Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies
While convertible car seats are ideal for children who are growing, an infant seat is ideal for infants and newborns. They are also lighter and easier for you to clip 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, in addition to its user-friendliness (the more user-friendly a car seat is and is, the more likely parents will be to install it correctly). The model also fits three across in most midsize cars.
1. Clek Liing infant car seat
The Canadian manufacturer Clek is known for their top-rated convertible car seats, and the infant Liing is one of their top infant seats. The seat comes with the best safety features available including a steel load-leg, and easy installation. It also has seven different recline positions that can be adjusted to suit the slope of your car's seat. Additionally, a simple bubble indicator makes it simple to ensure that the seat is at the correct position before your child rides in it.
The base of the Liing is easy to install with the help of LATCH connectors that fit into the lower anchors of your vehicle which makes it easier to fix the seat. This makes the Liing an excellent choice for families who plan to switch vehicles frequently or who require a quick and reliable method to install their child's car seat. If you prefer, you can also utilize the belt-tensioning feature to secure your child's seat.
The Liing's 2-piece Newborn System is just one of the features that set it apart from other infant car seats. This includes an insert for the lower that slides over the crotch buckle and a head support that is attached to the harness to help prevent newborns from slumping or bending their heads forward while in the seat. It's a game changer for tiny babies and preemies and is among the few rear-facing infant car seats that provide this type of support.
Another great feature of the Liing is its metal crash-test frame, which reduces the force of a crash by up to 40 percent compared to other infant seats. The seat's shell is bolstered by EPP foam, which shields your child's head and body in an accident. The seat's base has a load leg made of metal that absorbs energy, and also assists in reducing the risk of the risk of collisions.
2. Chicco KeyFit
This is a top-rated infant car seat. It is easy to install and use, and can expand with your child. It also pairs well with strollers to create a travel system.
The KeyFit is an excellent option for parents looking for a safe, versatile and user-friendly seat. It was a top performer in crash tests and is light and easy to carry. It also offers a wide range of weight and height limits. It was also designed to ensure the safety of babies. The click-in point has soft materials surrounding it so that your baby doesn't get burnt by metal. The newborn insert has an enclosed head-skirt to protect their little heads, and the seat pad that babies sit on has cushions that absorb energy to ensure comfort.
It's also one of the most simple infant seats to install correctly--every time. It is important to install the seat correctly, as incorrect installation could increase your child's danger of injury. The KeyFit's premium LATCH connectors with a SuperCinch tightener create a secure fit that requires minimal effort. The base also has a ReclineSure leveling foot and two RideRight bubble level indicators to ensure correct vehicle angle and a fast installation. In addition, for a different installation using the belt on the vehicle, clear belt routing and lock-offs make it easy to install, position and tighten the car seat belt.
The harness height adjustment rethread feature is a feature prevalent on many Chicco seats, including the original Keyfit model. This means you need to disconnect and manually re-thread straps from one level to the next which is longer than other adjustments. This is a minor disadvantage for the ease of this seat.
3. Joie i-Snug 2
The light Joie i-Snug 2 is an infant car seat that is built to the most stringent safety standards. It features a no-rethread harness, and is compatible with Joie strollers that 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 full of padding and is very comfortable. It has a convenient canopy that protects your child from direct sunlight.
The i-Snug comes with an ISOFIX vehicle base that allows for secure attachment to the vehicle. It can also be used in conjunction with a compatible stroller to create an entire travel system. This rear-facing infant seat provides the highest level of cervical and head protection for newborns. The exclusive Tri-Protect Headrest features a layer Intelli-Fit Memory Foam to shield your child from collisions with the side.
Like any infant car seat, you'll have to replace it once your child reaches the height and weight limits, or when they turn one. In the meantime you can upgrade to a convertible, or an all-in-one car seat that allows children to be rear-facing for longer and is safer for them.
A convertible car seat has a greater rear-facing weight and height limit than an infant seat and generally has a larger space inside. It's a good idea to switch to a convertible car seat as soon as is possible to stop your child from growing too quickly. In certain instances, parents can even transition their baby to an all-in-one car seats without ever needing to purchase a new car seat for their infant. It's therefore important to choose the best convertible car seat for your family and yourself. Read our complete guide to get all the information you require to make the best choice.
4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX
The Nuna Pipa Aire RX is one of the most highly-rated infant car seats due to its safety, light weight design, and flexibility. It can be used using rigid lower anchors in the outboard seats of a majority of vehicles, or with the vehicle seat belt using Euro Routing (which uses all of its length to ensure the installation is secure). It also comes with an organic cotton GOTS infant insert, making it an option for parents who prioritize organic choices for their child.
The Pipa Aire RX weighs only 6 pounds. without the canopy or inserts. It's one of the lightest infant car seat on the market. This is due to the innovative Aeroflex foam, which is extremely light yet resilient, minimizing force transferred to your baby in the event of a crash. Other safety features include the 5 second steel-reinforced True Lock base installation, side-impact protection and a multiposition steel stability leg that has a crumple zone to limit forward rotation for enhanced rearward-facing security.
Other highlights include an ergonomic aluminum carry handle that's both comfortable and light with leatherette accents for comfortable toting and superb grip. A magnetic buckle holder keeps straps out of the way when you buckle your child in and color-coded indicator for installation ensures that the belts are properly connected. The low-profile base enables rapid loading, and the open belt pathway with locks that secure lap and shoulder belts.
The process of parenting can be messy, but cleaning up shouldn't have to be. best car seat infant Push Chairs And Prams and inserts of the Pipa Aire RX can be machine washed so that your car seat appears like it did following each use.
5. Nuna Pipa Urbn
Nuna's PIPA air Rx and PIPA Rx car seats are fantastic choices. However, the new Pipa Urbn is a step above. This ultralight infant car seats is extremely easy to carry, and weighs less than 7 pounds when the canopy and insert attached. It also comes with a luxe user-friendly design, with practical features like buckle holders with magnetic buckles to keep straps from getting in the way while you buckle baby in, and a green/red indicator to tell you that the installation is secure (we wish all car seats had this feature! ).
Unlike the Pipa RX and the other base-compatible PIPA models that require a car base to install the model, this one can be used without a base thanks to its pipaFIX-inspired latch system. This makes it a great option for parents who regularly 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. Those green-friendly materials also include a Merino wool and Tencel branded lyocell fiber blend headrest, as well as a water-resistant, machine washable body insert and cover.
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 need to change to a convertible car seat earlier than other brands. It is still a top choice for most infants. This car seat is also travel system-ready and pairs seamlessly with all Nuna strollers. You just need to click it on or connect using the rings adapter.