Why All The Fuss About Best Car Seats For Infants?
Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies
While convertible car seats are great for growing kids however, an infant car seat is ideal for infants and newborns. They are also lighter and easier for you to attach to strollers than their larger counterparts.
CPST instructor Kecia Healy praised the Chicco KeyFit's recline foot that is spring-loaded 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 are to set it up correctly). car seat for newborn fits three across in the majority of 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 infant seats. It is fitted with top-of-the-line safety features including a steel load-leg and a simple installation. It also has 7 different recline positions that can be adjusted to suit the slope of your vehicle's seat. A bubble indicator helps you ensure that the seat is at the correct angle before your child 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 vehicle which makes it easier to secure the seat. The Liing is a great option for families who intend to frequently switch cars or need a simple, reliable way to install car seats for babies. If you prefer, you could use the included belt-tensioning system to buckle your child in.
The Liing's 2-piece Newborn System is just one of the features that sets it apart from other infant car seats. It includes an insert that is able to slide over the crotch strap and a headrest that is attached to harnesses to prevent infants from slumping forward or pushing their heads backwards while in the seat. It's a game-changer for tiny preemies and babies and is among the few rear-facing infant car seats that provide this type of support.
Another great feature of the Liing is its metal crash-test frame, which reduces crash forces by up to 40 percent compared to other infant seats. The seat's shell is reinforced with EPP foam that protects your child's head and body in a crash. The seat's base has a load leg made of metal that absorbs energy, and also helps to reduce crashes.
2. Chicco KeyFit
This is the top-rated infant seat. It is easy to install and use, and it will grow with your child. It can also be used with strollers to create a travel system.
The KeyFit is an excellent option for parents who want an affordable, safe and easy-to-use seat. It scored highly in crash tests and is lightweight and easy to carry. It also comes with an extensive range of height and weight limits. It is also designed with the comfort of babies in mind. The click-in point is protected by soft materials that protect your baby from being burnt by metal. The newborn insert also has a head cover that shields their little heads. The seat pad, on which the baby is sitting on, encases the infant in energy-absorbing foam cushions.
The process of installing it correctly is simple. It is crucial to install the seat correctly, as incorrect installation could increase the danger of injury. The KeyFit's top LATCH connectors with a SuperCinch tightener create an extremely secure fit with little effort. The base also features ReclineSure leveling feet and two RideRight bubble-level indicators to ensure the proper angle of the vehicle. For a second installation, using the vehicle seat belt, clear belt routing and lock-offs make it easy to set up, install and tighten the seat belt of your car.
It does lose some points in the user-friendliness 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 you need to disconnect and manually re-thread straps from one slot level to the next which is longer than non-rethread adjustments. But this is still a relatively minor tradeoff for the ease of use this seat provides.
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 comes with a no-rethread harness, and is compatible with Joie strollers that 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 comes with plenty of padding and is comfortable. It comes with a canopy that shields your baby from direct sun's rays.
The i-Snug 2 comes with an ISOFIX base for secure attachment to vehicles and can be used with a compatible stroller for a complete travel set-up. It's a rear-facing infant car seat that offers the best head and neck protection for newborns and babies. The exclusive Tri-Protect headrest comes with an additional layer of Intelli-Fit memory foam to protect your baby from side-impact collisions.
Like 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 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 has a higher weight and height limit when facing backwards. To avoid your child growing out of the seat in a hurry, it's best to switch to a car seat that can be converted as quickly as you are able to. In certain instances, parents can even transition their baby to an all-in-one car seats without ever needing to purchase a new infant car seat. It is therefore crucial to select the best convertible car seat for your family and yourself. Our comprehensive guide will give you all the details you require to make an informed decision.
4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX
Nuna Pipa RX is a highly rated infant seat due to its safety features, 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 utilizes pretty much the entire length of the car's seat belt for a secure installation). It also comes with an organic GOTS baby insert, which is a great option for parents who are eco conscious and prioritize organic products for their children.
At just 6 pounds without the canopy and inserts the Pipa Aire RX is among the lightest infant car seats on the market. This is due to the revolutionary Aeroflex foam, which is extremely light yet resilient, minimizing force transferred to your baby during a crash. Other security features include a five-second steel-reinforced True lock base installation, side impact protection, and a multi-position steel stability leg with crumple zones that limit forward rotation to provide greater rear-facing security.
Other highlights include an ergonomic aluminum handle that's light and luxurious with leatherette accents to ensure comfortable toting and superb grip. Magnetic buckle holders keep straps off the way while buckling up your child and color-coded indicator lights for installation confirm correct connections. The low-profile base allows for easy, super-fast loading and the open belt path with locks that secure shoulder and lap belts.
Parenting can be messy But cleaning up doesn't be a chore. The inserts and fabrics of the Pipa Aire RX can be cleaned by a machine to ensure 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 recently launched Pipa Urbn takes it all to another level. This ultralight infant car seat is easy to carry and weighs less than 7 pounds when the canopy and insert are connected. It's a user-friendly, elegant design and features such as magnetic buckle holders that keep straps out the way when you are strapping your baby in and a red/green indication to tell you that the installation is secure. ).
The unique pipaFIX technology allows it to be used without a base, unlike Pipa RX or other base-compatible PIPAs that require one to be installed. 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 more quickly and 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. Those green-friendly materials also include a Merino wool and Tencel branded lyocell blend headrest and a water-resistant, machine washable body cover and cover.
The Pipa Urbn comes with a weight limit of only 30 to 35 pounds when rear-facing. This means that you may have to upgrade to a convertible seat sooner than with other brands. It is still a top choice for most infants. This car seat is travel system-ready and pairs seamlessly with all Nuna strollers. You just need to click it on or attach with the rings adapter.