Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies
While convertible car seats are great for children who are growing however, an infant car seat is best for infants. They are also lighter and easier to attach to strollers than their larger counterparts.
CPST instructor Kecia Healy liked the Chicco KeyFit's recline foot that is spring-loaded and bubble indicator on the base, and its ease of use (the more user-friendly a car seats is and the more likely parents will be to install it correctly). The model also fits three across in a variety of mid-sized vehicles.
1. Clek Liing Car Seat for Infants
The Canadian manufacturer Clek is renowned for its top-rated convertible car seats and the infant Liing is one of the best infant seats. The seat is equipped with best-in class safety features, such as a metal load-leg that can be easily installed. It also features seven different recline positions that can be adjusted to suit the slope of your vehicle's seat. A bubble indicator enables you to check that the seat is at the correct angle prior to your child riding in it.
The base of the Liing is simple to set up by using LATCH connections that are rigid and slide into the lower anchors making it easy to anchor. This makes the Liing an excellent choice for families who plan to change vehicles frequently or who want a quick, secure method of installing their baby's car seat. You can also utilize the belt-tensioning system to secure your child.
One of the things that sets the Liing apart from other infant car seats is its 2-piece Newborn Support System. The system comes with an lower insert that is able to slide over the crotch strap and a headrest that attaches to harness to prevent newborns from slumbering forward and moving their heads backwards in the seat. This is an amazing feature for tiny babies and preemies. It's also one of the few rear-facing infant car seats that provide this degree of support.
The Liing's crash-test framework made of metal reduces crash forces up to 40% when compared to other infant seat. Pushchairs And Prams of the seat is reinforced with EPP foam to protect your child's head and torso which are the most susceptible in the event of a collision. The seat's base is engineered with a load leg made of metal that absorbs energy and reduces the risk of the likelihood of crashes, in addition.
2. Chicco KeyFit
This is a consistent top-rated infant car seat. It's easy to install, easy to use, and grows with your child. It can also be used with strollers to create a travel system.
The KeyFit is a good choice for parents who want an easy-to-use, secure and versatile seat. It scores a top score in crash tests, is lightweight and comfortable to carry. It also has a good range of weight and height limits. It was also designed to ensure the safety of babies. The click-in point is protected by soft materials to prevent your baby from getting burned by the metal. The insert for babies comes with a head-cover that protects their tiny heads. And the seat pad, which your baby sits on, is able to nestle them in foam cushions.
It's also among the most simple infant seats to install correctly--every time. It is essential to install the infant seat correctly, as incorrect installation could increase your child's chance of getting injured. The KeyFit's premium LATCH connectors with a SuperCinch tightener create a secure fit with minimal effort. Plus, the base has a ReclineSure leveling foot and two RideRight bubble level-indicators that help ensure correct vehicle angle and a fast installation. For alternative installation, clear belt routing, lock-offs and the seatbelt of the car make it easy to position and tighten.
However, it isn't as good in the ease of use category because of the rethread type harness height adjustment, which is a standard feature on many Chicco seats (and also on their OG Keyfit model). This means that you must manually re-thread straps to move from one level to another. This is a minor disadvantage for the ease of use of this seat.
3. Joie i-Snug 2
The light Joie i-Snug 2 is an i-Size infant car seats that is built to the most stringent safety standards. It has 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 built-in to help align the seat. The car seat is comfy, with plenty of padding. It also has a useful canopy that protects your child from the sun.
The iSnug 2 comes with an ISOFIX base for secure vehicle attachment. It can be used with a stroller compatible to create an entire travel system. This rear-facing infant seat offers maximum cervical and head protection for newborns. The exclusive Tri-Protect headrest has an additional layer of Intelli-Fit memory foam to protect your baby from side impact crashes.
As with any infant car seat, you'll need to replace it once your child outgrows the height and weight limits, or when they turn one. You can then upgrade to convertible car seats or an all-in one car seat. This will allow your child to travel rearwards for longer and is more secure.
A convertible car seat has a greater rear-facing weight and height limit than an infant car seat and generally has a bigger and more spacious interior. To stop your child from becoming too big for 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 move their child to an all-in-one car seat without the need to purchase an additional infant car seat. For that reason, it is crucial to select the best convertible car seat for your family. Check out our comprehensive guide to get all the information you need to make the right decision.
4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX
Nuna Pipa RX is a highly-rated infant seat due to its safety features, light design and versatility. It can be fitted using rigid lower anchors in the outboard seats of most cars, and with the seat belt of the vehicle using Euro Routing (which uses the entire length of the belt to anchor the seat). It also includes an organic cotton infant insert, which makes it a great option for environmentally conscious parents who prefer organic alternatives for their child.
The Pipa Aire RX weighs only 6 pounds. without the canopy or inserts. It is one of the lightest infant car seat on the market. Aeroflex foam, which is lightweight and durable, but also extremely light, helps to minimize the force transferred to your child in a crash. Other safety features include the 5 second steel-reinforced True Lock base installation, side-impact protection, and a multi-position steel stability leg that has a crumple area to reduce forward rotation for enhanced rearward-facing security.
Other highlights include an ergonomic aluminum handle that's comfortable and light with leatherette accents to ensure easy to carry and excellent grip. The magnetic buckle holders keep straps off from the way when you buckle your child and color-coded indicator lights for installation ensure that the correct connections are made. The low-profile base allows for fast loading, and the open belt path with locks that secure lap and shoulder belts.
Cleaning up after a messy family member shouldn't be a problem. The fabrics and inserts 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 options, the newly launched Pipa Urbn takes it all to a new level. The ultralight infant seat is easy to carry and weighs less than 7 pounds once the canopy and insert are attached. It also comes with elegant user-friendly design with practical features like magnetic buckle holders to keep straps from getting in the way while you're buckling baby in and a red/green indicator to ensure the installation is secure (we would like to see all car seats had this feature! ).
In contrast to the Pipa RX and the other base-compatible PIPA models that require the use of a car base it, this model can be used without a base thanks to its pipaFIX-inspired latch system. This makes it a perfect choice for parents who often use rideshare or taxi services, travel, or just want the ability to transfer their car seat more easily and quickly.
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 a Merino wool and Tencel branded lyocell fiber blend headrest as well as machine washable, water-resistant cover and body insert.
The Pipa Urbn comes with a weight limit of only 30 to 35 pounds when used rear-facing. This means that you will need to upgrade to a convertible model sooner than other brands. It's still a great option for the majority of babies. This car seat is also compatible with Nuna's travel systems and can be connected to all strollers by using the rings adapter.