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 making it strollers) and fits within your budget. It's also important to ensure that the baby car seat clicks into and out of your car without difficulty, particularly if you often switch between taxis or trips in rental cars or grandparents vehicles.

Safety

A good car seats by age seat will have extra features that are above the federal safety standards. These include padded inserts on the head and shoulders as well as air-repellent fabric to keep them cool while driving in hot temperatures.

Easy installation and use of the seat is an important safety consideration. Idealy, the seat should be easy to install and use, and with clear indicators of its level, position, and security.

There are many features that can help you with this like belt guides and built-in lockoffs that will help you align the car seat to your car's seatbelt. Also, you should avoid buying used car seats, which might not be tested for safety or have been involved in an accident, and could not protect your child. If you are forced to purchase an old car seat, ensure that it has an expiration date and that the seller is not a private person who does not have proof of ownership.

One other thing to keep in your mind is to keep your child in the car seat for up to 2 hours per day unless they're in a lying-flat position. This is to avoid strain on their developing spine and ensure that they are able to breathe regularly.

You'll want a seat to last a long time, since it's an important investment. Pick a seat that can expand with your child's age and last from toddlerhood to teens. Our parents were satisfied with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for children from birth, and can be used up to age 7.

Nuna pipa air rx is a second alternative that can be used for a long time. It can rotate 360 degrees that means you can change it from front-facing to rear-facing as your child grows. It is also one of lightest rotating car seat on the market, weighing less than nine pounds. It's a great option for parents who transfer their infant car seat newborn frequently between vehicles or plan to take it on taxi rides, holiday fly-drives and trips with grandparents.

Comfort

It is essential that your child is at ease in their car seat both while they are in it and when you install it. Look for padded straps that fit snugly on their shoulders. Also, look for soft fabric that is soft under their stomach, particularly if they will be in the seat for long rides.

The most effective infant car seats are easy to use. Some come with premium LATCH connectors with a SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener, spring-loaded leveling feet and belt paths that make installing without a base more simple than ever. Other features will help you adjust the height of the harness and headrest, which is important as your child grows.

One example is the Cosatto All in All Rotate, which our parent testers scored 10/10 for ease of use. It features a clear, simple interface, no-rethread, easy-to-change harness, 360-degree rotation, as well as recline lock indicators. This means that you can change between forward and rear-facing positions as your baby grows without needing to take the seat off and replace it.

Nuna Pipa Aire Rx is a different example. Our testers who were parents loved it for its ease of use, simplicity and versatility. Its padded headrest and shoulder straps are designed to support the head of your newborn and comes with pillows that are soft for your comfort. It can be used as a rear-facing car seat until your baby reaches the maximum weight or height limits and can also be converted into a stroller without the need for an additional adapter.

A high-quality car seat is durable and some have a warranty. Look for a seat that has plenty of padding and durable materials to protect your child from any injuries. It should also come with steel frames to absorb impact energy and an "crumple area" to stop damage from crashes. It should also be easy to clean, since messiness is inevitable when you have a baby. To make cleaning easier, look for a car seat that has removable covers and an easy-to-clean pad.

User-Friendliness

It's important that a car seat is easy to install and use, especially in the event that it will be used in a variety of vehicles at times. To make it as easy as possible, look for features such as the quick-release belt and an indicator that shows the state of the latch (e.g. green for locked) and a manual that is easy to read.

The best infant carrier car seat of The Bump winner has many practical extras that our testers for parents were pleased with, including a padded headrest and harness, plush fabric, and the cup holder. It also has a reclining feature that lets your child sit in an ergonomic position on longer journeys. It can be used in conjunction with a buggy that is compatible to create a complete travel system. This is ideal if you are planning to travel for a long period of time.

The seat is suitable for babies from birth. Our panelists found this car seat easy to install and adjust. It comes with an indicator for recline and an exclusive LATCH connector with a SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener that made the process of securing your child simple. It can also be moved from side to side of the vehicle easily without tools.

The recline feature helps you to get your baby in and out of the vehicle. This is particularly helpful for those with back problems or drive a smaller car. It also features an adjustable drink holder that can be reversible, as well as a convenient storage compartment for toys and snacks.

The seat is light and can be used with or without the base. It can also rotate 180 degrees, which could be a lifesaver when you have a limited space or struggle with back pain. Our panelists were impressed by this feature, which earned a spot in our 2021 Mother&Baby awards.

This is a great option for those looking to transform their car seats into strollers at a reasonable price. Its streamlined design and high-quality fabric will endure the test of time as well. Just don't forget to wash your cover frequently, as squashed biscuits, yoghurt spills and the odd sick toddler accident will be sure to leave a footprints!

Design

The styles of car seats are as varied as the cars they're placed in. While some parents choose to leave infant car seats out and opt for convertible models, most new moms want something that can develop with their baby as they reach toddlerhood. The most versatile option is an all-in-one baby car seat, which allows you to switch between forward-facing and rear-facing. It usually has a higher weight and height limit, and it is often used as a booster seat once your child is old enough to need one.

The ideal infant car seat for babies is light and easy to lift off the base with your child inside. Our testers with parents loved the Maxi-Cosi Coral, which is only available in a few colors, but comes with plenty of safety features and is incredibly light (at 8.4 pounds with seat inserts and canopy). Nuna PIPA URbN is another model that stands out, since it was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Car Seat Group category for 0/0+ due to features that are high-end, such as the Dream drape and a fully-covered canopy with UPF 50+.

The design of the base and seat should be taken into consideration. For example, some car seats use a special base that is secured to the vehicle's seat belt buckles and others use steel-reinforced LATCH connectors which flip out from the sides of the base and turn green when connected correctly. These were useful for parents, particularly when the vehicle only had front-facing seatbelts.

Some infant car seats work with regular seatbelts without the base. This is a great feature for parents who travel frequently or take taxis with their babies. The Nuna TODL NEXT was a favorite among our parent testers. It can be used either with or without the base, and features an easy swivel that allows you to easily get your baby in and out.

Additionally, the design of car seats is vital. It must fit into your car. (See our guide on car seat compatibility). If you're in search of an infant car seat that can expand with your child's growth to become a booster seat, choose a model that has a reclined backrest and side impact protection. It's also important to confirm that the infant car seat is iSize compliant and uses the correct car seat attachment points as per UK law.