Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies
While convertible car seats are ideal for kids who are growing, an infant seat is the best choice for babies and newborns. They're also lighter and easier to click into strollers than their larger counterparts.
CPST instructor Kecia Healy was impressed by the Chicco KeyFit's spring-loaded recline foot and bubble indicator on the base, in addition to its ease of use (the more user-friendly a car seat can be and the more likely parents will be to set it up correctly). This model also fits three across in a variety of mid-sized automobiles.
1. Clek Liing Infant Car Seat
Clek, one of the Canadian manufacturer, is well-known for its top-rated convertible car seat. The infant Liing is among their top infant seats. It is fitted with best-in class safety features, such as a metal load-leg and a simple installation. It also features seven different recline positions that can be adjusted to fit the slope of your vehicle's seat. A bubble indicator helps you determine if the seat is at the correct angle prior to letting your child ride in it.
The base of the Liing can be easily fitted using rigid LATCH connectors that fit into the lower anchors of your vehicle which makes it easier to secure the seat. The Liing is a great option for families who plan to switch cars frequently or need a simple and secure method to install car seats for their infants. You can also utilize the belt-tensioning system included to secure your child.
One of the things that makes the Liing apart from other infant car seats is its 2 piece Newborn Support System. It includes an upper insert that slips over the crotch buckle and a head support that is attached to the harness to help prevent newborns from slumping or pushing their heads forward when they're in the seat. This is a game changer for tiny babies and preemies. It's also among the few rear-facing infant car seats that offers this level of support.
Another advantage of the Liing is its metal crash-test frame, which reduces crash forces by up to 40 percent in comparison to other infant seats. The seat's shell is bolstered with EPP foam, which protects your child's head and body during the event of a crash. The seat's base has a load leg made of metal that absorbs energy and helps to reduce the risk of collisions.
2. Chicco KeyFit
This is the most highly rated infant seat. It's simple to install, easy to use, and grows with your child. It also works well with strollers as a travel system.
The KeyFit is an excellent choice for parents looking for an affordable, safe and easy-to-use seat. It scored highly in crash tests and is light and easy to carry. It also offers a wide range of height and weight limits. It was also designed to ensure the safety of babies. The click-in point has soft material around it to ensure that your baby won't be burned by metal, the newborn insert has a head surround to protect their little heads, and the seat pad that babies sit on nestles them with energy absorbing foam cushions for comfort.
Installing it correctly is also very easy. It is crucial to install the infant seat correctly as a wrong installation can increase your child's danger of injury. The KeyFit's premium LATCH connectors with a SuperCinch tightener provide an extremely secure fit with little effort. Plus, the base has a ReclineSure leveling foot as well as two RideRight bubble level indicators that help 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 belt on the car seat.
travel infant car seat is a feature that is found on a variety of Chicco seats including the original Keyfit model. This means you need to detach and manually re-thread the straps from one level to another which is more time-consuming than other adjustments. This is a minor disadvantage for the ease of this seat.
3. Joie i-Snug 2
The lightweight Joie i-Snug 2 is an i-Size infant car seats that is built to the most stringent safety standards. It has a harness that is not rethread, and is compatible with Joie strollers that can accept Maxi-Cosi style adapters. The installation guide is clearly marked and bubble levels are built in to aid in aligning the seat. The car seat is comfortable, with plenty of padding. It also comes with a handy canopy that protects your child from the sun.
The i-Snug has an ISOFIX vehicle base that allows secure attachment to the vehicle. It can also be combined with an appropriate stroller to make a complete travel system. It's an infant car seat with a rear view that provides maximum neck and head protection for infants and newborns. The exclusive Tri-Protect headrest comes with a layer of Intelli-Fit memory foam to shield your baby from side impact crashes.
You'll need a new infant car seat as soon as your child reaches the weight and height limits, or their first birthday. You can then upgrade to a convertible car seat or an all-in one car seat. This allows your child to be rear-facing for longer and is safer.
A convertible car seat is more spacious and has a higher rear-facing weight and height limit than an infant seat and typically has a larger space inside. It's a good idea to switch to a convertible car seat as soon as you can, to prevent your child from growing out of it too quickly. In certain instances parents can even move their child into an all-in-one car seat, without ever having to purchase a car seat for their infant. This is why it's crucial to pick the most suitable convertible car seat for your family. Read our complete guide for all the info 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 because of its safety, lightweight design and its versatility. It is installed with strong lower anchors on the outboard seats in most vehicles and is also equipped with a vehicle seat belt using Euro routing (which makes use of all of the length of the car's seat belt for a secure installation). It also comes with an organic cotton GOTS infant insert, which makes it a great alternative for parents who are looking for organic options for their child.
At only 6 lbs without the canopy and inserts the Pipa Aire RX is among the lightest infant car seats available on the market. This is due to the revolutionary Aeroflex foam, which is extremely light yet incredibly strong, reducing forces transferred to your child 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 features a crumple zone to limit forward rotation to provide greater rearward-facing security.
Other highlights include an ergonomic aluminum carry handle that's light and luxurious with leatherette accents for comfortable toting and superb grip. A magnet buckle holder keeps straps from getting in the way when you buckle your child in and color-coded installation indicators confirm correct connections. The low-profile base allows for fast loading, and the wide belt pathway with lock-off secures shoulder and lap belts.
Parenting can be messy, but cleaning up shouldn't need to be. The fabrics and inserts of the Pipa Aire RX can be machine washed so that your car seat appears as good as it did following each use.
5. Nuna Pipa Urbn
While Nuna's PIPA rx and PIPA Air RX car seats are both great alternatives, the new Pipa Urbn takes it all to another level. This ultralight infant car seat is incredibly easy to carry, and weighs less than 7 pounds when the canopy and insert attached. It also has an elegant, user-friendly design that includes useful features such as magnetic buckle holders to help keep straps clear 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! ).
Unlike the Pipa RX and the other base-compatible PIPA models that require the use of a car base, this one can be installed without a base thanks to its innovative pipaFIX rigid latch system. This makes it a perfect choice for parents who frequently use taxis or rideshare services for travel, or simply need to transfer their car seat faster and more easily.
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 and a water-resistant, machine washable cover and body insert.
The Pipa Urbn comes with the weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds when rear-facing. This means that you will need to upgrade to a convertible seat sooner than other brands. It is still a top choice for most babies. The car seat is compatible with Nuna's travel systems and can be attached to all strollers with the ring adapter.