Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies
While convertible car seats are ideal for children who are growing, an infant seat is best for infants and newborns. They are also lighter and easier for you to attach to strollers than their bigger counterparts.
Kecia Healy Instructor at CPST Kecia Healy liked the spring-loaded recline leg and bubble indicator on the bottom of the Chicco KeyFit, as well as the ease of use. (The more user-friendly the car seat is, the more likely it is that parents will install it correctly. This model also fits three across in a variety of mid-sized automobiles.
1. Clek Liing infant car seat
The Canadian manufacturer Clek is known for their top-rated convertible car seats, and the infant Liing is among their best infant seats. The Liing seat is designed to offer top-of-the-line safety features such as a metal load leg, which is easy to install. user-friendly installation and seven different recline positions to adapt to the slope of your vehicle seat. A bubble indicator allows you determine if the seat is set at the right angle before your child rides in it.
The base of the Liing is easy to install using rigid LATCH connectors that slide into the lower anchors of your vehicle and make it much easier to secure the seat. This makes the Liing an ideal choice for families who plan to switch vehicles frequently or who want a quick, reliable way to install their baby's car seat. If you prefer, you can use the included belt-tensioning system to secure your child's seat.
One of the things that distinguishes the Liing apart from other infant car seats is its 2-piece Newborn Support System. It has a lower insert that slides over the crotch buckle and a head support that attaches to the harness to help keep newborns from sagging or bending their heads when they're in the seat. This is an amazing feature for tiny babies and preemies. It's also one of the few rear-facing infant car seats that offers this level of support.
The Liing's metal crash-test framework reduces the force of crash by 40% compared to other infant seat. The seat's shell is bolstered with EPP foam to safeguard your child's head and torso, which are most vulnerable in the event of a collision. The base of the seat has a load leg made of metal that absorbs energy, and also helps to reduce crashes.
2. Chicco KeyFit
This is a consistent top-rated infant car seat. It is easy to set up and use, and can adapt to your child's needs. It also pairs well with strollers for an overall travel system.
The KeyFit is a good pick for parents who want an easy-to-use, secure and flexible seat. It scored high in crash tests and is lightweight and easy to carry. It also comes with a broad range of height and weight limits. best car seats infant is also designed with babies' comfort in mind. The click-in point is surrounded by soft materials to protect your baby from being burned by metal. The insert for newborns has a head cover which protects their heads. The seat pad, which the baby sits on, nestles them in foam cushions.
It's also among the most simple infant seats to set up correctly every time. It is important to install the infant seat correctly, as incorrect installation could increase the risk of injury. The KeyFit's premium connectors for LATCH with a SuperCinch tightener ensures the safety of your child's seat while requiring minimal effort. The base also features ReclineSure leveling foot and two RideRight bubble-level indicators to ensure the correct vehicle angle. In addition, for a different installation using the seat belt of the vehicle clear belt routing and lock-offs make it simple to set up, install and tighten the belt on the car seat.
The rethread harness height adjustment is a feature that is prevalent on many Chicco seats, including the original Keyfit model. This means you have to detach and manually re-thread the straps from one slot level to another which is more time-consuming than adjustments that aren't rethread. This is a minor trade-off for the ease of this seat.
3. Joie i-Snug 2
The lightweight Joie i-Snug 2 is an infant car seat that meets the most stringent safety standards. It features a no-rethread harness and is compatible with Joie strollers that can accept Maxi-Cosi style adapters. The installation guide is clearly labeled and bubble levels are built in to aid in aligning the seat. The car seat is comfy, with plenty of padding. It also comes with a handy canopy that protects your child from the sun.
The i-Snug comes with an ISOFIX vehicle base that permits a secure vehicle attachment. It can also be combined with an appropriate stroller to make an entire travel system. This rear-facing infant seat provides maximum head and cervical protection for newborns. The exclusive Tri-Protect headrest includes a 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 ride rearwards for longer, and is safer.
A convertible car seat is bigger and more spacious than an infant car seat and it has a greater weight and height limit when facing backwards. It is a good idea to change to a convertible seat as soon as possible, to prevent your child from growing out of it too quickly. In certain instances, parents can even transition their baby to an all-in-one car seat without ever having to purchase another new car seat for their infant. It is therefore crucial to select the best convertible car seat for your family. Our extensive guide will provide all the information you need to make a wise choice.
4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX
Nuna Pipa RX is a highly rated infant seat because of its safety features, lightweight design, and the versatility. It can be fitted with a rigid lower anchor in the outboard seats of a majority of vehicles, or with the vehicle seat belt using Euro Routing (which uses the entire length to anchor the seat). It also comes with an organic baby insert from GOTS that is a great choice for parents who are environmentally conscious and want to use organic products for their child.
The Pipa Aire RX weighs only 6 lbs. without the canopy or inserts. It's among the lightest infant car seat on the market. Aeroflex foam is extremely light and robust, but also extremely light helps reduce the force transferred to your child during an accident. Other safety features include a 5-second steel-reinforced True lock base installation, side impact protection, and a multi-position steel stability leg with a crumple zone that limits forward rotation to provide greater rear-facing security.
Other highlights include an ergonomic aluminum carry handle that's light and luxurious with leatherette accents for comfort and a great grip. A magnetic buckle holder keeps straps from getting in the way when buckling your child in and color-coded installation indicators confirm correct connections. The low-profile base allows for super-fast loading, while the open belt pathway with lock-off secures shoulder and lap belts.
Parenting is messy Cleaning up doesn't need to be. The fabrics and inserts of the Pipa Aire RX can be washed by machine so that your car seat looks as good as it did after each use.
5. Nuna Pipa Urbn
Nuna's PIPA air Rx and PIPA Rx car seats are excellent choices. However, the recently launched Pipa Urbn is a step beyond. This ultralight infant car seat is incredibly easy to carry, and weighs less than 7 pounds with the canopy and insert. It also comes with an elegant user-friendly design with convenient features like buckle holders that are magnetic to help keep straps clear while you buckle baby in and a red/green indicator to ensure the installation is secure (we would like to see all car seats had this feature! ).
The innovative pipaFIX system allows it to be used without a base, unlike Pipa RX or other base-compatible PIPAs that require one to be installed. This makes it an ideal option for parents who regularly take taxis or rideshares for travel, or simply need to transfer their car seat more easily and quickly.
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. Those green-friendly materials also include a Merino wool and Tencel branded lyocell fiber blend headrest, as well as machine washable, water-resistant cover and body insert.
The main issue with the Pipa Urbn is that it only has an upper weight limit for rear-facing children of 30 to 35 pounds. This means you might have to upgrade to a convertible car seat sooner than other brands. It is still a top pick for most infants. This car seat is travel system-ready and pairs seamlessly with any of Nuna's strollers. Just click it on or connect using the rings adapter.