See What Infant Car Seats Best Tricks The Celebs Are Utilizing

How to Choose Infant Car Seats Best

Parents must have car seats. But what makes one better than the other?

A special infant seat fits small babies best, and is lighter to facilitate transportation outside of the vehicle. Consider features that are convenient, like premium connectors for lower anchors, non-rethreading harness pads, and single button handles. Also, think about safety features like load legs and body cushions for the head and neck.

Safety

As any parent will tell you, selecting the most appropriate car seat for your child is one of the most crucial decisions you could make. The best seat will ensure that they're placed properly in the car and ensure they're secured in the event of an accident.

Not all car seats are created equal. While every car seat sold in the US is required to adhere to strict safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, not all seats have the same features. Some seats have features designed to protect infants. For instance load legs can prevent movement in crashes by absorbing impact forces onto the base and car seat. Other features include bubble levels that make installation easy and adjustable headrests for your growing baby.

Dedicated infant car seat newborn seats are also designed to fit tiny babies best, and typically include crash-tested seats to accomplish this, says Choi. Additionally, they're generally lighter than convertible car seats and can be easily transferred to a stroller making them ideal for ride shares and daycare drop-offs and pick-ups. You can buy used ones at less than the cost as they're only used for your baby car seat's first 12 months.

Another thing to consider is that while an excellent NHTSA rating and great crash test results are essential but the manner you use your car seat is more crucial to the safety of your child. A study conducted by Portland's top children's hospital revealed that 95% parents made at least one error when installing or altering their car seat inserts for newborns seat.

It's important to familiarize yourself prior to when your baby arrives with the appropriate guidelines for car seats. We recommend looking for a car seat with clear and concise instructions, is lightweight enough to be able to carry your baby in it, and that has easy-to-use adjustments.

Examine if the infant car seat that you're thinking about purchasing meets the requirements of the vehicle's size. If you're concerned about your own abilities to install and operate the car seat correctly take it to a certified child passenger safety technician (CPST) for an interactive session prior to the time your baby's birth.

Convenience

Certain infant car seats come with extra features that make them more user-friendly. Certain infant car seats have features that make them simpler to use. For instance, they could have a base on which the seat can be pushed into and out, or they could include an easy-to-use adjusting mechanism. These features can make it more convenient to attach and remove the car seat, especially if you have another child to attend to.

The weight and height limits of an infant car seat are other important aspects to take into consideration. If your baby is growing quickly, it might be worth purchasing an infant car seat with higher limits to ensure you can use it for as long as you want.

Aside from the safety features, an infant car seat should be comfortable for your baby. Look for cushioned straps that don't touch or squeeze their shoulders and plush fabric that feels cozy beneath them for extended durations. Choose a seat that has an upright position. This allows your child to ride in an upright position, which helps keep their airways wide open and oxygen saturation levels high.

There are a number of accessories for infant car seats, but Dr. Segura cautions against buying items that are not included in the seat because it is not tested for crash and could be unsafe. Avoid buying a used infant car seats because they may have been involved in an accident and may be damaged or worn.

While the best infant car seats cost between $100 and $600 There are a few features that all of the top options have in common. They're all light, easy to install and remove, and are comfortable for the infant. Some have features that make them more flexible, like the ability to swivel and clip into strollers without the need for adapters. For more information about the various choices available, read our comparison of best infant car seats.

Comfort

Top infant car seats are equipped with comfort features that allow you to easily take your child into and out of the seat. This includes a one-handed latch that eliminates the need to hold both sides of the strap simultaneously, as well as cushioned padding that makes it less painful to lift the seat. You'll also want to consider the weight of the seat. Because you'll be using it with no base, a lighter one is preferred. This Baby Trend Secure Lift is a good example. It weighs less that 13 pounds.

The weight and height limits of infant car seats is also important. If you intend to keep the car seat, choose a model that will expand with your child and accommodate them into the toddlerhood. You can use it longer and save money by not purchasing a second seat.

You should also consider the dimensions of the seat and whether it's narrower or wider than other models. The former can be beneficial for vehicles with smaller dimensions, while the latter could be beneficial for families with two children in back-to-back car seats or have to drive with three children in the back seat at some point. If you intend to use your car seat with strollers, choose one that is able to be removed from car seats and is compatible with a wide range of strollers. Car seat brands like Graco and Nuna offer options that meet this need.

To make it easier to use, take a look at the ratings a car seat receives for installation. Clearly labeled guides and indicators that indicate the seat is level and securely fastened - like bubble levels or color codes--can aid in reducing stress on new parents. Some seats also have unique features like load legs, which are shock-absorbing parts found under the seat or on the base that extend out to the floor of the vehicle and absorb some of the impact force of a crash.

There are additional accessories that claim to enhance the convenience and comfort of your car seat. Be aware that anything that's not sold with the seat hasn't passed safety testing. "Anything you purchase that's not from the manufacturer, including the harness or blanket you shouldn't put in the car seat," Segura says.

Style

It can be a challenge for parents with young children to determine the best infant car seats. It is important to determine what your budget is and what features you want. There are plenty of different options in terms of special features, stroller compatibility, and fabrics but a lot depends on what's most comfortable for babies.

For example it's worth noting that infant car seat swivel seats designed specifically for babies fit smaller babies better than convertible car seats and are suitable for the first year of their lives (though some may include crash-tested extension kits to help them last longer). They usually have a greater number of recline modes to allow for the proper positioning of small children. They are also lighter and more convenient to carry. They are more likely to be compatible when used in conjunction with the travel system. This can be useful for new parents wanting to save money and time by buying seats that serve two purposes.

Car seat weight and width are important aspects to take into consideration for families with a large number of children. Some infant car seats, for example, are narrower to fit better in the back of your car or in the vicinity of other seats. Some are heavy enough to really test your biceps by lifting and move from car to stroller.

Many parents prefer baby car seats that can be converted from base to carrier, and then convert into a stroller without needing any extra attachments. This can help you save a lot of time, particularly during busy times when you have to run the errands.

Other features that are useful include a harness that doesn't need to be rethread, magnetic buckle holders and a streamlined installation process. Look for a head and body support insert to prevent infants from slumping into the seat or carrier when they fall asleep.

Most car seats use flexible straps to secure the lower anchor connectors, however some have latches that are rigid and flip out of the base and turn green once installed. This type of installation is more secure and reduces the amount that a seat can move in the event of a crash.