Best Infant Car Seats to Keep Your Newborn Safe

Knowing you’ve selected the most productive car seat for your baby helps make the first trip less nerve-wracking for new parents. Also, you can’t bring your newborn home from the hospital without having one, arguably making it one of the most important pieces on your record, including the crib. Of course, protection comes first, and while all car seats sold in the U. S. are not the same. When U. S. customers must meet certain government regulatory standards, some of them come with additional protective features, such as anti-reverse bars or a leveling load foot, as found in our maximum productivity infant car seat. Overall, Clek Liing’s maximum productivity infant car seats. Maximum productivity infant car seats are also easy to install, ensuring a safer ride with proper installation. (Yes If a car seat is installed incorrectly, it may not work. )

Infant car seats come with a five-point harness and are used rear-facing, from newborn until the baby reaches a certain height and weight (about 30 inches or 30 pounds, whichever comes first, depending on your seat). I’ve talked to them to emphasize that just because your baby reaches the minimum weight or height to turn out of a car seat or transfer to a convertible car seat or booster seat doesn’t mean you can do it. In fact, experts say your child should remain rear-facing until he is able to do so. maximum weight or height.

“Dedicated infant seats are designed to be compatible with young infants,” says Holly Choi, co-founder of Safe Beginnings First Aid, an infant and child protection educational organization that provides car seat installation classes. “For newborns, have a compatible harness. “and a favorable tilt angle for their airlines will provide them with protection. “

After talking to safety experts, learning about protection levels, and testing many of these car seats in our own cars, we’ve put together this list of the best car seats for infants.

Amazon

Clek Liing earns top marks from various parents, car seat technicians, and retail outlets for its ease of installation and protective performance. Its base comes with all the newest protection and convenience features (simple LATCH installation, charging foot) and is relatively soft (9 pounds), narrow and easy to install. It fits well with premature toddlers thanks to its two-piece newborn insert, has straps that possibly won’t twist or get stuck on baby’s arms or legs, and works with a variety of strollers with the addition of an adapter to create a system.

Its seat width is among the narrowest, just under 17 inches, so if you have more than one child sitting in the back seat, Clek car seats are a smart choice. It’s also approved to fly by the FAA without the base, of course. Absolutely, and it comes with a 9-year expiration date, so you can possibly pass it on to your next bathroom.

It’s no wonder this car seat has earned over 3,000 five-star reviews on Amazon and has been on several best car seat lists for years. It ticks all the boxes from protection to ease of installation with the LATCH formula and a bubble indicator to make sure the seat is positioned correctly. Once baby arrives, she’ll love how the extra-large canopy protects her face from the sun when she secures him in her stroller. It comes bundled with several popular strollers that use an adapter and can sometimes be had for around $230, part of the price of our most sensible pick. It is also approved by the FAA to fly.

What Parent Reviewers Are Saying: Deputy Editor Rose Gordon Sala purchased this infant seat for her third and final child. “My eldest son’s seat had expired and I didn’t want to give him the new seat. So I appreciated how affordable it was for a “It was comfortable and easy to install. The straps were a little crooked from time to time and it was heavy to carry on my arm, but I had a big baby. She paired it with her Uppababy Cruz stroller with an adapter. Co-author Heather Mayer Irvine used a slightly different version of this seat for three children, Chicco KeyFit, and says it held up until its expiration date and was easy to fit into its base. and contoured stroller structure.

Coconut

Nuna stands out for its lightweight car seats, which can weigh just over five pounds when the canopy and newborn insert are removed. The only problem with the lighter ones is that they can’t be installed without a dock, which is a disadvantage when you’re traveling or, say, taking a ride in grandpa’s car. We love the fact that the Bugaboo By Nuna Turtle Air offers 4 comfortable reclining positions. It is also FAA approved to fly and all fabrics are washable on the device. The canopy is expansive and the car seat works perfectly with Bugaboo’s premium strollers to create a system. Unfortunately, it’s not compatible with strollers from other brands, which limits its versatility, and of course, it’s a more expensive selection that some families wouldn’t possibly need. to splurge.

doona

Push a Doona and you’ll get jealous looks from other parents who wish they’d known about them before buying their stroller. At least that’s how I felt when I saw another mom pull her car seat out and immediately turn it into a stroller. The Doona is narrow and stylish, ideal if you’re on the go and like to travel light. The wheels fold down for use in the car and then unfold again when you’re in a position to stop by for a ride. It also only works rear-facing and has a typical height and weight limit for an infant car seat, but that means you’ll want to buy a new stroller (and a new car seat) when they outgrow it.

