How to Choose Infant Car Seats Best
Car seats are a must-have for parents. What is it that makes one car seat better than the other?
A dedicated infant seat is the ideal option for babies who are small. It is also lighter, which makes it easier to move outside of the vehicle. Look for convenience options like premium lower anchor connectors, harnesses with no-rethread pads, and one button handles. Also, look into safety features like load legs and body cushions for the head and neck.
Safety
As every parent knows choosing the correct car seat is among the most crucial decisions you'll make for your child. The correct seat will ensure that they're placed properly in the car and ensure they're protected in the event of a crash.
While every car seat sold in the US must meet the strict standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Not all car seats are created equally. Certain seats come with features that are specifically designed to protect infants. For instance load legs help prevent movement in crashes by absorbing impact forces onto the base and car seat. Some include bubble levels that make installation easy and adjustable headrests for your growing baby.
Car seats specifically designed for infants are also designed to fit small babies best, and typically include extra crash-tested seats to accomplish this, according to Choi. They're also lighter than a convertible car seat and can easily be converted to a stroller. This makes them suitable for ride-shares, daycare drop-offs and pickups. You can purchase used ones at only a fraction of the cost because they're only good for the first 12 months.
A high NHTSA score and great crash test results are crucial, but the way you use your child's car seat is more important. In fact, a study done by Portland's most prestigious children's hospital discovered that 95% of parents made at least one serious mistake when installing or positioning their car seat.
It's important to be familiar with your surroundings before your baby arrives with the proper guidelines for car seats. We recommend looking for car seats that have clear and concise instructions, is light enough to be easy to carry your child, and has simple adjustment mechanisms.
It is also important to verify that the infant car seat you're considering fits the dimensions required for your vehicle. If you're concerned about your ability to set up and operate the car seat properly yourself, you may be able to bring it to a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) before your baby is even born for a hands-on tutorial.
Convenience
Certain infant car seats come with extra features that make them more user-friendly. For example, they may come with a base that the seat clicks into and out of, or they could come with easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms. These features make it easier to install and remove the car seat - particularly if there is another child in your care.
The weight and height limits of a baby car seat are other important aspects to consider. If your child is growing quickly it may be worthwhile to invest in a car seat with greater limits to ensure that you are able to use it as long as you want.
Aside from the safety features, an infant car seat is a must for a comfortable baby. Find padded straps that don't rub or pinch their shoulders, and for soft fabric that feels at ease under them. Select a seat with the ability to lie flat. This allows your child to ride in an upright position, which helps to keep their airways wide open and oxygen saturation levels high.
There are a number of accessories for infant car seats, but Dr. Segura advises against purchasing any item that isn't included in the seat, as it is not crash tested and could be dangerous. Avoid buying used infant car seats because they might be involved in an accident and could be damaged or worn.
The best infant car seats are priced from $100 to more than $600. However they all share certain characteristics. All are lightweight, easy to install and take down, and are comfortable for the infant. Some even have special features that make them more versatile including the ability to pivot and clip into strollers, without the need for adapters. Take a look at our review of the best infant car seats to get more details on the different choices available.
Comfort
infant car seats uk Pushchairs And Prams are equipped with features for comfort that make it easy to take your child into and out of the seat. The best infant car seats feature one-handed clasps which eliminates the need to grasp both sides at once. They also come with cushioned padding to make it easier to lift the seat. Additionally, you'll need to think about how much weight the seat weighs. You'll be using it without a base in the end, so a lighter one is better. This Baby Trend Secure-Lift is a good example. It weighs less than 13 pounds.
Other important aspects include the height and weight limits of the infant car seat. If you plan to keep the car seat for a period of time choose a model that can adapt to your baby's needs and will allow them to transition into toddlerhood. Then, you'll be capable of using it for a longer period of time and save money on a second car seat.
You should also take into consideration the dimensions of the seat and whether it is narrower or wider than other models. The former can be beneficial for cars with smaller sizes, and the latter could be beneficial when you have two kids in back-to-back car seats or need to drive with three kids in the back seat at some time. If you are planning to use your car seat along with strollers, choose one that can be detached from car seats that are compatible with most popular strollers. Brands like Graco or Nuna have options that will meet your needs.
Review the rating of a car seat to determine its user-friendliness. Clear guides and indicators, like bubble levels or color coding to indicate if the seat is securely fastened and level can ease the stress of new parents. Some seats have innovative features, like load legs. These are shock-absorbing parts that extend from the seat base or underneath the seat all the way to the floor of your vehicle and absorb the force of impact during a crash.
There are accessories that claim to improve the comfort and convenience of your car seat. However, remember that anything that's not included in the seat hasn't undergone safety tests. Segura recommends that you don't place anything in your car seat, including an accessory like a blanket or harness that you purchased elsewhere.
Style
For new parents trying to figure out how to select the best car seat for your infant is a bit of an issue. It is important to determine the budget you have set and what features you want. There are a lot of options in terms of special features, stroller compatibility, and fabrics, but it all comes down to what's comfortable for baby.
It is important to know that convertible car seats are not suitable for babies and can only be used until the age of one year. Some come with extended kits that have been tested in a crash which can help them last longer. They usually have a greater number of recline settings to facilitate the correct positioning of small children. They are also lighter and more convenient to carry. They are more likely to work when used in conjunction with a travel system. This is beneficial for new parents looking to save money and time by buying seats that serve two purposes.
Another aspect to be aware of is that car seat size and weight are key elements for families with a large number of children. Some infant car seats, like, are narrower to fit better in the back of your car or close to other seats. Some are so heavy that they will test your biceps as you lift them up and transfer them from the car to the stroller.
In terms of convenience, many parents opt for infant car seats that have the capability to move from the base to the carrier and then snap into a stroller, without the need for additional attachments. This can save you lots of time, especially on days when you are running around for errands.
Other useful features include an adjustable buckle holder that is magnetic as well as a strap that does not need to be rethread and a simple installation process. Find a head-and-body-support insert to stop infants from collapsing into the seat or carrier when they fall asleep.
Most car seats have flexible straps to secure their lower anchor connectors but there are some that have latches that are rigid and flip out of the base and turn green when correctly installed. This kind of installation is more secure and restricts the amount a seat can move in the event of a crash.