The People Closest To Best Infant Seat Tell You Some Big Secrets
Best Infant Seat Features All infant seats must meet the safety standards of the federal government. However some seats go above and beyond. Our Best of the Bump winner includes a variety of features that parents will love, including extra padding, a padded inlay for babies and the ability to raise or lower the headrest with no need for rethreading. When selecting our top picks, we took into consideration factors such as weight (without base) stroller compatibility, special features and prices. Check out the following article to determine which infant car seat is the best fit for your family. Safety All car seats for infants sold in the United States must meet federal safety standards. However, some seats come with additional features that go above the minimum standards. They could include load legs, a built-in rethreader, sides that support the straps and more. The more features a car seat is equipped with the more comfortable, according to the experts I spoke with. The more user-friendly the car seat, the more likely that parents will use it correctly. This can reduce their child’s risk of injury in the event of a crash. This is especially true for an infant seat, since it's designed for an extremely short time. Find a seat with bubble indicators and an incline foot that is spring loaded to make it easy to set the seat. Make sure the base is easy to click into and out of the vehicle. Other premium features that some car seat makers offer include a no-rethread harness, magnetic buckle holders, and side grips to carry the seat. Remember that even though these features are wonderful but the safety of your car seat is only as good as the vehicle in which you drive. You can find tips in the owner's manual on how to secure your child's car seat and learn more about the car's safety features. When choosing an infant car seat, keep in mind that you'll only be in a position to use it for around two years before your child is old enough to move to a convertible car seat. Some families opt to not use the infant car seat completely and opt for a convertible car, which has greater weight and height limits. When buying an infant car seat, be sure to consider the dimensions of your car and test various models before settling. You can then make sure that the seat is comfortable for your child, fits in your car and comes with useful features such as the ability to convert it into a stroller. Also, make sure to verify recalls prior making an purchase. It's the most important aspect to ensure your child's safety on the road. User-Friendliness If you're using the seat in a single car or moving it among several, you want an infant car seat that is simple to put in and remove from the base. Find clearly labeled installation guides as well as a mechanism that works seamlessly. Also, consider how it is simple to adjust the car seat as baby grows and the quality of the materials used. A great feature that many infant seats come with is a load leg, which acts as a brace between the seat's base and car's floor, providing additional stability in the event of an accident. This is a crucial feature if you drive an older vehicle, since the risk of head injury in a crash is higher when a child is seated near to the ground, as per research conducted by Consumer Reports. Other high-end features can enhance the experience of infants in car seats. These include a no rethread harness, as well as an anti-rebound bar that helps keep the seat from spinning in the event of a crash. The latter has been proven to lower the risk of head injury by as much as 43 percent. “If you're on a budget and you want the security of an ARC-certified car seat with several key features that are premium I would recommend the Evenflo LiteMax DLX,” says Babylist gear editor Jennifer LaBracio. The seat has received an excellent rating from child-passenger safety technicians and comes with an adjustable no-rethread harness and five recline positions, plus an extendable canopy that secures with magnets for full coverage. A seat that can be easily installed with lapbelts and does not require the requirement for an additional base is a different option. This is a great option for parents who plan to use Uber or taxi rides since it doesn't require them to go back to the car every time to replace a seat. For example the Nuna Pipa Urbn as well as its counterpart TRIV travel system feature a rigid LATCH system that's built right into the seat's bottom which makes it fast and simple to install in any vehicle. It also can be used rear-facing (4-40 pounds) and forward-facing (22-65 pounds) and converts to a highback booster or backless belt-positioning booster (40-120 pounds). It's a great option for families on a tight budget. Comfort When your baby is in a car seat for a long period of time, it's crucial that they are comfortable. This includes padded shoulder straps and soft fabric that feels comfortable against their stomach or back, and a growing headrest. Also, consider a seat you can easily alter as your child grows. A car seat with a variety of features can be more expensive but also easier to use. This is why we consider things like a one-hand harness system, premium LATCH connectors, and a no-rethread harness when we evaluate infant car seats. We also consider the weight and dimensions of the seat, because a heavy or large seat could strain your biceps as you move it to and from your vehicle or between vehicles. Another good choice is a seat with the load-leg, a security feature that assists in stabilizing the car seat in the event of an accident. It's typically found in more expensive seats, but we've seen a few budget-friendly options that include this additional safety feature. Another thing to consider is height and weight limits. You'll need to ensure the seat is suitable for your child when they reach their maximum growth. This usually happens around age two or 3. You should also consider a convertible infant car seat that converts to an adult car seat. This type of seat offers more flexibility and is perfect for families who often change vehicles or travel. Our test subjects loved the Doona, which is a combination of an infant car seat and stroller in one. It's a great choice for parents on the go, especially those who commute to work or school on public transport. It is also easy to put in. Our expert testers praised its ease of use with the one-handed latching system as well as the padded shoulder straps. Our product testers also commented on how compact the seat is it is essential for those who have a small trunk space. Additionally, it's free of any flame retardant chemicals, which is a huge advantage for parents who are concerned about their baby's health and environment. Convenience The most effective infant car seats are simple to use. From buckles that are soft and easy to tighten or loosen, to harness height adjusters that automatically increase as your child grows the best infant car seats have convenience features that allow parents to get into and out with minimum of hassle. Consider whether the seat can be cleaned by machine (to simplify cleaning) and if it comes with a canopy. This is helpful in the car as well as on the stroller. A feature on the base could save you lots of time and headaches. It shows you when it's been properly installed. This line should be parallel to ground and is situated on the base. This is especially helpful in the event that you will change the car seat frequently, or the baby will be traveling with you and you have to connect it to taxis or Ubers. A stroller that is compatible with the infant car seat can be affixed directly to it. This makes it simple to carry your baby to the supermarket, or to run around. It's not necessary to carry a separate carrier. This can be a great advantage for parents with newborns who want to get back to their routine after a long commute or outing with their newborn. If your baby is likely to grow quickly, select an infant car seat that has a higher weight and height limit than that recommended by the manufacturer. You can use the car seat for a longer period of time. All car seats sold in America must conform to federal safety regulations However, that doesn't mean that they're all equal. infant car seats uk have extra features, such as load legs that support a car seat's base to increase stability and anti-rebound bars that reduce the chance of head injuries during crashes. Other features, such as the no-rethread harness or an extendable canopy, can also make for an easier ride for your baby and allow you to be a happier and more secure parent.