What Parent Reviewers Are Saying: After testing 15 strollers, editor and mother of two Lex Goodman named the Doona car seat and stroller as the most productive formula overall, due to its convenient two-in-one packaging. “The Doona car seat provides additional comfort for those who are tired of carrying the car seat on their arm or having to carry the car seat and stroller on a trip,” he wrote. It’s just as useful when you’re boarding a plane as it is when you’re navigating public transportation or visiting the pediatrician with a newborn. “

Amazon

This car seat is all about comfort, convenience, adjustability, and safety. Includes

Both a leg and a rebound bar are designed to minimise seat movement in the event of an accident, ensuring the protection of newborns. The PureTech design uses merino wool, which means chemical-free flame retardant and proper natural breathability. The “heavy-duty baby insert” can be used for babies from four to 11 pounds and provides the best compatibility, and the headrest offers endless changes to achieve the right compatibility for your child.

What the parent tester says: One mother told us she purchased this car seat for her first child based on a friend’s recommendations, its Greenguard certifications, and its protection ratings. She is pleased with the car seat and how easy it is to use, but she says it is a little heavier.

CHICCO

It may expand to fit taller kids, but the Chicco Fit2 is actually one of the best car seats out there for narrow back seats (or tall parents). Back to front, it requires less room than most other options, while still offering a comfortable and generous seat for baby. The child height max is extended in this car seat model, too, an extra 5 inches over the Chicco Keyfit 30, allowing you to keep tots safely rear-facing for longer. The seat pad is machine washable and there are seven headrest positions to achieve maximum comfort. The bubble indicator and easy LATCH connectors keep installation simple. It is one of the heavier infant car seats out there, but it connects to Chicco strollers and others with an adapter.

uppababy

My own circle of family members use this Uppababy infant car seat and it’s one of my favorite baby purchases. When my husband installed the Mesa car seat, he said, “I think this is better than our car. It’s not a blow to our Subaru either: this car seat and its strollers and accessories are very well designed. The smart solution is to buy the car seat with one of the brand’s popular strollers, such as the Vista V2 (convertible into dual) or Cruz V2 (single stroller), so you now have an infant formula (a car seat that also fits in your stroller) and a toddler-ready stroller.

Easily install with the LATCH formula and foundation or just the foundation in a pinch. The canopy is rated at 25 UPF, the no-screw harness is a breeze, and the seat is FAA-certified to fly, and its pair strollers are some of Team Vetted’s best-tested crowd favorites.

What Parent Reviewers Are Saying: I love how this seat pops out of the base at the touch of a button, fits right into the stroller, and is easy to remove with one hand. I also like the wallet in all the aspects that hold the buckle. out of the way, so you can place the baby without having to put him on top of it. Deputy Editor-in-Chief Rebekah Lowin bought the Uppababy Vista stroller and paired it with a Nuna infant car seat to walk her newborn in his New York City crib. She calls the Vista a “tank” with a weight and length that makes it felt in huge puddles, high sidewalks, and even crowded pedestrian areas.

Pottery Barn Kids

The Nuna Pipa Urbn car seat, like other Nuna seats, is very lightweight, which is a bonus that many new parents may appreciate, especially as their young children get older. However, it should be noted that it also has a lower weight capacity for children than others. The Pipa Urbn is rarely sold separately, so for $1,100 worth, also get a stylish, high-quality stroller that’s also lightweight and designed for travel or city adventures. (This style is Triv, but you can also opt for the Mixx Next and Trvl strollers. )

What the evaluating parent says: Co-author Irvine tested this new infant car seat earlier this year and found it ideal for city dwellers who ride taxis and don’t own a car, thanks to its undiscovered design. You can install the seat without any problems in any car provided with anchors. He noted that it takes a few seconds longer than expected to get it into position safely, but that’s the case with most baseless installations.

Amazon

Britax car seats are the most sensible on many of our “best” lists thanks to their durability and smart protective features, all at a value-based price. The brand’s new formula offers exceptional value: it includes the Willow car seat, the brand’s only rear seat. A self-facing car seat that uses the ClickTight generation for easy installation, the Aspen Car Seat Base and the Brook Stroller. The stroller comes with a parent cup holder and a snack tray for older children. Flip the stroller seat so that it is facing you. when he is young and move him away so he can see as your child grows. The car seat’s RightSize formula allows adjustment at the hips, shoulders, and between the legs for added fit.

This travel system is one of the better deals out there for an all-in-one infant car seat and stroller purchase.

