best car seat newborn Infant Seat Features

While all infant seats conform to the federal safety standards, some exceed the federal safety standards. Our best car seat newborn uk of the Bump winner comes with a host of features that parents will appreciate with additional padding, a padded inlay for newborns and the ability to raise or lower the headrest, with no Rethreading.

We considered factors like weight (without base) connectivity to strollers, special features, and price when selecting our top picks. Find out the best infant seat for you and your family by reading.

Safety

All infant car seats sold in the United States must be in compliance with the safety standards of the federal government. But some of the seats come with extra features that are beyond the minimum standards. Some of these features include load legs and a rethreader integrated, strap-holding sides, and so on. According to the experts I spoke to the more features a seat has, they are more efficient.

The more user-friendly a car seat can be it, the more likely parents are to use it in a safe manner, which can reduce the chance of injuries to their child in a crash. This is especially true for an infant car seat since it's only designed for an extremely short time. Find a seat that is easy to install with a spring-loaded recline foot and bubble indicator to help keep the seat perfectly level. Make sure that the base can be easily pushed into and out of the vehicle.

Other premium features that some car seat manufacturers provide include an unrethread harness, magnet buckle holders and side grips to carry the seat. These are fantastic, but don't forget that a safe car seat is still only as secure as the vehicle you're driving in. Check out the car's owner's manual to learn how to properly secure your infant's seat and to learn more about vehicle-specific safety features.

When choosing an infant car seat, bear in mind that you'll likely only be able to use it for approximately 2 years, until your child is old enough to transition to convertible car seats. Some families opt to not use the infant car seat in front seat seat altogether and opt for a convertible car, which has an increased weight and height limits. If you decide to buy an infant car seat, make sure to consider the dimensions of your vehicle and try a few models in person before choosing one. You can then make sure that the seat is suitable for your child, fits inside your car and also has useful features like converting to a stroller. Make sure you look for recalls on the product prior to you buy it. It's crucial to ensuring the safety of your child on the road.

Ease of Use

If you're using the seat in a single car or moving it between many, you need an infant car seat that is easy to install and detach from the base. Find clearly labeled installation guides and a mechanism that works seamlessly. Also, consider how it is easy to adjust the car seat as baby grows and the quality of the materials used.

A great feature that many infant seats have is a load leg, which serves as an extra brace between the seat's base and vehicle's floor to provide extra stability in the event of a crash. Consumer Reports research shows that it's especially important if you are driving an older vehicle since the likelihood of sustaining a head injury is greater if the infant is sitting too close to the floor.

Other premium features that can enhance the infant car seat user experience include a harness with no-rethread and anti-rebound bar, which will prevent the seat from rebounding in a crash. The latter has been shown to decrease the chance of sustaining head injuries by as much as 43 percent. "If you're on a budget and want the security of an ARC-certified car seat with several key features that are premium I highly recommend the Evenflo LiteMax DLX," says Babylist gear editor Jennifer LaBracio. The seat was given an outstanding rating by child-passenger safety experts. It has a non-rethread adjustable harness, five recline positions and an extended canopy that has magnets to ensure full coverage.

A seat that can be easily installed using only a lapbelt and without the requirement for a base is another option. That's ideal for parents who intend to use taxis or Uber rides and doesn't need an extra return trip to the car to put in a different seat. Nuna Pipa and TRIV travel systems for instance, have a rigid LATCH built into the bottom of their seats which makes them fast and easy to put in. It can also be used with a rear facing infant car seat-facing (for children between 4 and 40 pounds), forward-facing (for children between 22 and 65 pounds) and also converts into a highback or belt-positioning booster for children who weigh between 40 and 120 pounds. This is a great option if you're on a budget.

Comfort

It is essential that your child feels comfortable in the car seat, particularly if they are there for a long time. That means padded straps on their shoulders, a plush fabric that feels cozy against their back and tummy and a headrest that grows with them to support their growing body. Also, look for a seat that is easy to adjust as your child gets older.

A seat that has many unique features is usually more expensive but also easier to use. When we evaluate a car seat for infants, we consider factors such as a one-hand system harness, high-quality LATCH connectors, and no rethread harness. We also look at the weight and size of the seat, because an extremely heavy or bulky seat could strain your biceps while you carry it in and out of your vehicle, or even between vehicles.

A seat with a load leg--a safety feature that helps stabilize the car seat in the event of a crash is another good choice. It's typically found in more expensive seats however we've seen a few budget-friendly options that include this extra safety measure.

Another thing to consider is height and weight limits. You'll want to ensure the seat will remain suitable for your child once they reach their peak growth spurt, which is usually between the ages of two and three. It is also recommended to consider a convertible car seat for infants which can be transformed into a toddler's car seat. This option gives you more flexibility when you drive and is great for families who frequently switch vehicles or travel.

Our testers were impressed with the Doona which combines the car seat of an infant car seats best and a stroller all in one package. It's the perfect pick for parents on the go, especially those who commute to work or school by public transportation. It's also simple to set up, and our expert testers were impressed with the ease of use of the one-handed latch system and the padded shoulder straps. Our product testers reported that the seat is compact which is crucial for those with a limited trunk room. It's also free of flame retardant chemicals which is a major bonus for those who are concerned about their baby's health and environment.

Convenience

The best infant seats have features that make it simple to use. From buckles that are soft and easy to tighten or loosen, to harness height adjusters that automatically move up as your child grows the top infant car seats have convenience features that help parents get into and out with a minimum of fuss. Other important things to look at is whether the seat is machine washable (to help with cleaning) and if it comes with a canopy, which can be handy both inside the car and attached to a stroller.

One feature that might seem like a small difference but can save you a lot of hassle is an indicator on the base that will let you know when it's been installed correctly. This line should be parallel to ground and should be situated on the base. It's particularly useful if you're going to be switching the car seat between vehicles often, or if you plan to travel with your baby and need to install the seat in Ubers or taxis.

Another useful feature is the ability to connect a compatible stroller directly to the infant car seat making it easier to carry your sleeping infant from the car to the supermarket or out on errands, without the need to carry the separate baby carrier. This can be a great advantage for new parents who want to get back to their day after an exhausting commute or outing with a newborn.

If your baby is expected to grow quickly, you should choose an infant car seat with an increased weight and height limit than the one recommended by the manufacturer. You can use the car seat for longer.

All car seats sold in America must conform to federal safety standards however that doesn't mean they are all created to be the same. Some seats come with extra features, like load legs that support the base of a car seat to improve stability, and an anti-rebound bars that reduce the chance of head injuries from crashes. Other features, such as a no-rethread harness and an extendable canopy, can also provide an easier ride for your child and help you to be a happier and more secure parent.