10 Great Books On Best Car Seats For Infants
Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies
While convertible car seats are ideal for children who are growing, an infant seat is the best choice for babies and newborns. They're also lighter and easier to clip into a stroller than their larger counterparts.
CPST instructor Kecia Healy was impressed by the Chicco KeyFit's recline foot with springs and bubble indicator on the base, in addition to its ease of use (the more user-friendly a car seat is and the more likely parents will be to install it correctly). The model can also be used three across in most mid-sized cars.
1. Clek Liing infant car seat
Clek, a Canadian manufacturer, is well-known for its top-rated convertible car seat. The infant Liing is among their top infant seats. The Liing seat is designed to offer top-of-the-line safety features, including a steel load leg, which is easy to install. user-friendly installation, and 7 different recline positions to adjust to the slope of your vehicle seat. Plus, a simple bubble indicator makes it simple to ensure the seat is in the correct angle before your baby rides in it.
The base of the Liing can be easily fitted with the help of LATCH connectors that slide into the lower anchors of your car which makes it easier to anchor the seat. The Liing is a great choice for families that intend to frequently switch cars or want a simple, reliable way to install car seats for babies. If you prefer, you could utilize the belt-tensioning feature to buckle your child in.
The Liing's 2-piece Newborn System is just one of the features that set it apart from other infant car seats. The system comes with a lower insert which is able to slide over the crotch strap as well as a headrest that attaches to harness to prevent newborns from slumbering forward and pushing their heads backwards while in the seat. This is an amazing feature for tiny babies and preemies. It's also among the few rear-facing infant car seats that offer this level of support.
The Liing's crash-test framework made of metal reduces the force of crash by 40% compared to other infant seats. The shell of the Liing is padded with EPP foam to protect your child's head and torso, which are the most susceptible in the event of a collision. The base of the seat has an aluminum load leg that absorbs energy, and also assists in reducing the risk of crashes.
2. Chicco KeyFit
This is a consistently top-rated infant car seat. It's easy to set up, simple to use and can grow with your child. It also pairs well with strollers to create an overall travel system.
The KeyFit is a good choice for parents looking for an easy-to-use, safe and flexible seat. It scored highly in crash tests and is light and easy to carry. It also comes with a broad range of height and weight limits. best car seat was also designed with babies' comfort in mind. The click-in points are made of soft materials surrounding it so that your baby isn't burned by the metal. The infant insert comes with a head surround to protect their heads, and the seat pad that baby sits on nestles them with cushioned foam that absorbs energy to ensure comfort.
It's also among the easiest infant seats to set up correctly every time. It is crucial to install the seat correctly as a wrong installation can increase the danger of injury. The KeyFit's premium LATCH connectors that come with a SuperCinch tightener ensure a secure fit that requires minimal effort. The base also has a ReclineSure leveling foot as well as two RideRight bubble-level-indicators to ensure the proper angle of the vehicle. And for alternate installation with the belt on the vehicle clear belt routing and lock-offs make it simple to install, position and tighten the belt on the car seat.
It does lose some points in the ease of use category due to the rethread-style harness height adjustment, a feature that is common on a lot of Chicco seats (and also on their OG Keyfit model). This means that you must manually re-thread straps to move them from one level to the next. This is a minor sacrifice for the convenience of this seat.
3. Joie i-Snug 2
The lightweight Joie i-Snug 2 infant car seat meets the most stringent safety standards. It has a harness that is not rethread and is compatible with Joie strollers that use 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 comfortable, with plenty of padding. It also comes with a handy canopy to shield your baby from the sun.
The iSnug 2 comes with an ISOFIX base to ensure a secure vehicle attachment. It can be used in tandem with a compatible stroller for a complete 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 features a layer Intelli-Fit Memory Foam to protect your child from collisions with the side.
As with any infant car seat you'll have to replace it once your child reaches the weight and height limits, or when they turn one. In the meantime, you can upgrade to a convertible or all-in-one car seat, which allows children to sit rear-facing for 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 growing out of the seat in a hurry, it's best to move to a seat that converts as quickly as you are able to. In some cases parents can transition their baby into an all-in one car seat without needing to purchase another infant car seat. It's therefore important to choose the best convertible car seat for your family. Check out our comprehensive guide to provide all the details you need to make an informed decision.
4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX
The Nuna Pipa Aire RX is among the most rated infant car seats due to its safety, light design and its flexibility. 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 makes use of the entire length of the vehicle's seat belt for a secure installation). It also comes with an organic cotton infant insert, which makes it a great option for environmentally conscious parents who prioritize organic choices 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 on the market. This is thanks to the unique Aeroflex foam that's incredibly lightweight yet incredibly strong, reducing forces transferred to your child during a crash. Other security features include the five-second steel-reinforced True Lock base installation, side-impact protection and a multi-position steel stability leg with a crumple zone to limit forward rotation for enhanced rearward-facing security.
Other highlights include an ergonomic aluminum handle that's light and luxurious with leatherette accents for comfortable toting and superb grip. Magnetic buckle holders keep straps out of the way while buckling up your child, and color-coded indicators for installation confirm correct connections. The low-profile base allows for fast, effortless loading. the open belt path with lock-off secures lap and shoulder belts.
Cleaning up after a messy parent shouldn't be a problem. The inserts and fabrics in the Pipa Aire RX are machine washable, which means you can keep your car seat looking as fresh as new after each use.
5. Nuna Pipa Urbn
While Nuna's PIPA RX and PIPA air rx car seats are both excellent options, the newly launched Pipa Urbn takes it all to a whole new level. This ultralight infant car seats is super easy to carry, weighing less than 7 pounds when the canopy and insert attached. It also comes with a luxe user-friendly design with convenient features like buckle holders with magnetic buckles to help keep straps clear while you're buckling baby in, and a green/red indicator to ensure the installation is secure (we wish that all car seats came with this! ).
In contrast to 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 unique pipaFIX rigid latch system. This makes it the ideal choice for parents that frequently use 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 and a water-resistant, machine washable cover and body insert.
The main issue with the Pipa Urbn is that it only has a rear-facing weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds, which means you might need to upgrade to a convertible seat sooner than some other brands. It is still a top option for the majority of infants. The car seat is compatible with Nuna's travel systems, and can be attached to strollers using the rings adapter.