Amazon

This car seat’s backrest has three positions to improve this infant car seat’s move from car to the stroller: sitting, relaxing and lying down. The footrest also extends for primo napping when the seat is moved to the stroller. Add the chic Italian colors (grays, pinks, slate blue) and details, and you’ve got a fashionable ride. Substance wise, it has a 10-position load leg to improve stability and anti-rebound bar to protect baby in case of a collision. We also like the extended canopy with a 50+ UPF rating for stroller walks and the no-rethread, six position headrest.

Gracchus

Although this car seat is not portable—as in, you can’t tote your newborn around in it—it will grow with your baby from birth to 100 pounds, as a high-back booster, meaning it’ll certainly provide longevity and value. It’s a convertible car seat that rotates so you can easily load and unload your child. Many convertible car seats do not do this, and you can often find me standing in the car, draped over a squirming 14-month old trying to buckle her in. The rotation feature is not used when you make the transition to a forward-facing car seat; the logic, I think is that by this point, your toddler is old enough (albeit maybe unwilling?) to climb in and out. It’s a favorite among our rotational car seat picks.

Forbes takes great delight in testing and comparing baby and children’s equipment, adding strollers and car seats, but also high chairs and baby strollers. We care deeply about finding the safest and most useful products for families through testing and research.

The co-authors of this story are also parents, as well as professional journalists and product testers. For this specific story, they looked at the protective rules and recommendations of organizations such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA, which certifies car seats), and the U. S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (NHTSA) and consulted competitor studies and resources such as Consumer Reports. We’ve also tried sets like Britax Willow Brook, Nuna Pipa Urbn, Chicco KeyFit 30 and Uppababy Mesa and first-hand recommendations from other parents.

We sought the recommendation of Holly Choi of Safe Beginnings First Aid, who is also a Child Passenger Safety Technical Instructor and Board Member of the Canadian Child Safety Association (CPSAC) and a member of the International Association for Child Safety (IAFCS). ), and who has installed many car seats over the years.

This story was not recently updated in January 2024.

After gathering feedback from parents and experts, reading reviews, and considering our own reports with many of those car seats, we put together an initial list of car seats and stroller systems. We then evaluate potential infant car seat options based on the other criteria we consider most important: ease of use, installation, comfort, types of protective elements, maximum height and weight, seat weight, versatility and flexibility of use with a stroller

The best car seats for infants have design elements that make them more protective in the event of a collision. One of the newest are shipping legs, Choi says, shock-absorbing parts that sit under the car seat or its base and extend all the way to the end. to the floor of the vehicle. ” Load legs reduce movement during collisions and therefore have an effect on the forces applied to the child’s body during a collision,” he explains. Adjustable headrests and rebound bars on the base or car seat (or both) are also helpful.

You’ll also want to look for features that make it easier to install and secure your child in the seat, since the car seat works best when used correctly. First, how the base or seat attaches to your car. The formula that attaches to the hooks between your car cushions ensures one of the simplest and strongest connections. (Warning, new parents: You may have never seen them before, but they’re there. ) When traveling without the base, a European trail belt makes it very easy and safe to buckle into the car seat. Stability is only one of the functions; Spot installation is also important. Many car seats come with self-check features, such as bubble or colored signals, to let you know you’ve installed the seat safely, which is very helpful for tired, fast-moving parents.

Finally, a foolproof harness without the need to rethread it helps you protect the little one properly. These “can simply be adjusted using a sliding mechanism rather than having to unbuckle the harness and pass it through the more sensitive or rear slots of the car seat,” as your child grows, Choi says. “I find that many car suppliers are hesitant to make the necessary changes to make the car seat compatible with the child properly, as it can be tedious or time-consuming. A convenient feature like a no-rescrew harness can make a big difference in protecting a child. It’s also a wonderful feature for grandparents or other car providers who may use the same car seat to transport multiple children of other ages or sizes.

The easier the harness is to adjust, the more likely it is to be compatible with your baby and provide maximum protection.

In 2022, NHTSA established the first side-impact testing rule, which provides requirements for seats designed for children less than 40 pounds or less than 43.3 inches tall. These car seats must meet the new requirements if they’re manufactured on or after June 30, 2025, although companies can voluntarily comply with the requirements before then.

If parents purchase a car seat before June 30, 2025, and want to know if the seat meets the new effect requirements, experts recommend contacting the manufacturer to check if the car seat is certified.

The lightest car seats weigh just under 7 pounds, which is less than most newborns. Heavier ones can weigh around 20 pounds, the equivalent of 3 toddlers alone, before holding your toddler. That’s so straightforward that it lacks any useful safety features or amenities, but it’s also not unnecessarily bulky. If weight doesn’t matter much to your family, you can save money; The lightest car seat is also the most expensive.

