10 Good Infant Car Seats Tips All Experts Recommend
How to Select Good Infant Car Seats When it comes to choosing a car seat for your infant the choices can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are some things to look out for to help narrow your search. You can make your parenting experience simpler by adding premium features like load legs, a simple-to-tighten harness and a headrest that extends with the baby's. Easy of Use If you're buying an infant car seat before your baby is born, it is important to consider the weight and height limits. It is important to ensure that the seat will last until your child outgrows it, which usually happens around the age of two. car seat inserts for newborns is also important to think about whether you want a car seat that can go up to the 90th percentile in weight or height or one that's shorter or higher. This will help you determine how long you plan to use the seat. In addition to the size and weight, you should be aware of how easy it is to install and use. The ease of adjusting straps, latch connectors and the variety of buckle positions all have an impact on ease of use. Think about the comfort of the padding for the body and head, as well as any extra conveniences such an insulated cupholder and a hidden harness pad. The more user-friendly a chair is, the more likely you'll utilize it properly and be a huge factor in your baby's safety. The easiest seats permit you to install them by yourself without hassle and also remove them from the base without a lot of effort. The weight of the car seat as well as its portability are important aspects to take into consideration. You need to be able pick up the car seat with your infant in it and transport it with ease. This is particularly important in the event of long trips. You should also look at the dimensions for width and height to ensure it fits your vehicle, and if you intend to use it with a stroller, search for a model that is compatible with many strollers. In the end, it is recommended to examine the crash test results of the manufacturer. You should be able to find these on the car seat's website or via an online search. You can then decide whether or not the seat has a good track record of protecting babies in crashes, and also determine what their replacement policy is. Safety The main concern for any parent shopping for an infant car seat is whether the seat will keep their child safe. All infant car seats must conform to the safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Opens in a new window (NHTSA) which includes rigorous crash testing and a five-point harness system. There are other factors to consider when purchasing an infant car seat. First, it is important to choose the right infant car seat for your baby based on their weight and height, and also the type of vehicle you own. Also, it is crucial to ensure that the seat is properly installed, as improperly installed car seats could increase the risk of injury in an accident. A safe infant car seat will have clear installation guides, a bubble indicator for the level that is easy to read, and an locking clip that prevents the base from being accidentally removed. It should also be light and include useful features like an extendable harness that is not rethread, anti-rebound bars and a high-quality load leg which protects your baby from head injuries in the event of an accident. While it's not a mandatory feature for all families, some parents may want to look for an infant car seat that can be converted into a toddler seat with the pull of a lever at the base. This will allow them more versatility and let their child use the seat until they reach the height and weight limit. It's also important to think about how it will be simple to use the car seat on a daily basis. The buckle should be easy and easy to snap into and out of place. The straps should be easy to unwind and adjust. The bag should be simple to carry even when empty and the base must be simple to remove from the car with no having to fumble around. It's an excellent idea, prior to buying a car seat, to determine whether there are any recalls. This can be done via the NHTSA website Opens in a new window. It includes a searchable database of all the current and previous recalls of car seats. Comfort Parents are most concerned about the comfort of their infant car seat. These seats that face the rear are designed to protect infants in the event of a crash and many come with built-in body and head supports to ensure your baby is comfortable. Find a rear-facing seat with features like no-rethread straps, 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. Ideally, you should be able detach the seat from its base with one hand while holding your baby in the other. When you're ready return the seat to its base, it should click easily into the position, and it should take less than a minute. A lot of infant car seats are also suitable to use without a base. This is a great option for parents who frequently change between vehicles or taxis. Check the weight and height limitations of the seat before purchasing it to ensure your child is not too large. Car seats are also often equipped with an infant insert which can be used when your baby is tiny (like in the first few months or weeks of life) up to the point that their shoulders reach the lowest harness slot. If you are looking for a baby car seat that offers both convenience and security, you should consider a convertible model. These seats are compatible in conjunction with strollers, and they come with a mechanism to tuck them in when they're not in use. However, they're typically larger than normal infant car seats and are more difficult to tote around. Another thing to think about is whether the seat comes with a load leg that is a brace that sits between the seat and the floor to provide extra stability. While they're not required however, they can be helpful for small vehicles or vehicles with multiple seats. Convenience You can travel with peace of mind and know that your child is safe and secure. Look for features such as straps for the shoulders that are padded and padding around the neck to ensure your baby is comfortable. Also, look for various recline positions. You might want to search for car seats that have extra features such as UPF 50+ protection and a canopy that zips open for full coverage. In terms of convenience, consider how easy the seat is to use, and also how it is installed in the vehicle. It is likely that you will need to install the seat using the LATCH system as well as the belt of your vehicle and so choose the model that makes this as simple as possible. For instance, our top choice for the best infant car seats The Nuna Pipa, has an easy-to-install process thanks to steel-reinforced LATCH connectors that open from the base and flash green when correctly connected. This feature along with recline angle guides as well as colored belt-oath indicators make this a standout model among infant car seats because of its ease of use. The seat is also small and light, making it an ideal choice for parents who have to travel with their baby or will be switching between multiple cars often. It also comes with a no rethread harness, and magnetic buckle holders which permit you to attach the seat using just one hand. The seat is more narrow than other seats on the market and is a better fit for newborns. The additional padding in the chest and shoulder area offers additional comfort. It's also more expensive than other alternatives, but we think the premium features, like an adjustable base and SnugLock lockoff, are well worth it. Infant car seats are a significant purchase, but with the right information and the right considerations you can narrow your choices to a few models that best fit your family's requirements. You can then concentrate on the important task – preparing for the arrival of your baby!