How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn

The best car seat for newborns is one that meets federal safety standards, is compatible with your vehicle, comes with useful extras (like changing into the stroller) and works with your budget. It is also important to ensure that the car seat is easily inserted into and out of any vehicle, particularly when you're constantly switching between rental cars, taxis or your grandparents' vehicles.

Safety

Car seats are designed to protect your baby and a safe one should include extra features that go beyond the safety standards set by the federal government. They include padded inserts for the shoulders and head, air-repellent fabrics to help keep them cool in hot car and side-impact safety.

The ease of installation and use of the seat is another important safety consideration. Ideally, the seat must be simple to install and use, and with clear indicators of its level and position as well as security.

Look for features that help you accomplish this, such as built-in locks and belt guides that help you line up the car seat to the vehicle's seat belt. It is also important to avoid purchasing used Car seat for newborn seats that may not be tested for crash safety or have been involved in an accident and might not be safe for your child. If you are forced to purchase a used car seat, ensure that it is not expired. an expiration date and that the seller is not an individual who has no proof of ownership.

It is also important to remember that you should only leave your baby in the car seat up to two hours a day, unless it is in a flat position. This will reduce strain on the spine of your child and ensure that they are able to breath regularly.

You'll want a seat that will last a long time, because it's a major investment. Look for one that's designed to adapt to your child's needs, which will last through the toddler years and on into the teenage years. One product that our testers for parents liked was the Axkid One i-Size, which is suitable from the time of birth and can be used up to 7 years.

The Nuna pipa aire rx is another option that can be used for a long time. It is 360-degree in rotation that means you can move it from rear-facing to front-facing as your child grows. It's also one of the lightest car seats that rotate available and weighs less than nine pounds without its base. It's an excellent choice for parents who move their infant frequently between vehicles or plan to take it on taxi rides, holiday fly-drives and trips with grandparents.

Comfort

A good infant car seats infant car seat will be comfortable for your child, both when they are in the seat as well as when you install it. Look for straps that are padded to are comfortable to wear on their shoulders, and soft fabric that feels comfortable under their stomach, especially when they are in the seat for long rides.

The best infant car seats are easy to use. Some have LATCH connectors of premium quality that feature a SuperCinch force multiplier tightener. Others come with spring-loaded leveling legs and belt paths to make installation without a base simpler than ever. Other features can help you adjust the height of the harness and headrest, which is especially important as your child gets older.

One example is the Cosatto All in All Rotate that our testers from the past gave 10 out of 10 for ease of use. It features a clear, simple interface, a no-rethread, easy-to adjust harness, a 360-degree rotation and recline lock indicator. This means that you can change from rear-facing to forward-facing as your child grows without having to remove the seat and replace it.

Nuna Pipa Aire Rx is a different example. Our parent testers were impressed by its comfort simple and adaptability. Its padded shoulder straps and headrest are designed to support your newborn's head, and it comes with a soft infant pillow to keep them comfy. It can be used in a back-facing position until your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit. Then, it transforms into an infant stroller.

A quality car seat will be durable and some come with a warranty. Find the seat with plenty of padding and durable materials to protect your child from accidents. It should also include a steel frame to absorb the impact energy as well as an "crumple area" to stop damage from crashes. It must be easy to clean as accidents are bound to happen when you have the growing age of a child. Look for car seats that have removable seat covers and a machine-washable pad to make cleaning a breeze.

Easy of Use

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

The Best of The Bump winner also comes with several practical extras that our parent testers loved, including the headrest and harness that are padded as well as a plush fabric cup holder. It also features a recline feature that allows your baby to sit in an ergonomic position for longer journeys. It can be used in conjunction with a compatible buggy to make a complete travel system. This is perfect when you plan to travel for a long period of time.

The seat is suitable for babies from birth. Our panelists found this car seat easy to set up and adjust. It features 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.

The recline feature makes it easier for you to carry your child in and out of the vehicle. This is particularly useful for those who have back pain or drive a car with a small size. It also comes with the ability to reversibly hold your cup and a handy storage compartment for toys and snacks.

The seat is light and can be used with or without the base. It can also be rotated around 180 degrees. This is an excellent feature for those who are tight in space or suffer from 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 convert their car seats into strollers at a reasonable price. Its sleek design and premium materials will stand up to the test time. Don't forget to wash the cover often because yoghurt spills or biscuits that are crushed, and even sickening toddler accidents can leave a marks.

Design

The styles of car seats are as varied as the vehicles they're used in. While some parents choose to not use infant car seats to opt for convertible models, the majority of new moms want something that will grow with their baby into toddlerhood. The most flexible option is an all-in-one baby car seat that allows you to switch between rear-facing and forward-facing. It typically has a higher weight and height limit, and can be used as a booster once your child is old enough.

An ideal infant car seat newborn car seat is light which makes it easy to lift from the base and carry with your baby in it. Our testers with parents 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). 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 high-end features like the Dream drape and a fully-covered canopy with UPF 50+.

The design of the seat and base should be considered as well. For example, some car seats come with a base that is secured to the vehicle's seat belt buckles as well as others with steel-reinforced LATCH connectors that flip out from the sides of the base and turn green when they are attached correctly. Parents have found these to be convenient particularly if their vehicle had only front-facing seatbelts, and no ISOFIX anchor points.

Some infant car seats can also be utilized with a regular seatbelt without the base, which is a bonus for parents who frequently use taxis or travel with their infant. The Nuna TODL NEXT was a popular choice 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 take your baby in and out.

Also, the design of a car seat is important. It should fit into your car. (See our guide to car seat compatibility). If you're looking for an infant car seat that will expand with your child to become a booster seat pick a model with a reclining backrest and side impact protection. Make sure that the cheap infant car seats car seat you select is iSize compatible and also has the correct car-seat attachment points in accordance with UK law.