How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn
The ideal car seat for a new baby is one that meets all safety standards set by the federal government and fits in your car. It should also come with useful extras, like the capability to convert into a stroller and be within your budget. It's also worth ensuring the car seat for your baby clicks into and out of your car easily, particularly if you often change between trips to the taxi or in rental cars or grandparents' vehicles.
Safety
Car seats are designed to keep your baby safe, and a good one should include extra features that go beyond the safety standards set by the federal government. These include padded inserts for the head and shoulders and air-repellent fabrics that help keep them cool in hot vehicles, and side-impact protection.
The ease of installation and use of the seat is an important safety consideration. Ideally, the seat must be simple to install and use, as well as clear indicators of its height and position as well as security.
Look for features that allow you to do that, like built-in locks and belt guides that help you align the car seat with the seat belt. Avoid buying used car seats that may not have been crash-tested or been involved in an accident. They could not protect your child. If you must purchase an old car seat, ensure that it has an expiration and that the seller is not an individual who doesn't have proof of ownership.
It is also important to remember that you should only leave your child in the car seat up to two hours per day, unless it is in a flat position. This is to reduce the spine from becoming strained and ensure that they get a chance to breathe regularly.
Choosing an infant car seat is a significant investment, therefore you'll need to make sure it has a long lifespan. Pick a seat that can develop with your child and last from toddlerhood to teens. One of the ones our parents loved was the Axkid One i-Size that is suitable for children from birth and can be used for up to 7 years old.
Nuna pipa air rx is another alternative that can be used for a long time. It can rotate 360 degrees which means you can switch it from rear-facing into front-facing as the child grows. It's also among the lightest-weight car seats on the market, and weighs less than nine pounds without its base. It's the perfect option for parents who frequently transfer their babies between vehicles or are planning on using it for taxi rides, fly-drive holidays, and trips to grandparent's homes.
Comfort
A well-designed infant car seat is comfortable for your baby both when they are in the seat as well as when you are installing it. Look for padded straps which are comfortable to wear around their shoulders, and look for plush material that feels comfortable beneath their stomachs. infant car seat for travel is particularly important in the event that you plan to use the seat for a long duration.
The best infant car seats are also simple to use. Some come with premium LATCH connectors that feature a SuperCinch force multiplier that tightens the seat. Some come with spring-loaded leveling legs as well as belt paths to make installation without a base easier 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 good example. Our testers from our parent company gave it 10 out of 10. It has an easy-to-use interface and an easy-to-adjust, no-rethread harness and an indicator for recline and 360-degree rotation. It is possible to easily change your child's seat from front-facing to rear-facing as they grow without the need to take off and replace the seat.
Another option is the Nuna Pipa air rx which our parent testers loved for its ease of use, comfort and versatility. Its padded shoulder straps as well as headrest are designed to support the head of your newborn and includes a soft infant cushion to keep them comfy. It can be placed in a rear-facing position until your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit. Then, it transforms to the position of a stroller.
A quality car seat will be durable, and some will even come with a warranty. Choose the seat with plenty of padding and sturdy materials to protect your child from any accidents. It should also have an aluminum frame to withstand impact energy, and a "crumple area" to stop damage from crashes. It should be easy to clean, as accidents are sure to happen with children. To make cleaning easier, search for a car-seat with removable covers and pads that can be washed in the machine.
Easy to Use
It's important that a car seat is easy to install and use, especially if it will be used in a variety of vehicles periodically. To make it as easy as possible look for features like a belt that can be released quickly 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 of The Bump winner has many practical extras that our testers for parents appreciated, including a padded headrest and harness, plush fabric and cup holders. It also has a reclining feature that allows your baby to sit in a more comfortable position for longer travels. It can be used in conjunction with a compatible buggy for a complete travel system. This is a great option for those who plan to travel for a long period of time.
Suitable from birth, our panelists found this car seat to be easy to set up and adjust. It has recline lock indicators and a premium LATCH connector with a SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener, which makes securement of your child quick and easy. It can also be moved from side to side in the vehicle easily without tools.
The reclining feature makes it easier for you to take your baby into and out of the vehicle. This is especially helpful for those with back problems or drive a smaller car. It also has the ability to reversibly hold your cup and a handy storage pocket for snacks and toys.
The seat is light and can be used in conjunction with or without the base. It also rotates 180 degrees, which can be a huge help if you have a limited space or suffer from 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 those who want to transform their car seat into a stroller at affordable cost. Its sleek design and high-end fabric will also stand the test of time. Be sure to clean the cover often because yoghurt spills or biscuits that are crushed, or even sick accidents with toddlers will leave their marks.
Design
The designs of car seats are as varied as the vehicles they're installed in. While some parents choose to skip infant car seats to opt for convertible models, most new moms want a product that will develop with their baby as they reach toddlerhood. The most versatile option is an all-in-one baby car seat that lets you switch between rear-facing and forward-facing. It usually has a higher weight and height limit, and can often be used as a booster seat once your child is ready to be one.
The ideal infant car seat for newborns is lightweight and easy to take off the base with your child inside. Our parent testers loved the Maxi-Cosi Coral, which is only available in a couple of colors, but comes with plenty of safety features and is super light (at 8.4 pounds with seat inserts and canopy). Other models that stand out are the Nuna PIPA URbN which was the 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 UPF 50+ full-coverage canopy.
The design of the seat and base must also be taken into consideration. Certain car seats have bases that lock into the buckles for the seat belts. Some have steel-reinforced connectors for LATCH that slide out of the sides of the base once properly connected. Parents appreciated these connectors especially when their car only had front-facing seatbelts with no ISOFIX anchor points.
Certain infant car seats can be used with standard seatbelts that do not have the base. This is a fantastic feature for parents who frequently travel or take taxis with their infants. Our parent testers really liked the Nuna TODL NEXT that can be used with or without its base. It has a smooth swivel mechanism that makes it simple to get your baby in and out of the seat.
Other important design considerations are whether a car seat comes with a lie flat design, and how it will fit into your specific car (see our guide to car seat compatibility). If you're looking for a car seat that can grow with your baby into a booster, choose one with a reclining headrest and side impact protection. It's also important to confirm that your selected infant car seat is i-Size compatible and has the right car seat attachment points, as per UK law.