Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies
While convertible car seats work great for children who are growing however, an infant car seat is best for infants. rotating infant car seat are also lighter and easier to click into strollers than their larger counterparts.
Kecia Healy Instructor at CPST Kecia Healy liked the recline leg with springs and a bubble indicator at the base of the Chicco KeyFit, as well as the ease of use. (The more user-friendly the car seat, the more likely it is that parents will install it correctly. This model can also fit three across in most midsize cars.
1. Clek Liing infant car seat
Clek, one of the Canadian manufacturer, is known for its top-rated convertible car seats. The infant Liing is among their top infant seats. The seat is equipped with the best safety features available like a metal load-leg that can be easily installed. It also comes with seven different recline positions that can be adjusted to fit the slope of your vehicle's seat. Additionally, a simple bubble indicator makes it simple to make sure the seat is at the correct angle prior to your child's first ride in it.
The base of the Liing is easy to install by using LATCH connections that are rigid and fit into your vehicle's lower anchors making it easier to anchor. The Liing is a great option for families who plan to switch cars frequently or need a simple and reliable method of installing car seats for babies. If you prefer, you can also use the included belt-tensioning system to buckle your child.
The Liing's 2-piece Newborn System is one of the features that set it apart from other infant car seats. This system includes an lower insert that can be placed over the crotch strap, and an attached headrest to the harnesses to stop newborns from slumbering forward or pulling their heads backwards 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 degree of support.
The Liing's crash-test framework made of metal reduces the force of a crash by up to 40% when compared to other infant seat. The seat's shell is reinforced with EPP foam, which protects your child's head and body during a crash. The base of the seat is a load leg made of metal that absorbs energy and assists in reducing crashes.
2. Chicco KeyFit
This is the top-rated infant seat. It is simple to install and use, and it will adapt to your child's needs. It can also be used together with strollers to create a travel system.
The KeyFit is a good pick for parents who want an easy-to-use and safe versatile seat. It scored high in crash tests and is lightweight and easy to carry. It also comes with an extensive range of weight and height limits. It was also designed to ensure the safety of babies. The click-in area is surrounded by soft materials to prevent your baby from being burned by the metal. The insert for newborns has a head cover that shields their little heads. And the seat pad, on which the baby sits on, is able to nestle the infant in energy-absorbing foam cushions.
Installation is extremely simple. It is important to install the infant seat correctly, since a mistake in installation could increase your child's risk of injury. The KeyFit's premium connectors for LATCH and a SuperCinch tightener ensures a secure fit while requiring only minimal effort. The base also features ReclineSure leveling feet and two RideRight bubble-level-indicators to ensure that the vehicle's angle is correct. And for alternate installation with the seat belt of the vehicle, clear belt routing and lock-offs make it easy to position, install and tighten the seat belt of your car.
It does lose some points in the ease of use category due to the rethread-style harness height adjustment, which is a standard feature on a lot of Chicco seats (and as well on their OG Keyfit model). This means that you must manually re-thread straps to move from one level to another. However, this is a relatively minor tradeoff for the ease of use this seat provides.
3. Joie i-Snug 2
The light Joie i-Snug 2 infant car seat meets 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 aid in aligning the seat. The car seat comes with plenty of padding and is comfortable. It has a convenient canopy that protects your child from the sun's rays.
The i-Snug has an ISOFIX vehicle base that allows secure attachment to the vehicle. It can also be used with an appropriate stroller to make a complete travel system. It's an infant car seat with a rear view that offers maximum head and neck protection for infants and newborns. The exclusive Tri-Protect headrest has a layer of Intelli-Fit memory foam to shield your baby from side impact crashes.
Like any infant car seat, you'll have to replace it once your child is over the weight and height limits, or when they turn one. In the meantime, you can upgrade to a convertible or all-in-one car seats, which allows children to sit rear-facing for longer and is safer for them.
A convertible car seat is larger and more spacious than an infant seat and it has a greater weight and height limit when facing rearward. It is a good idea to change to a convertible car seat as soon as possible to stop your child from growing too quickly. In some cases parents can even move their child to an all-in-one car seat, without ever having to purchase a new car seat for their infant. It's therefore important to choose the best convertible car seat for your family. Our extensive guide will provide you with all the details you require to make a wise choice.
4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX
The Nuna Pipa Aire RX is one of the most highly-rated infant car seats due to its safety, light design and the flexibility. It is installed with strong anchors for the lower part of the outboard seats in most vehicles and with vehicle seat belt that utilizes 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 baby insert from GOTS which is a great option for parents who are environmentally conscious and prefer organic products for their children.
The Pipa Aire RX weighs only 6 pounds. without the canopy or inserts. It's among the lightest infant car seat available. Aeroflex foam, which is lightweight and robust, but also extremely light, helps to minimize the force that is transferred to your child in the event of a crash. Other security features include a five-second steel-reinforced True base lock installation, side impact protection and a multi-position steel stability leg with a crumple zone that limits forward rotation for enhanced rear-facing security.
The ergonomic aluminum handle is light and luxurious with leatherette accents to provide an ergonomic grip and a convenient method to carry the bag. A magnetic buckle holder keeps straps out of the way when you buckle your child and color-coded installation indicators confirm that the belts are properly connected. The low-profile base allows for easy, super-fast loading and the open belt path with locks that secure shoulder and lap belts.
Cleaning up after a messy child shouldn't be a problem. The fabrics and inserts in the Pipa Aire RX are machine washable, which means you can keep your car seat looking like new after every use.
5. Nuna Pipa Urbn
While Nuna's PIPA RX and PIPA air rx car seats are both excellent alternatives, the recently launched Pipa Urbn takes it all to a whole new level. This ultralight infant seat is lightweight and easy to carry, and weighs less than 7 pounds once the canopy and insert are attached. It also has elegant user-friendly design, with practical features like buckle holders with magnetic buckles to help keep straps clear while you're buckling baby in, and a green/red indicator to let you know the installation is secure (we wish all car seats had this! ).
In contrast to the Pipa RX and the other base-compatible PIPA models that require an automobile base to be installed it, this model can be used without a base due to its pipaFIX-inspired latch system. This makes it a great 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. These green-friendly materials include the Merino Wool and Tencel branded blend of Lyocell fibres for the headrest as well as an waterproof machine washable cover.
The Pipa Urbn has the weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds when rear-facing. This means that you will need to upgrade to a convertible seat earlier than other brands. However, it is still a top choice for most infants. This car seat is also compatible with Nuna's travel systems and can be attached to all strollers by using the ring adapter.