Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies
While convertible car seats are great for growing kids however, an infant car seat is the best choice for infants and newborns. They are also lighter and easier for you to click into strollers than their bigger counterparts.
CPST instructor Kecia Healy liked the Chicco KeyFit's recline foot that is spring-loaded and bubble indicator on the base, in addition to its user-friendliness (the more user-friendly a car seats is and is, the more likely parents are to install it correctly). The model also fits three across in many midsize automobiles.
1. Clek Liing infant car seat
The Canadian manufacturer Clek is known for their top-rated convertible car seats, and the infant Liing is one of their best infant seats. The seat combines best-in-class safety features such as a metal load leg, which is easy to install. user-friendly installation and 7 different recline positions to adapt to the slope of your car seat. Plus, a simple bubble indicator makes it easy to ensure that 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 connectors made of rigid material that fit into the lower anchors on your vehicle which makes it easier to secure the seat. The Liing is a great option for families that intend to frequently switch cars or need a simple, reliable way to install car seats for their infants. You can also utilize the belt-tensioning system that comes with it to secure your child.
One of the features that makes the Liing apart from other infant car seats is its 2 piece Newborn Support System. This includes an upper insert that slides over the crotch buckle and an attachment for the head that connects to the harness to to prevent babies from slumping or bending their heads forward while they're 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 provide this degree of support.
The Liing's metal crash-test framework reduces crash forces up to 40% compared to other infant seat. The seat's shell is reinforced with EPP foam, which protects your child's head and body during the event of a crash. The base of the seat is an aluminum load leg that absorbs energy and helps to reduce crashes.
2. Chicco KeyFit
This is a top-rated infant car seat. It is easy to install and use, and it can adapt to your child's needs. It can also be combined in conjunction with strollers to create an travel system.
The KeyFit is an excellent option for parents who want an affordable, safe and user-friendly seat. It was a top performer in crash tests and is lightweight and easy to carry. It also offers a wide range of weight and height limits. It was also designed to ensure the safety of babies. The click-in point is surrounded by soft materials to protect your baby from getting burned by metal. The insert for babies comes with a head-cover that protects their tiny heads. The seat pad, which the baby sits on, is able to nestle the infant in energy-absorbing foam cushions.
It's also among the easiest infant seats to install correctly--every time. This is important because incorrectly installed infant seats can increase the chance of injury to your child. The premium connectors of KeyFit's LATCH and a SuperCinch tightener ensure a secure fit while requiring only minimal effort. The base also has a ReclineSure leveling foot as well as two RideRight bubble level indicators that help ensure the correct angle for the vehicle and speedy installation. In addition, for a different installation using the seat belt of the vehicle, clear belt routing and lock-offs make it easy to install, position and tighten the belt on the car seat.
The harness height adjustment rethread feature is a feature found on a variety of Chicco seats, including the original Keyfit model. This means you have to remove the harness and manually re-thread straps from one level to the next, which takes longer than non-rethread adjustments. This is a minor disadvantage for the ease of use of this seat.
3. Joie i-Snug 2
The light Joie i-Snug 2 infant car seat meets the highest safety standards. It features a no-rethread harness, and is compatible with Joie strollers that can accept Maxi-Cosi style adapters. The installation guide is clearly labeled and bubble levels are built in to help align the seat. The car seat is comfy, with plenty of padding. It has a nice canopy that protects your child from the sunlight.
The i-Snug 2 has an ISOFIX base to ensure a secure attachment to vehicles and can be used in tandem with a compatible stroller for a complete travel set-up. This rear-facing infant seat offers maximum head and cervical protection for infants. The exclusive Tri-Protect Headrest is equipped with a layer of Intelli-Fit Memory Foam to protect your child from side impact crashes.
Like any infant car seat you'll have to replace it once your child outgrows the height and weight limits or when they reach their first birthday. Then, you can upgrade to a convertible, or an all-in-one car seats, which allows children to sit rear-facing for longer and is more secure for them.
A convertible car seat is bigger and more spacious than an infant car seat and also has a higher weight and height limit when facing rearward. To prevent your child from becoming too big for the seat too quickly, it's recommended to move to a seat that can be converted as quickly as you can. In some cases parents can move their child to an all-in-one car seat without having to buy another infant car seat. This is why it's crucial to pick the best convertible car seat for your family. Read our complete guide for all the info you need to make an informed choice.
4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX
The Nuna Pipa Aire RX is among the top-rated infant car seats because of its safety, light design, and flexibility. It can be used with a rigid lower anchor in the seats that are outboard of a majority of vehicles, or with the seat belt of the vehicle that uses Euro Routing (which utilizes the entire length to anchor the seat). It also comes with an organic baby insert from GOTS that is a great option for parents who are eco conscious and prefer organic products for their child.
With a weight of just 6 pounds without the canopy and inserts, the Pipa Aire RX is among the most lightweight infant car seats on the market. This is thanks to the revolutionary Aeroflex foam that is extremely light but incredibly durable, reducing the 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 stability leg with crumple zones that limit forward rotation for enhanced rear-facing security.
The ergonomic aluminum handle is lightweight and luxurious, with leatherette accents to provide an ergonomic grip and an ideal method to carry the bag. A magnetic buckle holder keeps straps from getting in the way when you buckle your child in and color-coded indicator for installation ensures that the belts are properly connected. The low-profile base allows for rapid loading, and the open belt path with lock-off secures shoulder and lap belts.
Cleaning up after a messy child should not be a hassle. lightweight baby car seat and fabrics of 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
Nuna's PIPA air rx and PIPA Rx car seats are great options. But the newly launched Pipa Urbn is a step beyond. This ultralight infant seat is easy to carry and weighs less than 7 pounds when the canopy and insert are connected. It also has elegant, user-friendly design that includes practical features like buckle holders with magnetic buckles to keep straps out of the way while you're buckling baby in and a green/red indicator to tell you that the installation is secure (we wish all car seats had this feature! ).
The unique pipaFIX technology allows it to be used without a base, unlike the Pipa RX or other base-compatible PIPAs that need a base to be installed. This makes it the perfect option for parents who 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. The green-friendly materials include a Merino wool and Tencel branded lyocell blend headrest as well as a machine washable, water-resistant body insert and cover.
The Pipa Urbn has 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 other brands. It's still a great option for the majority of infants. The car seat is travel system-ready and pairs seamlessly with all of Nuna's strollers--just click it on or connect with the ring adapter.