How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn
The most suitable car seat for newborns is one that meets federal safety standards, is compatible with your vehicle, comes with useful extras (like changing into a stroller) and fits within your budget. Also, make sure that the car seat can be easily inserted into and out of any vehicle, particularly if you are frequently switching between taxis, rental cars or your grandparents' vehicles.
Safety
Car seats are made to keep your baby safe, and a good one should have some extra features that go beyond the federal safety standards. They include padded inserts for the head and shoulders as well as air-repellent fabric to keep them cool while driving in hot weather.
The ease of installation and use of the seat is another important safety consideration. Ideally, you should be in a position to snap it in place with minimum effort and with clear indicators that it's secure, level, and positioned properly.
Look for features that allow you to accomplish this, such as built-in lock offs and belt guides that can help to align the car seat with the seatbelt. Avoid purchasing used car seats that might not have been tested for crash or been involved in an accident. They could not protect your child. If you have to purchase a used one, make sure it's on the expiration date and isn't being sold by an individual who does not have evidence of ownership.
Another thing to bear in mind is to only leave your infant in the car seat for up to two hours per day unless they are in a lie-flat position. This is to avoid the spine from becoming strained and ensure that they have the chance to breathe regularly.
The choice of a car seat for infants is a significant investment, so you'll want to make sure that it has a lengthy lifespan. Pick a seat that can expand with your child's development and last from toddlerhood to teens. Our parents were pleased with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for children as young as birth and can be used until age 7.
The Nuna pipa air rx is an alternative that can be used for a long time. rear facing infant car seat can rotate 360 degrees, making it possible to change it from rear-facing into front-facing as your child grows. It's also among the lightest car seats that rotate on the market, and weighs less than 9 pounds without its base. It's a great choice for parents who move their child frequently between cars or are planning to take it on taxi rides, holiday fly-drives and trips with grandparents.
Comfort
It is crucial that your baby is comfortable in their car seat both in it and after you install it. Choose padded straps that are comfortable to wear around their shoulders. Also, look for soft fabric that is comfortable on their stomachs. This is crucial in the event that you plan to use the seat for a long period of time.
The most effective infant car seats are also easy to use. Some come with premium LATCH connectors with a SuperCinch force multiplier tightener. Others come with spring-loaded leveling legs and belt paths that make installing without a base simpler than ever. Other features allow you to adjust the height of the harness and headrest, which is important as your child grows.
Cosatto All in All Rotate is a prime example. Our testers from our parent company gave it a score of 10 out of 10. It has a clear and simple interface, no-rethread, easy-to-reset harness, a 360-degree rotation and recline lock indicators. This means that you can change between forward and rear-facing positions as your child grows without having to remove the seat and replace it.
Another option is the Nuna Pipa Air rx which our parent testers loved for its comfort, ease of use and flexibility. Its padded shoulder straps and headrest are shaped to support your baby's head and comes with a soft infant pillow to ensure that they are comfortable. It can be used in a rear-facing position until your child reaches the maximum weight or height limit. Then, it converts into an infant stroller.
A high-quality car seat is sturdy and some come with a warranty. Find an item that is made up of padding and sturdy materials to protect your child from accidents. It should also have an aluminum frame to withstand the impact energy, and an "crumple area" to prevent crash damage. It should also be easy to clean as spills are commonplace when you have a baby. To simplify cleaning, look for a car-seat with removable covers and an easy-to-clean pad.
Easy of Use
It's important that a car seat be easy to install and use, especially if it will be used in multiple vehicles at times. Look for features such as an easy-release buckle, a gauge that indicates the status of the latch system (e.g. green for locked) and a clear, easy-to-read guide to make it as simple as is possible.
The Best of The Bump winner includes a variety of useful features, which our parent testers were pleased with, including a padded headrest and harness, plush fabric and a cupholder. It features a reclining function that allows your child to sit in a comfortable position for longer trips. It can be paired with a compatible buggy for a complete travel system. This is perfect when you plan to travel for a long duration.
Our panelists reported that this car seat was easy to put in and adjust. It has recline locks as well as an upgraded connector that comes with a SuperCinch tightener. This made it easy to secure your child. It's also designed to be easily shifted from side-to-side in the vehicle without the need for tools.
One of our top features is the recline feature that makes it easier to get your infant in and out of the car. This is especially helpful when you are suffering from back pain or drive a smaller car. It also comes with the ability to reversibly hold your cup and a handy storage pocket for snacks and toys.
The seat weighs less than nine pounds and can be installed with or without its base. It can also be rotated around 180 degrees. This is a great feature for those who are tight in space or have back pain. This new feature impressed our panelists, and was selected to be part of the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.
It's a great choice for anyone looking to convert their car seat into a stroller for affordable cost. Its sleek design and high-end materials will stand up to the test time. Just don't forget to wash your cover frequently, as squashed yogurt spills, biscuits, and the occasional sick toddler accident will be sure to leave their footprints!
Design
Car seat designs are as diverse as the vehicles they're placed in. Some parents opt to not use an baby car seats in favor of a convertible model. However, the majority of new mothers prefer a product that can grow with their child into the toddler years. All-in-one car seats are the most flexible that allow you to change between forward-facing and rear-facing. It typically has a higher weight and height restriction and can also be used as a booster once your child is old enough.
A great car seat for your infant newborn car seat is light, making it easy to lift it from the base and then carry your baby in it. The Maxi-Cosi Coral is available in only a few colors, but it has a number of safety features, and is light (8.4 pounds including canopy and seat inserts). Other models that stand out are the Nuna PIPA URbN and the Nuna PIPA URbN, which was a winner of Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for Best Car Seat Group 0/0+ due to its premium features like the Dream drape and a full-coverage UPF 50+ canopy.
The design of the base and seat should also be considered. For instance, some car seats use a special base that is secured to the buckles of the seat belts and others use steel-reinforced LATCH connectors which flip out from the sides of the base and turn green when connected correctly. Parents appreciated these connectors especially when their vehicle had only front-facing seatbelts, and no ISOFIX anchor points.
Some infant car seats can be used with a regular seatbelt without the base, which is a bonus for parents who regularly travel by taxi or travel with their baby. The Nuna TODL NEXT was a popular choice among our testers who are parents. It can be used either with or without the base, and features a smooth swivel, which allows you to easily take your baby in and out.
The design of a car seat is important. It should be able to fit in your car. (See our guide on car seat compatibility). If you're in search of a new infant car seat that will grow along with your child's development into a booster make sure you choose a seat that has a reclining backrest and side impact protection. Make sure that the baby car seat you pick is iSize compatible and also has the proper car seat attachment points, as required by UK law.