Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies
While convertible car seats are great for growing children however, an infant car seat is best for newborns. They are also lighter and easier to click into strollers than their bigger counterparts.
CPST instructor Kecia Healy was impressed by the Chicco KeyFit's recline foot that is spring-loaded and bubble indicator on the base, as well as its ease of use (the more user-friendly a car seat can be, the more likely parents will be to set it up correctly). The model also fits three across in many midsize automobiles.
1. Clek Liing infant car seat
Clek, one of the Canadian manufacturer, is well-known for its top-rated convertible car seat. The infant Liing is among their top infant seats. It is a top-of-the-line safety features such as a metal load leg that is simple to install, user-friendly installation, and 7 different recline positions that can be adjusted to the slope of your car seat. Additionally, a simple bubble indicator makes it easy to ensure that the seat is at the correct angle prior to your child's first ride in it.
The base of the Liing is easily installed with the help of LATCH connectors that slide into the lower anchors of your vehicle, making it easier to anchor the seat. The Liing is a great choice for families that plan to switch cars frequently or need a simple and reliable method of installing car seats for their infants. You can also utilize the belt-tensioning system to secure your child.
One of the things that makes the Liing apart from other infant car seats is its 2-piece Newborn Support System. It has a lower insert that slips over the crotch buckle as well as a head support that is attached to the harness to help prevent newborns from sagging or bending their heads while in the seat. It's a game-changer for tiny babies and preemies and is one of the few rear facing infant car seats that offer this type of support.
The Liing's crash-test framework made of metal reduces the force of a crash by up to 40% when compared to other infant seats. The seat's shell is bolstered by EPP foam, which protects your child's head and body in an accident. The base of the seat has an aluminum load leg that absorbs energy and helps to reduce the risk of collisions.
2. Chicco KeyFit
This is a consistently top-rated infant car seat. It's quick to install, easy to use, and grows with your child. It also pairs well with strollers for a travel system.
The KeyFit is a great option for parents looking for a safe, flexible and easy-to-use seat. It scored highly in crash tests and is light and easy to carry. It also comes with a broad range of weight and height limits. It was also designed with babies' comfort in mind. The click-in area is surrounded by soft materials to protect your baby from getting burned by metal. The insert for newborns comes with a head-cover that protects their tiny heads. And the seat pad, which the baby is sitting on, encases them in foam cushions.
Installing it correctly is also very easy. It is essential to install the infant seat correctly, as incorrect installation can increase the risk of injury. The KeyFit's premium connectors for LATCH and a SuperCinch tightener guarantee a secure fit while requiring minimal effort. The base also has a ReclineSure leveling feet and two RideRight bubble-level-indicators that ensure the correct vehicle angle. For alternate installation clear belt routing, locks-offs, and the car seatbelt allow for easy positioning and tighten.
The rethread harness height adjustment is a feature that is common on many Chicco seats including the original Keyfit model. This means you need to disconnect and manually re-thread straps from one slot level to the next which is more time-consuming than non-rethread adjustments. This is a minor disadvantage for the convenience of this seat.
3. Joie i-Snug 2
The lightweight Joie i-Snug 2 is an i-Size infant car seat that meets the highest safety standards. It comes with a no-rethread harness and is compatible with Joie strollers that accept Maxi-Cosi style adapters. It's simple to use, with clearly labeled installation guides and built-in bubble levels to help in alignment. The car seat has plenty of padding and is very comfortable. It also has a useful canopy that protects your child from the sun.
The i-Snug 2 has an ISOFIX base to ensure a secure vehicle attachment. It can be used in tandem with a compatible stroller for a complete travel set-up. This rear-facing infant seat provides maximum cervical and head protection for infants. infant car seat best -Protect headrest includes an additional layer of Intelli-Fit memory foam to shield your baby from side-impact crashes.
You'll require a new infant car seat when your child is at the limit on weight and height or their first birthday. You can then upgrade to a convertible car seat or an all-in-one car seat. This will allow your child to travel rearwards for longer and is more secure.
A convertible car seat is more spacious and has a higher rear-facing weight and height limit than an infant car seat and typically has a larger and more spacious interior. It's a good idea change to a convertible car seat as soon as possible, to prevent your child from growing out of it too quickly. In some instances, parents can transition their baby into an all-in one car seat without needing to purchase an additional infant car seat. It's therefore important to choose the best convertible car seat for your family. Read our complete guide to provide all the details you need to make an informed decision.
4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX
Nuna Pipa RX is a highly rated infant seat due to its safety features, lightweight design and flexibility. It can be used with rigid lower anchors in the outboard seats of a majority of vehicles, or with the seat belt of the vehicle that uses Euro Routing (which utilizes the entire length of the belt to ensure the installation is secure). It also comes with a GOTS organic cotton infant insert, making it an option for parents who are looking for organic options for their child.
The Pipa Aire RX weighs only 6 pounds. without the canopy or inserts. It is one of the lightest infant car seat on the market. This is due to the unique Aeroflex foam that is extremely light yet incredibly strong, reducing forces transferred to your child during a crash. Other safety features include the 5 second steel-reinforced True Lock base installation, side-impact protection and a multi-position steel stability leg that has a crumple zone to limit forward rotation to provide greater rearward-facing security.
Other highlights include an ergonomic aluminum carry handle that's both comfortable and light with leatherette accents for comfort and a great grip. The magnetic buckle holders keep straps out of the way while buckling up your child and color-coded indicators for installation confirm correct connections. The low-profile base allows fast loading, and the open belt pathway with locks that secure lap and shoulder belts.
Cleaning up after a messy parent shouldn't be a problem. The fabrics and inserts in the Pipa Aire RX are machine washable so you can keep your car seat looking good as new after every use.
5. Nuna Pipa Urbn
While Nuna's PIPA rx and PIPA Air RX car seats are both excellent options, the newly launched Pipa Urbn takes it all to a whole new level. The ultralight infant car seat is incredibly easy to carry, weighing less than 7 pounds with the canopy and insert attached. It's a user-friendly, elegant design, with features such as magnetic buckle holders that keep straps from getting in the way when you are strapping your baby in and a green/red indication to let you know whether the installation is secure. ).
Unlike the Pipa RX and the other base-compatible PIPA models that require the use of a car base, this one can be used without a base thanks to its innovative pipaFIX rigid latch system. This makes it the perfect option for parents who frequently take taxis, rideshare services, or travel.
Like other Nuna products, the Pipa Urbn is designed with environmentally-friendly materials that are free of added fire retardant chemicals, and is GREENGUARD Gold certified. These green-friendly materials include the Merino Wool and Tencel blended lyocell fibres as a headrest, and a waterproof machine washable cover.
The Pipa Urbn comes with a weight limit of only 30 to 35 pounds when used rear-facing. This means that you may have to upgrade to a convertible model sooner than other brands. It's still a great option for the majority of babies. This car seat is equipped for travel and can be used with all of Nuna's strollers--just click it on or attach using the rings adapter.