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The Most Effective Advice You'll Receive About Best Car Seat Newborn
How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn
The most suitable car seat for a new baby is one that meets all safety standards of the federal government and fits in your car. It should also come with practical extras, such as the capability to convert into a stroller, and also be within your budget. You should also make sure that the car seat is easily inserted into and out of any vehicle, particularly when you're constantly switching between rental cars, taxis or your grandparents' vehicles.
Safety
A quality car seat will have extra features that go beyond the federal safety standards. They include padded inserts for the head and shoulders and air-repellent fabrics that help keep them cool in hot vehicles and side-impact safety.
The ease of installation and use of the seat is an important aspect of safety. Ideally, the seat should be easy to install and use, and with clear indicators of its level, position, and security.
There are features that make this easier, such as belt guides and built-in lockoffs to help you align the car seat with your car's seatbelt. Also, you should avoid buying used car seats, as they might not have been tested for safety or have been involved in an accident and might not be safe for your child. If you must buy a used car seat be sure that it has an expiration date and isn't being sold by an individual who does not have proof of ownership.
It's also important to remember that you should only allow your child in the car seat for up to two hours per day, unless you are in a flat position. This will help prevent strain on the spine of your child and ensure they have a chance to breathe regularly.
You'll want a seat that will last a long time, since it's an important investment. Find one that's designed to adapt to your child's needs that will last through toddlerhood and through the teen years. One that our parent testers liked was the Axkid One i-Size that is suitable for children from birth and can be used until 7 years.
The Nuna pipa air rx is an alternative that can be used for a long time. It is 360-degree in rotation which means that you can change it from rear-facing to front-facing as your child grows. It's also among the most lightweight car seats available that weighs less than nine pounds. It's an excellent choice for parents who need to move their child frequently between cars or are planning to use it for taxi rides, holiday fly-drives and trips with grandparents.
Comfort
A good infant car seat will be comfortable for your baby, both when they are in the seat and when you install it. Look for padded straps which are comfortable to wear around their shoulders, and for soft fabric that is comfortable under their tummy. This is especially important if you plan to use the seat for a long period of time.
The most effective infant car seat is also user-friendly. Some feature premium LATCH connectors that come with the SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener spring-loaded leveling feet and belt paths that make putting them on without the base easier than ever before. Other features allow you to adjust the height of the harness and headrest, which is important as your child grows.
Cosatto All in All Rotate is an example. Our parent testers scored it a 10 out of 10. It has a simple, clear interface and an easy-to-adjust no-rethread harness and recline lock indicators and 360-degree rotation. This allows you to switch from forward-facing to rear-facing as your baby grows, without needing to remove the seat and replace it.
Another option is the Nuna Pipa Air rx which our testers who were parents loved for its comfort, ease of use and versatility. Its padded shoulder straps as well as headrest are shaped to support your newborn's head, and it comes with a soft infant pillow to ensure that they are comfortable. It can be placed in a rear-facing position until your child is at the maximum weight limit or height. Then, it converts into a stroller.
A good car seat will last and some come with a warranty. Choose a seat made of sturdy materials and plenty of padding to shield your baby from accidents and an aluminum frame that suffocates the impact energy and has a "crumple zone" to help prevent crash damage. It must also be easy to clean, since messiness is inevitable when you have a baby. To simplify cleaning, look for a car-seat with removable covers and a machine washable pad.
Ease of Use
It is crucial that a car seat is simple to install and use, especially in the event that it will be used in a variety of vehicles at times. To make it as simple as possible look for features like the quick-release belt, an indicator to show the status of the latch (e.g. green for locked) and a user manual that is easy to read.
The Best of The Bump winner includes a variety of useful features that our testers for parents loved, such as a cushioned headrest and harness, plush fabric and cup holders. It also comes with a reclining feature that allows your baby to be seated in a more comfortable position for longer travels. It can also be used in conjunction with an appropriate buggy to make a complete travel system, which is perfect if you are planning to travel for long durations of time.
best car seats is suitable from birth. Our panelists found this car seat simple to put in and adjust. It comes with an indicator for recline and an exclusive LATCH connector with a SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener that made the process of securing your child easy. It's also designed to be shifted from side-to-side in the vehicle without the need for tools.
The recline feature allows you to get your baby into and out of the vehicle. This is especially useful when you have back issues or have a small car. It also features an adjustable drink holder that can be reversible, as well as a handy storage compartment for toys and snacks.
The seat weighs just nine pounds and can be installed with or without its base. It also rotates 180 degrees, which could be a lifesaver when you are in a tight space or struggle with back pain. Our panelists were impressed by this feature, which won a spot in our 2021 Mother&Baby awards.
This is an excellent option for those looking to transform their car seats into strollers at an affordable cost. Its sleek design and high-quality fabric will also stand the test of time. Make sure to clean your cover often because smashed biscuits, yoghurt spills and the occasional sick toddler accident are sure to leave a footprints!
Design
Car seat designs are as varied as the cars they're used in. Some parents prefer to not use infant car seats in favour of convertible models, most new moms want a product that can grow with their baby into toddlerhood. All-in-one car seat are the most versatile, allowing you to switch between forward-facing and rear-facing. It typically has a greater height and weight limit, and it is often used as a booster seat once your child is ready to be one.
An ideal infant car seat newborn car seat is light, making it easy to lift it from the base and transport your child. Our parents loved the Maxi-Cosi Coral, which is only available in a couple of colours, but offers plenty of safety features and is extremely light (at 8.4 pounds with seat inserts and canopy). Other models that stand out are the Nuna PIPA URbN and the Nuna PIPA URbN, which was a winner of Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for Best Car Seat Group 0/0+ due to its premium extras like the Dream drape and a full-coverage UPF 50+ canopy.
The design of the base and the seat should be taken into consideration. Certain car seats have an attached base that is locked into the seat belt buckles. Others have steel reinforced connectors for LATCH that flip out of the sides of the base once properly joined. Parents have found these to be convenient particularly if the vehicle only had front-facing seatbelts with no ISOFIX anchor points.
Certain infant car seats are compatible with regular seatbelts without the base. This is an excellent feature for parents who travel often or travel with their infants. Our parent testers really liked the Nuna TODL NEXT, which can be used with or without its base and includes a smooth swivel motion that makes it easy to get your child out and in the seat.
Other important considerations for design are whether a car seat comes with a flat design, and how it is compatible with your car (see our guide to car seat compatibility). If you're in search of a new infant car seat that will develop with your child into a booster, choose a model with an adjustable backrest as well as side impact protection. It is also important to ensure that the infant car seat is iSize compliant and uses the correct car seat attachment points as per UK law.