Now let’s talk about dimensions. Most car seats are about 17 inches wide, a few inches or so. Those few inches can go a long way if you have a smaller car or multiple kids, or if you need maximum flexibility for carpooling and travel situations. Please refer to the car seat specifications to see its precise measurements before purchasing. In addition to the width, it is necessary to check the intensity of the seat. Some cars require infant seats to be installed behind the passenger seat, and the intensity of the car seat will determine how far the passenger seat should slide forward. If you’re tall, a deep car seat probably won’t leave you much legroom.

Most parents likely agree that easy installation is worth paying a bit extra. Indicators that tell you you’ve installed the seat, so that it’s level and tightly secured—whether bubbles or color coding—give you peace of mind. Baby gear is complicated enough; simple parts that snap together and apart easily and neatly help.

One trend highlighted by Choi is swivel car seats, also known as swivel car seats. These “allow you to attach the child to the car seat while looking sideways at the vehicle’s door frame and then snap it into place,” she explains. Best for car drivers who may have mobility issues or just need to get in and out of the back seat less.

Like anything else baby sits in, car seats are subject to spit-ups, diaper messes and spills. It’s a matter of when, not if. A cover and padding that is machine washable and holds up well is essential. Materials like merino wool blends are more durable than synthetic blends.

Is the car seat you’re considering FAA certified for air use?Can it be seamlessly installed in a car without its dock, so you can take that Uber or taxi to your destination worry-free?

In addition to an easy-to-adjust harness, which makes it less difficult to buckle your baby in the way, think about the fabrics that make up the seat. The high-quality foam cushions it more comfortably and can also support it. Safer. The mesh back or ventilation holes can help keep you cool. More expensive models tend to offer more amenities, but they don’t make the unit safer.

It can be helpful for a car seat to be compatible with a variety of stroller structures. Depending on your lifestyle and where you live, you may want other strollers for everyday and traveling; You may want to keep one in the car and one for the house. The most flexible infant car seats are compatible with multiple stroller frames without an adapter. (Yes, that’s one less coin you want to carry with you. )There’s no denying the use of adapters, once you’ve determined which one you want. You may want to invest in a more expensive car seat and buy a less expensive stroller, for example; An adapter allows you to do this easily.

An infant car seat is the safest way to travel with a newborn because it is specially designed for toddlers who weigh only four pounds. Many parents wonder if they deserve to buy an all-in-one convertible car seat for their newborn. It will save you money, but it’s not the most productive option. For example, convertible car seats don’t fit in strollers, and some experts prefer traditional compatibility with infant seats.

“Unique child seats are designed to be compatible with young infants,” as Choi noted earlier in this story. They have the right recline modes for the right position, are lighter, and therefore an easier way to transport your baby out of the car. (You may not be able to carry a convertible car seat or fit them into the frame of a stroller) and they are usually designed specifically for the first year of life. “Unique infant seats come with additional crash-tested inserts to help achieve that compatibility for new babies,” Choi adds.

Comfort is another smart reason why you may need to buy a specific infant car seat instead of a convertible car seat. While your baby may stay longer in these, they tend to be much heavier and less compatible systems.

However, choosing the right car seat also depends on your family’s personal tastes and lifestyle. For example, city dwellers who rarely drive may need a car seat just for travel, or one that is easy to fit into a group of cars. When taking your baby into a day car, you may need something that is very light for the car on your arm or that fits smoothly into a stroller. In general, infant seats will be more portable and lighter than convertible car seats, but they won’t. They only last the first year of your baby’s life.

Your baby can use an infant car seat until she exceeds either its height or weight limit—whichever comes first. Typically this happens between 10 and 13 months, says Choi, but every child is unique. It’s likely that your child will outgrow the height limit before the weight limit.

“While it is now entirely possible for a child to use only one seat for their entire car seat journey, most families can expect to use three to four seats while their child is in a car seat or in a car seat. high,” says Choi.

The NHTSA recommends keeping your child in a rear-facing car seat for as long as imaginable because it’s the safest position to ride.

NHTSA is guilty of ensuring car seats meet federal guidelines. Remember accident control dummies? They are “members” of the NHTSA.

To ensure your car seat meets federal safety guidelines, look for the NHTSA safety label. It will clearly state: “This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards.”

Air travel-qualified car seats have a circular icon with an airplane that says “FAA Approved. “

Of course, some brands also have their products. Consumer organisations and the media are also doing so.

A variety of car seats with other price points meet NHTSA safety standards. To see the full diversity for your child’s age, weight, and height, visit nhtsa. gov.

The NHTSA specifies placing a rear-facing infant car seat in the back seat, preferably in the middle position. To find the safest position in your car, check your owner’s manual. It will give you step-by-step instructions for installing the quick car seat on your model.

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