belt-positioning booster, or a backless one after the infant is done using it is an advantage. Doona is a car seat for infants that will pamper parents. It's got many features that address nearly every complaint parents have about infant car seats. This is why our test participants gave it top marks across the spectrum. It's affixed for air travel and comes with an anti-rebound handle and can be converted into a stroller. Its crash test result is excellent and it's GREENGUARD Gold Certified.