How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn

The best car seat newborn is one that meets federal safety standards, fits in your vehicle, has convenient extras (like changing into strollers) and is within your budget. It's also worth checking that the car seat for your baby clicks into and out of your car with ease, particularly if you often shift between taxis or rides in rental cars and grandparents vehicles.

Safety

A good car seat comes with extra features that go beyond the safety standards of the federal government. These include padded inserts for the shoulders and head, air-repellent fabrics to help keep them cool in hot cars and side-impact safety.

Installation and use of the seat is an important aspect of safety. Ideally, you should be capable of snapping it in place with little effort and with clear indications that it's secure and level, as well as positioned properly.

There are features that can aid in this process like belt guides and built-in locks that will help you align the car seat to your car's seatbelt. Avoid purchasing used car seats that may not have been tested for crash, or which might have been involved in an accident. They might not be safe for your child. If you must purchase a used car seat, ensure that it has an expiration date and that the seller is not an individual or a private party who does not have evidence of ownership.

One other thing to keep in mind is that it's best to keep your baby in the car seat for up to 2 hours per day unless they are lying down in a supine position. This is to prevent stress on their spine and to ensure that they are able to breathe regularly.

You'll need a seat that can last a long time, as it is a significant investment. Choose a seat that will develop with your child and last from toddlerhood to teens. Our testers for parents were pleased with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for babies from birth and is able to be used up to age 7.

Nuna pipa air rx is an additional alternative that can be used for a lengthy period of time. It can rotate 360 degrees so you can change it from front-facing to rear facing infant car seat-facing as the child grows. It's also one of the lightest rotating car seats on the market, and weighs less than nine pounds without its base. It's a great choice for parents who 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 seats best car seat is comfortable for your baby both in the seat as well as when you are installing it. Choose padded straps that are comfortable to wear around their shoulders. Also, look for soft fabric that is comfortable on their stomachs. This is particularly important if you plan to use the seat for a long time.

The most effective infant car seats are simple to use. Some have LATCH connectors of premium quality that feature a SuperCinch force multiplier tightener. Some come with spring-loaded leveling legs and belt paths to make installation without a base much easier than ever. Other features allow you to adjust the height of your harness and headrest, which is especially important as your child grows.

One example is the Cosatto All in All Rotate test, which our parents gave 10 out of 10 for ease of use. It features an easy-to-use interface, and a simple-to-adjust no-rethread harness and also recline lock indicators and 360-degree rotation. This means that you can change from rear-facing to forward-facing as your baby grows without needing to remove the seat and replace it.

Another option is the Nuna Pipa Air rx which our parents loved for its ease of use, comfort and versatility. Its padding for the shoulder straps and headrests are designed to help support the head of your newborn and comes with a soft pillow for comfort. It can be used as a rear-facing car seat until your baby is at the maximum height or weight limits and then it can be converted into a stroller without the need for a separate adapter.

A quality car seat will last, and some will even come with a guarantee. Choose the seat with plenty of padding and strong materials to protect your child from accidents. It should also have an aluminum frame to withstand impact energy, and a "crumple area" to avoid damage from a crash. It should also be easy to clean, since spills are commonplace when you have a baby. Find a car seat with removable seat covers and a machine-washable pad to make cleaning easy.

Easy of Use

A car seat needs to be simple to use and install particularly if you're likely to use it in a different vehicle at times. Look for features such as a quick-release buckle, a gauge that shows the status of the latch system (e.g. green for locked) and a clear, easy-to-read guide to make it as easy as you can.

The Best of The Bump winner comes with a number of practical features 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 be seated in a more comfortable position for longer travels. It can also be combined with a buggy that is compatible to create a complete travel system, which is ideal if plan on traveling for long periods of time.

Our panelists found that the car seat was simple to install and adjust. It comes with recline lock indicators and an LATCH connector that is premium and comes with a SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener which made securement of your child quick and simple. It can also be moved from side to side in the vehicle without the use of tools.

The reclining feature helps you to carry your child out and into the vehicle. This is especially useful when you are suffering from back pain or have a smaller vehicle. It also comes with a reversible cup holder and a handy storage pocket for snacks and toys.

The seat weighs under nine pounds and can be used with or without its base. It can also rotate 180 degrees, which could be a real lifesaver if you have a limited space or struggle with back pain. This feature has impressed our panelists, and it was selected for inclusion in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.

It's a great option for anyone who wants to convert their car seat into a stroller for affordable cost. Its sleek design and premium fabric will also stand the test of time. Don't forget to wash the cover often as yoghurt spills and biscuits that have been crushed, and even sickening accidents with toddlers will leave their marks.

Design

The designs of car seats are as diverse as the vehicles they're installed in. While some parents opt to not use infant car seat cheap car seats to opt for a convertible model, most new moms want a product that will grow with their baby into toddlerhood. All-in-one car seats are most versatile and allow you to switch from rear-facing to 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 lightweight which makes it easy to lift it from the base and carry with your baby in it. The Maxi-Cosi Coral is available in only a handful of colors but it has a number of safety features, and is light (8.4 pounds, including seat inserts and canopy). Nuna PIPA URbN is another model that stands out because it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Car Seat Group 0/0+ category, thanks to top rated baby car seats-of-the-line features such as the Dream drape and a fully-covered canopy with UPF 50+.

The base and seat design must be considered. For instance, certain car seats have a specific base that locks into the buckles of the seat belts and others use steel-reinforced LATCH connectors that flip out from the sides of the base and turn green when connected correctly. Parents appreciated these connectors, especially if the vehicle only had front-facing seatbelts with no ISOFIX anchor points.

Some infant car seats work with regular seatbelts, but without the base. This is an excellent feature for parents who travel frequently or take taxis with their infants. The Nuna TODL NEXT was a top pick among our parents who tested it. It can be used either with or without the base and features a smooth swivel, which allows you to easily get your baby inside and out.

Also, the design of car seats is vital. It must fit into your car. (See our guide on car seat compatibility). If you're looking for a new infant car seat that can grow along with your child into a booster seat make sure you choose a seat that has a reclining backrest and side impact protection. It is also important to ensure that the infant car seat is i-Size certified and has the proper car seat attachment points in accordance with UK law.