How to Choose the best car seat for newborn (read the article) Car Seat Newborn

The best car seat for newborns is one that is compliant with federal safety standards, fits your vehicle, comes with useful extras (like turning into a stroller) and works with your budget. It's also worth ensuring the baby car seat clicks into and out of your car with ease especially if you frequently change between trips to the taxi or in rental cars and grandparents vehicles.

Safety

A good car seat will have extra features that go above and beyond safety standards of the federal government. These include padded inserts for the shoulders and head as well as air-repellent fabric to help keep them cool in hot car and side-impact safety.

Installation and use of the seat is an important aspect to consider for safety. Ideally, you want to be capable of snapping it into place with minimal effort and with clear indicators that it's secure, level, and positioned correctly.

There are features that aid in this process including belt guides and built-in lockoffs which will assist you in aligning the car seat to the seat belt of your vehicle. Also, you should avoid purchasing used car seats that might not have been tested for crash safety or have been involved in an accident and may not be safe for your child. If you must purchase an used car seat ensure that it has an expiration and that the seller is not an individual who has no evidence of ownership.

Another thing to bear in mind is to keep your baby in the car seat for no more than two hours per day unless they are lying down in a supine position. This is to prevent strain on their developing spine and ensure that they are able to breathe regularly.

Choosing an infant car seat is a major investment, therefore you'll need to make sure that it has a long lifespan. Choose a seat that is designed to adapt with your child that will last through toddlerhood and through the teen years. Our testers for parents were satisfied with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for children as young as birth and is able to be used up to age 7.

The Nuna pipa air rx is a different option that can be used for a long time. It can rotate 360 degrees which means you can switch it from front-facing to rear-facing as the child grows. It's also one of the lightest rotating car seat available that weighs less than nine pounds. It's a great option for parents who move their child frequently between cars or are planning to use it for taxi rides, holiday fly-drives and trips with grandparents.

Comfort

It is essential that your child is comfortable in their car seat, both when they are in it as well as when you install it. Look for padded straps which are comfortable to wear around their shoulders, and for plush fabric that feels good beneath their stomachs. This is crucial in the event that you plan to use the seat for a long time.

The most effective car seat for infants is also easy to use. Some come with premium LATCH connectors, the SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener spring-loaded leveling feet as well as belt paths that make putting them on without the base much easier than ever before. Other features allow you to adjust the harness height and headrest, which is especially crucial 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 comes with a simple, clear interface and an easy-to-adjust no-rethread harness and a recline lock indicator and 360-degree rotation. This means you can switch between forward and rear-facing positions as your baby grows, without needing to take the seat off and replace it.

Another option is the Nuna Pipa air rx which our parents loved for its comfort, ease of use and versatility. Its padded shoulder straps and headrest are designed to help support the head of your newborn and includes pillows that are soft for your comfort. It can be used in a back-facing position until your child reaches the maximum weight or height limit. Then, it transforms into an infant stroller.

A good car seat will last and some come with a warranty. Look for a seat that has plenty of padding and sturdy materials to safeguard your child from accidents. It should also have a steel frame to absorb the force of impact as well as a "crumple area" to prevent crash damage. It should be easy to clean, as accidents are sure to happen with children. To make cleaning easier, look for a car seat that has removable covers and a machine washable pad.

Ease of Use

It is crucial that a car seat be simple to install and use, especially when it is going to be used in multiple vehicles at times. Look for features such as a quick-release buckle, a gauge that indicates the state of the latch system (e.g., green for locked) and a clear, easy-to-read guide to make it as simple as you can.

The Best of The Bump winner comes with a number of practical features that our parents loved, such as a cushioned headrest and harness, plush fabric and the cup holder. It also has a reclining feature that lets your child sit in a comfortable position for longer trips. It can also be used in conjunction with a buggy that is compatible to create an entire travel system which is ideal if you are planning to travel for long durations of time.

Our panelists noted that this car seat was easy to put in and adjust. It comes with recline locks and an upgraded connector that comes with a SuperCinch tightener. This makes it easy to ensure your child's safety. It can also be moved from side to side of the vehicle easily without tools.

The recline feature makes it easier for you to get your baby into and out of the vehicle. This is particularly helpful if you have back issues or drive a smaller car. It also has an adjustable cup holder that can be reversible and a handy storage compartment for toys and snacks.

The seat weighs just nine pounds and can be used with or without its base. It also rotates 180 degrees, which can be a real lifesaver if you have a limited space or suffer from back pain. This feature was a big hit with our panelists, and it was selected to be part of the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.

This is a great choice for those looking to transform their car seats into strollers at affordable prices. Its streamlined design and high-quality fabric will endure the test of time also. Be sure to clean the cover frequently as yoghurt spills, biscuits that have been crushed, and even sickening toddler accidents can leave a mark.

Design

Car seat designs are as diverse as the cars they're installed in. While some parents opt to leave infant car seats out in favour of convertible models, the majority of new mothers want a seat that can develop with their baby as they reach toddlerhood. All-in-one car seats are the most versatile that allow you to change from rear-facing to forward-facing. It typically has a higher weight and height restriction and can also be used as a booster when your child is old enough.

The ideal car seat for infants for newborns is lightweight and easy to remove from the base with your child inside. The Maxi-Cosi Coral is available in only a handful of colors but it offers a lot of safety features and is also light (8.4 pounds, including canopy and seat inserts). Nuna PIPA URbN is another model that stands out, because it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards best car seat infant Car Seat Group category, thanks to high-end features such as the Dream drape, and a full-coverage canopy with UPF 50+.

The base and seat design should be considered. Some car seats have an attached base that is locked into the seat belt buckles. Some have steel-reinforced connectors for LATCH that flip out of the sides of the base once properly joined. These were convenient for parents, especially when the vehicle only had front-facing seat belts.

Some infant car seats can also be used with a standard seatbelt that is not base-less that is great for parents who often travel by taxi or travel with their baby. Our testers with parents really liked the Nuna TODL NEXT, which can be used with or without the base. It features a smooth swivel movement that makes it easy to get your baby in and out of the seat.

The design of the car seat is crucial. It should be able to fit in your car. (See our guide to car seat compatibility). If you're looking for an infant car seat that will develop with your baby until a booster, look for one with an adjustable headrest that can be reclining and side impact protection. Make sure that the baby car seat you pick is iSize-compliant and also has the correct car-seat attachment points in accordance with UK law.