How to Choose the Best Car Seats for Your Child
It's easy to get overwhelmed when shopping for car safety seats. The most secure car seat is one that is a good fit for your child's vehicle and can be used safely 100% of the time.
Car seats that are difficult for parents or children to set up or use can be a serious issue. The most effective car seats are rated high in terms of ease of use, impressive crash test results, and are lightweight.
Safety
When shopping for a car seat, safety features are the most important factor to consider. If you decide to purchase an infant or convertible seat, it must meet federal safety standards and have a solid track record of third-party crash testing. It should be able to fit in your vehicle and be simple to use.
A high-quality car seat should include a harness that is easy to use for adjustment, as well as LATCH or seat belt connections. Flexible or rigid lower anchor connectors that have alligator-like clips that hook directly to the car seat base or vehicle seat belt guides are preferred over flexible straps that move or loosen. The most comfortable seats have a simple, easy-to-read color change indicator to indicate whether the seat is connected correctly and ensure a tight fit.
In best car seats for newborns to these features, the most comfortable seats come with the top tether, which reduces head injuries during crashes by restraining the front of the child's head. The harness guides are built into the seats to assist parents to thread the belt or tether properly.
The most important features of a car seat are those that ensure that the seat is used and installed properly 100% of the time. Unfortunately, many child passenger deaths are the result of children being restrained improperly or using the wrong seat. It's important to consult a child safety technician (CPST) near you to ensure that the installation and placement of your car seat is correct.
A quality seat can help your child survive an accident. It's worth the extra cost to get one that's made with a sturdy frame, top-quality materials and intelligent features that make daily use more enjoyable. It's also important to look for a seat that is compliant with the more modern R129 safety standards which are more rigorous tests than the older regulations that many seats comply with.
It is also important to remember that a car is only secure and safe as the adult who drives it. Children should be properly secured in rear-facing car seats from birth until they're tall enough to sit up straight in a harness, which is usually at the age of four or five.
Comfort
A comfortable car seat can help your child get to sleep or remain asleep for longer, and that can mean the difference between getting an extended road trip completed in one piece and a cranky, exhausted child who screams at the nap time. Look for an appropriate seat that is able to accommodate your child's growing stature, provides plenty of neck and head support and has a good fit to prevent movement in the car.
The best infant car seats offer many features to make your little one feel secure and comfy, such as soft materials that offer an incredibly snug fit, plush cushions and armrests with padding. Some come with reclining positions and adjustable headrests, as well as cup holders and sun shade. Some come with adjustable thigh and lumbar support to improve posture. Other models have massage options activated by pressing a button when the child is sitting in the seat.
When your child grows beyond the infant car seat The next step is a toddler car seat. These seats typically accommodate children who weigh up to 40 pounds. They can be used both rear-facing and forward-facing. Some convertible toddler car seats can be used as boosters for kids up to 120 pounds, which will save you money and decreases the number of car seat purchases you'll need to purchase over the course of time.
The most rated toddler car seats that are comfortable include the Evenflo Chase, which offers excellent crash test results and is easy to put on using LATCH or a car seat belt. Its narrow shell makes it easier to fit larger babies. It also comes with two different crotch buckle positions which allow for better positioning of shoulder straps. It is also light and narrow making it easier to maneuver.
The Nuna PIPA urbn is also a great choice for a comfortable toddler car seat. Babylist gear editor Jennifer LaBracio says the seat is luxuriously comfortable with plenty of padding and easy-to-read indicators to install. It's also compact and can be set up with or without the base, which makes it an ideal choice for parents who frequently transfer their car seats between vehicles.
Ease of Use
Car seats are the one item in a parent's life that get heavy use and a lot of parents want an easy-to-use seat that will fit inside their car and work with other baby gear. Car seats for infants are less heavy due to their lower weight limits, and they last longer than a convertible car seats. The most effective infant car seats are equipped with features that make it simpler to install and use. They include recline feet that are spring-loaded, bubble indicators on the base to help you position it correctly in your vehicle, and installation guides clearly labeled with clear and easy-to-follow instructions. The car seats have been designed with easy-to-see durable and long-lasting materials that are machine-washable, as well as a soft padding for the child.
The top-rated infant car seat we have reviewed this year is the Clek Liing, which has impressive crash test sensor results and analysis scores, as well as an excellent load leg that helps you place the car seat in your vehicle with ease and precision. The car seat is simple to install using either LATCH connectors that are rigid or the latch connectors. The latches change color to signal the connection, and the harness snaps in place easily and securely.
Chicco KeyFit 35 is another top pick. It provides impressive crash test results as well as loading legs that can assist you in putting on the car seat. Experts and parents are raving about it, including CPST instructor Kecia H. who says it's well-designed, with a spring-loaded recline foot and a bubble-indicator on the base, which helps place the seat in the right position and tighten the seat easily. This seat is inexpensive, GREENGUARD certified and built to last. It features an aluminum frame and a high-density, ventilated foam.
The Nuna Exec all-in-one chair is popular with LaBracio, Saxton and other women. Both women consider it a "solid", luxurious seat that's well priced for its exquisite feeling, luxurious materials and its easy installation. It has a rear-facing 50-pound weight limit and an expandable legroom panel, in addition to an all-steel frame that is sturdy and has an anti-rebound bar. This infant car seat also converts into a forward-facing booster seat for kids that weigh up to 120 pounds and is compact enough to fit three across in many midsize vehicles.
Design
A car seat is an investment in the safety of your child Therefore, you must ensure that it fits well and be easy to use. Where and how you will install the seat, as well as how often you switch between vehicle types could affect the final decision. It is impossible to predict what will happen during the event of a crash. However, the design of your seat could aid in minimizing damage and make it easy to get your child into and out of their car seat.
One crucial aspect is whether the seat has rigid or flexible LATCH connectors. Rigid connectors are attached directly to the seat using alligator clips. They are more difficult to disengage in the event of a crash. Flexible connectors feature a strap which can be adjusted and tightened manually or by a mechanism. The majority of seats have a level indicator to show whether they've been properly installed. This is usually formed as a plastic line on the shell or a sticker at the bottom of the seat that indicates the range of angles when the seat is set against the ground.
Another crucial aspect is the degree to which a chair can accommodate newborns and infants. This includes the width of the shell and head rest and the ability to buckle and unbuckle the harness. Some seats also offer a positioning insert that helps smaller bodies to fit better into the seat and inside the harness. It's important to know that these inserts can be removed as your child grows.
The third crucial aspect is the ease with which it is to change the height of the harness. The best seats let you move the harness without removing your child. It is as simple as pressing a button, pulling an tab or turning a lever. The most convenient seats also allow you to adjust the strap around your shoulders without having to rethread the belt.
If you're considering an all-in-one car seat, look for one that meets the minimum federal safety standards and has a good performance in third-party crash tests. We like seats that surpass the norm with features such as an anti-rebound bar or an energy-absorbing layer built into the shell or the capability to use the seat from birth (with an insert) until your child is 50 pounds in rear-facing mode.