Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies
While convertible car seats are great for growing kids however, an infant car seat is best car seat for infants and newborns. They’re also lighter and easier to click into a stroller than their larger counterparts.
Kecia Healy, CPST instructor, liked the recline leg that is spring-loaded and also the bubble indicator at the base of the Chicco KeyFit, as well as the user-friendliness. (The more user-friendly the car seat is, the more likely it is that parents will install it correctly. The model can also be used with three across in many mid-sized vehicles.
1. Clek Liing infant car seat
Clek, one of the Canadian manufacturer, is well-known for its top-rated convertible car seats. The infant Liing is among their best rotating infant car seat seats. The seat is equipped with best-in class safety features, such as a metal load-leg and a simple installation. It also comes with 7 different recline positions that can be adjusted to fit the slope of your vehicle’s seat. Plus, a simple bubble indicator makes it easy to ensure that the seat is in the correct angle prior to your child’s first ride in it.
The base of the Liing is easily installed using rigid LATCH connectors that slide into the lower anchors of your vehicle and make it much easier to fix the seat. The Liing is a great choice for families that intend to frequently switch cars or want a simple and secure method to install car seats for their infants. If you prefer, you can 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 sets it apart from other infant car seats. The system comes with an insert that slides over the crotch strap and an attached headrest to the harnesses to prevent infants from slumping forward or moving their heads backwards in the seat. This is a game changer for tiny babies and preemies. It’s also one of the few rear-facing infant car seats that provide this degree of support.
Another great feature of the Liing is its crash-testing frame, which reduces the force of a crash by as much as 40 percent when compared to other infant seats. The seat’s shell is bolstered by EPP foam that protects your child’s head and body from an accident. The base of the seat is a load leg made of metal that absorbs energy and assists in reducing the risk of crashes.
2. Chicco KeyFit
This is the top-rated infant car seat for travel seat. It is easy to set up and use, and it will expand with your child. It can also be combined in conjunction with strollers to create an travel system.
The KeyFit is a good choice for parents who want an easy-to-use and safe flexible seat. It scored high in crash tests and is light and easy to carry. It also offers an extensive range of height and weight limits. It was also designed to guarantee the safety of babies. The click-in point is surrounded by soft materials that protect your baby from getting burned by metal. The insert for babies comes with a head-cover which protects their heads. And the seat pad, which the baby is sitting on, encases them in foam cushions.
It’s also among the easiest infant seats to install correctly–every time. It is essential to install the seat correctly, as incorrect installation can increase your child’s danger of injury. The KeyFit’s top connectors for LATCH and a SuperCinch tightener ensures a secure fit while requiring only minimal effort. The base also features ReclineSure leveling foot as well as two RideRight bubble-level-indicators to ensure the correct vehicle angle. And for alternate installation with the belt on the vehicle clear belt routing and lock-offs make it easy to set up, install and tighten the seat belt of your car.
However, it isn’t as good in the user-friendliness category due to the rethread style harness height adjustment–a common feature on many Chicco seats (and also on their OG Keyfit model). This means you have to disconnect and manually re-thread straps from one level to the next, which takes longer than other adjustments. This is a minor sacrifice 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 highest safety standards. It has a no-rethread strap 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 that aid in alignment. The car seat is comfy, with plenty of padding. It also has a convenient canopy that shields your baby from the sun.
The i-Snug has an ISOFIX vehicle base that allows for an extremely secure vehicle attachment. It can also be used in conjunction with a compatible stroller to create an entire travel system. It’s an infant car seat that is rear-facing that provides maximum head and neck protection for infants and newborns. The exclusive Tri-Protect Headrest comes with a layer Intelli-Fit Memory Foam to protect your child from side-impact crashes.
You’ll need a brand new infant car seat as soon as your child reaches the weight and height limits or their first birthday. 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 more secure for them.
A convertible car seat is bigger and more spacious than an infant seat and it has a greater weight and height limit when facing backwards. It’s a good idea change to a convertible seat as soon as possible to stop your child from growing too quickly. In some cases parents can move their child into an all-in one car seat without the need to purchase another infant car seat. It is therefore crucial to select the right convertible car seat for your family and yourself. Our comprehensive guide will provide you with 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 installed using rigid anchors for the lower part of the outboard seats of most cars and with vehicle seat belt using Euro routing (which utilizes pretty much all of the length of the car’s seat belt for the most secure installation). It also includes a GOTS organic cotton infant insert, which makes it a great alternative for parents who are looking for organic options for their child.
At just 6 pounds without the canopy and inserts, the Pipa Aire RX is among the most lightweight infant car seats on the market. This is thanks to the revolutionary Aeroflex foam, which is extremely light but incredibly durable, reducing the force transferred to your baby in the event of a crash. Other safety features include a 5 second steel-reinforced True base lock installation, side impact protection and a multi-position stability leg with crumple zones that limit forward rotation for enhanced rear-facing security.
Other highlights include an ergonomic aluminum handle that’s lightweight and luxe with leatherette accents to ensure comfort and a great grip. Magnetic buckle holders keep straps off the way while buckling up your child and color-coded indicators to ensure proper connections. The low-profile base enables fast, effortless loading. the belt’s path is open and locks that secure shoulder and lap belts.
The process of parenting can be messy Cleaning up doesn’t be a chore. The inserts and fabrics of the Pipa Aire RX can be machine washed so that your car seat looks as good as it did following each use.
5. Nuna Pipa Urbn
Nuna’s PIPA air Rx and PIPA Rx car seats are excellent choices. However, the new Pipa Urbn is a step beyond. The ultralight infant car seat is incredibly easy to carry and weighs less than 7 pounds when the canopy and insert. It’s a user-friendly, elegant design and features such as magnetic buckle holders that keep straps out of from the way when strapping your baby in and a green/red indication to inform you if the installation is secure. ).
This innovative pipaFIX system allows it to be used without the base, unlike Pipa RX or other base-compatible PIPAs that need a base to be installed. This makes it the ideal option for parents who regularly use rideshare, taxis, 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. The green-friendly materials include a Merino wool and Tencel branded lyocell blend headrest as well as machine washable, water-resistant cover and body insert.
The main issue with the Pipa Urbn is that it 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 some other brands. That said, it is still a top choice for the majority of infants. This car seat is travel system-ready and pairs seamlessly with all of Nuna’s strollers–just click it on or connect with the rings adapter.
