How To Tell If You're Are Ready To Best Car Seats For Infants
Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies While convertible car seats are ideal for children who are growing, an infant seat is best for babies and newborns. They're also lighter and easier to clip into a stroller than their larger counterparts. CPST instructor Kecia Healy liked the Chicco KeyFit's recline foot that is spring-loaded and bubble indicator on the base, and its ease of use (the more user-friendly a car seat can be, the more likely parents are to put it in the correct position). This model can also fit three across in most midsize vehicles. 1. Clek Liing infant car seat The Canadian manufacturer Clek is renowned for its best-rated convertible car seats and the infant Liing is one of their best infant seats. The Liing seat is designed to offer top-of-the-line safety features like a metal load leg that is simple to install, user-friendly installation, and 7 different recline positions to adjust to the slope of your car seat. A bubble indicator helps you determine if the seat is at the correct angle before your child rides in it. The base of the Liing is easily installed by using LATCH connectors made of rigid material that fit into the lower anchors on your vehicle, making it easier to anchor the seat. This makes the Liing a great option for families that plan to switch vehicles often or for those who want a quick, reliable way to install their baby's car seat. You can also use the belt-tensioning system included to secure your child. One of the things that distinguishes the Liing apart from other infant car seats is its 2 piece Newborn Support System. The system comes with an insert that slides over the crotch strap as well as an attached headrest to the harnesses to prevent infants from slumbering forward and pushing their heads backwards while in the seat. This is an important feature for babies and preemies. It's also one of the few rear-facing infant car seats that offer this degree of support. Another excellent feature of the Liing is its crash-testing frame, which can reduce the force of a crash by up to 40 percent compared to other infant seats. The shell of the seat is bolstered with EPP foam that protects your child's head and body from an accident. The base of the seat is designed with a load leg made of metal that absorbs energy and helps reduce crashes, as well. 2. Chicco KeyFit This is a consistent top-rated infant car seat. It's quick to install, easy to use and will grow with your child. It also works well with strollers as an overall travel system. The KeyFit is a great option for parents who want a safe, versatile and user-friendly seat. It scores a top score in crash tests, is light and comfortable to carry and offers a wide range of height/weight limits. car seat inserts for newborns was also made with babies' comfort in mind. The click-in point is protected by soft materials to protect your baby from being burned by metal. The insert for newborns has a head cover that protects their tiny heads. The seat pad, which your baby is sitting on, encases them in foam cushions. Installing it correctly is also very easy. This is crucial since incorrectly installed infant seats increase the chance of injury for your child. The KeyFit's top connectors for LATCH with a SuperCinch tightener ensure the safety of your child's seat while requiring only minimal effort. Additionally, the base comes with a ReclineSure leveling foot as well as two RideRight bubble level indicators that help ensure the correct angle of the vehicle and speedy installation. For alternative installation, clear belt routing, lock-offs and the seatbelt of the car allow for easy positioning and tighten. The harness height adjustment rethread feature is a feature prevalent on many Chicco seats, including the original Keyfit model. This means that you must remove the harness and manually re-thread straps from one slot level to another which is longer than adjustments that aren't rethread. This is a minor sacrifice for the ease of use of this seat. 3. Joie i-Snug 2 The lightweight Joie i-Snug 2 is an infant car seat that meets the highest safety standards. It features a no-rethread belt and is compatible with Joie strollers that accept Maxi Cosi style adapters. The installation guide is clearly marked and bubble levels are built-in to help align the seat. The car seat is comfortable, with plenty of padding. It also comes with a handy canopy that shields your baby from the sun. The i-Snug has an ISOFIX vehicle base that permits secure attachment to the vehicle. It can also be used in conjunction with an appropriate stroller to create an entire travel system. This rear-facing infant seat offers maximum cervical and head protection for newborns. The exclusive Tri-Protect headrest has an additional layer of Intelli-Fit memory foam to shield your baby from side-impact collisions. As with any infant car seat, you'll need to replace it when your child outgrows the weight and height limits, or when they reach their first birthday. In the meantime you can upgrade to a convertible, or an all-in-one car seats, which allows children to sit rear-facing for longer and is safer for them. A convertible car seat is larger and more spacious than an infant seat and has a higher weight and height limit when facing backwards. To prevent your child from getting out of the seat too quickly, it's recommended to change to a car seat that can be converted as quickly as you are able to. In some instances, parents can even transition their baby to an all-in-one car seat, without ever having to purchase a new infant car seat. This is why it is crucial to select the best convertible car seat for your family. Our extensive guide will give you all the details you require to make a wise choice. 4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX The Nuna Pipa Aire RX is one of the most highly-rated infant car seats due to its safety, light design, and flexibility. It can be fitted with rigid lower anchors in the seats that are outboard of a majority of vehicles, or with the seat belt of the vehicle using Euro Routing (which uses the entire length to anchor the seat). It also comes with an organic baby insert from GOTS which is a great choice for parents who are environmentally conscious and prefer organic products for their children. The Pipa Aire RX weighs only 6 lbs. without the canopy or inserts. It's one of the lightest infant car seats on the market. Aeroflex foam, which is lightweight and robust, but also extremely light helps reduce the force that is transferred to your child during a crash. Other safety features include a 5-second steel-reinforced True base lock installation side impact protection, and a multi-position steel stability leg with a crumple zone that limits forward rotation to provide greater rear-facing security. Other highlights include an ergonomic aluminum carry handle that's comfortable and light with leatherette accents to ensure comfort and a great grip. A magnetic buckle holder keeps straps out of the way when you buckle your child and color-coded indicator for installation ensures the correct connection. The low-profile base enables super-fast loading, and the open belt path with locks that secure lap and shoulder belts. Cleaning up after a messy child shouldn't be. The inserts and fabrics of the Pipa Aire RX are machine washable so you can keep your car seat looking fresh as new after each use. 5. Nuna Pipa Urbn While Nuna's PIPA rx and PIPA aire RX car seats are both excellent options, the newly launched Pipa Urbn takes it all to a whole new level. The ultralight infant car seat is extremely easy to carry and weighs less than 7 pounds when the canopy and insert. It also has a luxe, user-friendly design that includes convenient features like magnetic buckle holders to keep straps out of the way while you buckle baby in and a green/red indicator to ensure the installation is secure (we would like to see all car seats had this feature! ). Contrary to the Pipa RX and the other base-compatible PIPA models that require the use of a car base, this one can be installed without a base thanks to its innovative pipaFIX rigid latch system. This makes it the ideal option for parents who regularly use taxis, rideshare services or travel. Like other Nuna products, the Pipa Urbn is designed with environmentally-friendly materials that are free of added fire retardant chemicals, and is GREENGUARD Gold certified. These green-friendly materials include a Merino wool and Tencel branded lyocell blend headrest and a machine washable, water-resistant body cover and cover. The main issue with the Pipa Urbn is that it only has a rear-facing weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds, so you might have to change to a convertible car seat sooner than other brands. It is still a top choice for most babies. The car seat is travel system-ready and pairs seamlessly with all Nuna strollers. You just need to click it on or connect via the ring adapter.