How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn
The best car seat newborn is one that meets federal safety standards, is compatible with your vehicle, has convenient extras (like changing into strollers) and works with your budget. It’s also important to ensure that the car seat for your baby clicks into and out of your car with ease, particularly if you often change between trips to the taxi or in hire cars and grandparents vehicles.
Safety
A good car seat will come with additional features that go beyond the federal safety standards. These include padded cushions on the head and shoulders and air-repellent fabrics to keep them cool while driving in hot weather.
Another crucial safety aspect is the ease to set up and use the seat. Idealy, the seat should be simple to install and use, as well as clear indicators of its level and position as well as security.
There are many features that will make this easier like belt guides and built-in locks that will help you align the car seat to the seat belt of your vehicle. Avoid purchasing used car seats that may not have been tested for crash or have been involved in an accident. They might not be safe for your child. If you have to purchase a used one be sure that it’s not expired and isn’t being sold by an individual seller who doesn’t have evidence of ownership.
It’s also important to remember that you should only allow your child in the car seat up to two hours a day, unless it’s in an upright position. This will reduce strain on the spine of your child and ensure that they have a chance to breath regularly.
Choosing an infant car seat is a significant investment therefore you’ll need to make sure that it has a long life span. Pick a seat that can develop with your child’s age and last through toddlerhood to teens. Our testers for parents were pleased with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for children from birth, and can be used up to age 7.
The Nuna pipa air rx is a different option that can be used for a lengthy time. It is 360-degree in rotation that means you can change it from front-facing to rear-facing as your child grows. It’s also among the most lightweight car seats available with a weight of less than nine pounds. It’s a great option for parents who need to move their infant frequently between vehicles or are planning to take it on taxi rides, holiday fly-drives and trips with grandparents.
Comfort
A quality infant car seat is comfortable for your child, both when they are in the seat as well as when you are installing it. Choose padded straps that fit comfortably around their shoulders, and for soft fabric that is comfortable on their stomachs. This is particularly important when you intend to use the seat for a long time.
The most effective infant car seats are also simple to use. Some come with premium LATCH connectors that feature a SuperCinch force multiplier tightener. Others have spring-loaded leveling legs and belt paths to make installation without a base much easier than ever. Other features let you adjust the height of the harness and headrest, which is important as your child grows.
Cosatto All in All Rotate is an example. Our parent testers scored it a 10 out of 10. It features a simple, clear interface and an easy-to-adjust, no-rethread harness and a recline lock indicator and 360-degree rotation. This means you can switch from rear-facing to forward-facing as your child grows without needing to take the seat off and replace it.
Nuna Pipa Aire Rx is another example. Our parents who tested it were impressed by its comfort simple and adaptability. Its padded shoulder straps as well as headrest are shaped to support your newborn’s head and comes with an infant pillow that is soft to keep them comfy. It can be used as a rear-facing car seat up until your baby reaches the maximum weight or height limits and then it can be converted into a stroller without the need for an additional adapter.
A good car seat is durable and some have a warranty. Look for an item that is made up of padding and durable materials to shield your child from any injuries. It should also have an aluminum frame to withstand the impact energy as well as a “crumple area” to avoid damage from a crash. It should also be easy to clean, since messiness is inevitable with a baby. To simplify cleaning, look for a car-seat with removable covers and a machine washable pad.
User-Friendliness
A car seat must be simple to install and use, especially if you’re likely to use it in an alternate vehicle from time to time. Look for features like an easy-release buckle, an indicator that displays the status of the latch system (e.g., green for locked) and a clear, easy-to-read guide to make it as stress-free as possible.
The Best of The Bump winner includes a variety of useful features that our testers for parents appreciated, including a padded headrest and harness, plush fabric and a cupholder. It also comes with a reclining feature that allows your child to sit in a more ergonomic position for longer journeys. It can be combined with a buggy that is compatible to create a complete travel system. This is perfect when you plan to travel for a long duration.
Our panelists noted that this car seat was easy to set up and adjust. It comes with an indicator for recline and a premium LATCH connector with a SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener that made securing your child quick and simple. It can also be moved from side to side of the vehicle without the need for tools.
One of our most loved features is the recline feature that makes it easier to take your baby in and out of the car. This is particularly helpful for those who have back pain or have a small car. It also features the ability to change the drink holder as well as a handy storage compartment for toys and snacks.
The seat is lightweight and can be used with or without the base. It can also be rotated 180 degrees. This is a great option if you’re limited in space or suffer from back pain. Our panelists were thrilled by this new feature which earned a spot in our 2021 Mother&Baby awards.
It’s a great choice for those who want to transform their car seat into a stroller at an affordable cost. Its streamlined design and high-quality fabric will endure the test of time also. Make sure to clean the cover often as spills of yoghurt or biscuits that are crushed, and even sickening toddler accidents can leave a footprints.
Design
The designs of car seats are as varied as the cars they’re placed in. Some parents opt to not use an infant car seats and opt for a convertible model. However, most new mothers prefer a product that can expand with their child through toddlerhood. The most flexible option is an all-in one baby car seat, which allows you to switch between rear-facing and forward-facing. It typically has a greater height and weight limit, and it is often used as a booster seat if your child is ready to be one.
The ideal car seat for a newborn is lightweight which makes it easy to lift from the base and then carry your baby in it. The Maxi-Cosi Coral is available in only a handful of colors however it comes with a wide array of safety features and is lightweight (8.4 pounds, including seat inserts and canopy). Nuna PIPA URbN is another model that stands out as it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Car Seat Group category for 0/0+ due to high-end features like the Dream drape and a fully-covered canopy with UPF 50+.
The base and seat design must also be taken into consideration. For instance, certain car seats use a special base that is secured to the buckles of the seat belts and others use LATCH connectors made of steel that slide out from the sides of the base and turn green when connected correctly. These were convenient for parents, especially if the vehicle only had front-facing seat belts.
Some infant car seats best car seats can also be utilized with a regular seatbelt that is not base-less this is a great benefit for parents who often travel by taxi or travel with their baby. The Nuna TODL NEXT was a top rated infant car seats pick among our testers who are parents. It can be used with or without the base, and it has a smooth swivel that allows you to easily get your baby inside and out.
Other important design considerations are whether the car seat is an open design, and how well it fits into your particular car (see our guide to car seat compatibility). If you’re in search of a car seat that can develop with your baby until a booster, choose one with a reclining headrest and side impact protection. It is also important to ensure that your selected infant car seat in front seat car seat is iSize certified and has the proper car seat attachment points in accordance with UK law.