Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies
While convertible car seats are ideal for kids who are growing however, an infant car seat is the best choice for infants and newborns. They're also lighter and easier to clip into a stroller than their larger counterparts.
CPST instructor Kecia Healy liked the Chicco KeyFit's spring-loaded recline foot and bubble indicator on the base, as well as its user-friendliness (the more user-friendly a car seat is and is, the more likely parents will be to set it up correctly). The model also fits three across in many mid-sized vehicles.
1. Clek Liing Car Seat for Infants
The Canadian manufacturer Clek is renowned for its top-rated convertible car seats, and the infant Liing is among the best infant seats. The seat combines best-in-class safety features such as a metal load leg that is simple to install, user-friendly installation, and 7 different recline positions to adapt to the slope of your car seat. A bubble indicator enables you ensure that the seat is at the right angle prior to your child riding 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 that plan to switch vehicles often or for those looking for a fast, reliable method to install their baby's car seat. If you prefer, you can utilize the belt-tensioning system included to buckle your child in.
One of the things that makes the Liing apart from other infant car seats is its 2-piece Newborn Support System. This includes a lower insert that slides over the crotch buckle, and a head support that is attached to the harness to prevent newborns from slumbering or pushing their heads forward while they're in the seat. It's a game changer for small babies and preemies and is one of the few rear facing infant car seats that provide this type of support.
The Liing's metal crash-test framework reduces the force of a crash by up to 40% compared to other infant seats. The seat's shell is bolstered with EPP foam, which shields your child's head and body during a crash. The base of the seat has an aluminum load leg that absorbs energy and helps to reduce crashes.
2. Chicco KeyFit
This is a consistent top-rated infant car seat. It is simple to install and use, and can expand with your child. It can also be combined together with strollers to create a travel system.
The KeyFit is an excellent option for parents looking for an affordable, safe and easy-to-use seat. It scored high in crash tests and is light and easy to carry. It also has an extensive range of height and weight limits. It was also designed to ensure the safety of babies. The click-in points are made of soft materials around it so your baby won't be burnt by metal. The infant insert comes with a head surround to shield their heads, and the seat pad your baby sits on nestles them with energy absorbing foam cushions for a comfortable experience.
It's also one of the most simple infant seats to install correctly--every time. It is important to install the infant seat correctly, as incorrect installation could increase your child's chance of getting injured. The KeyFit's top connectors for LATCH with a SuperCinch tightener ensures an ensconced fit with minimal effort. The base also comes with ReclineSure leveling foot as well as two RideRight bubble-level-indicators to ensure that the vehicle's angle is correct. To make it easier to install the base in another way and clear belt routing lock-offs and the seatbelt of the car make it easy to place and tighten.
However, it isn't as good in the user-friendliness category due to the rethread style harness height adjustment--a common feature on a lot of Chicco seats (and also on their OG Keyfit model). This means that you must manually re-thread straps in order to change from one level to another. But this is still an insignificant trade-off to the ease of use this seat provides.
3. Joie i-Snug 2
The lightweight Joie i-Snug 2 infant car seat is built to the most stringent safety standards. It comes with a no-rethread strap and is compatible with Joie Strollers that accept Maxi Cosi style adapters. The installation guide is clearly labeled and bubble levels are included to help align the seat. The car seat is comfy, with plenty of padding. It also has a useful canopy that shields your baby from the sun.
The i-Snug comes with an ISOFIX vehicle base that allows for an extremely secure vehicle attachment. It can also be used with an appropriate stroller to create an entire travel system. It's a rear-facing infant car seat that provides maximum head and neck protection for newborns and babies. The exclusive Tri-Protect headrest has an additional layer of Intelli-Fit memory foam to shield your baby from side-impact collisions.
You'll need a new infant car seat when your child reaches the limit on weight and height or their first birthday. In the meantime you can upgrade to a convertible, or an all-in-one car seat that allows children to ride rear-facing longer and is safer for them.
A convertible car seat is bigger and more spacious than an infant seat, and also has a higher weight and height limit when facing backwards. To stop your child from becoming too big for the seat too quickly, it's best to change to a car seat that converts as soon as you are able to. In some cases parents can even move their child to an all-in-one car seat without ever having to purchase another new infant car seat. That's why it's crucial to pick the best convertible car seat for your family. Our extensive guide will provide all the information you need to make a good choice.
4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX
The Nuna Pipa Aire RX is among the most rated infant car seats because of its safety, lightweight design, and versatility. It installs with rigid lower anchors on the outboard seats of most cars and is also equipped with a 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 comes with a GOTS organic baby insert, which is a great option for parents who are eco conscious and prefer organic products for their child.
The Pipa Aire RX weighs only 6 lbs. without the canopy or inserts. It's one of the lightest infant car seats available. Aeroflex foam is extremely light and resilient but also extremely lightweight, helps to minimize the force that is transferred to your child in an accident. 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 area to reduce forward rotation to provide greater rearward-facing security.
The ergonomic aluminum handle is light and luxurious with leatherette accents to provide a comfortable grip and an ideal option to carry the bag. Pushchairs And Prams keeps straps from getting in the way when buckling your child in and color-coded indicators for installation confirm the correct connection. The low-profile base enables fast, effortless loading. the belt's path is open and lock-offs secures shoulder and lap belts.
Parenting can be messy But 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 like it did after each use.
5. Nuna Pipa Urbn
Nuna's PIPA air rx and PIPA Rx car seats are excellent choices. But the newly launched Pipa Urbn is a step above. This ultralight infant car seats is extremely easy to carry and weighs less than 7 pounds with the canopy and insert. It has a user-friendly, elegant design and features like magnetic buckle holders that keep straps from getting in from the way when buckling in baby and a green/red indication to let you know that the installation is secure. ).
Contrary to the Pipa RX and the other base-compatible PIPA models that require the use of a car base it, this model can be installed without a base thanks to its unique pipaFIX rigid latch system. This makes it an ideal choice for parents who frequently take taxis or rideshares, travel, or just want the ability to transfer their car seat between vehicles 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. These green-friendly materials include a Merino wool and Tencel branded lyocell blend headrest and a machine washable, water-resistant body cover and cover.
The Pipa Urbn has the weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds when used rear-facing. This means that you will need to upgrade to a convertible model sooner than other brands. It's still a top option for the majority of infants. This car seat is also equipped for travel and can be used with all of Nuna's strollers--just click it on or attach with the rings adapter.