Why You Should Concentrate On Improving Best Infant Car Seat
How to Choose the Best Infant Car Seat
Think about what you'd like from your car seat. "If you're in need of an automobile seat that can grow with your child look into an all-in-one model like the Graco 4Ever DLX," Saxton says. The seat has a long rear-facing weight limit and is able to be converted into an incline-back booster and a backless one.
The soft cushioning that is machine washable is an added benefit. Load legs are another useful feature. These are shock-absorbing elements that are attached to the base or car seats and limit movement during an accident.
Safety
Car seats for infants are designed to fit small babies the best, which is why they typically come with more padding and cushioning than convertible carseats. They are also smaller and lighter to remove from your car or attach to a stroller frame, which is crucial since you'll need to carry your child's car seat out of the vehicle often. Car seats for infants have the advantage of being designed to last through the first year of your child's life, which means you don't have to worry about them growing beyond their height or weight limits in the same way that convertible car seats can.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's guidelines for car seats are stringent but it's a good idea to do your own research before making a purchase. Consider reading reviews by other parents and looking at car seat safety guidelines from organizations such as Consumer Reports or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both have crash test data that can be shared with families.
It is also important to consider whether the seat has features that can be beneficial to your family, like an easy strap release with one hand or a harness that doesn't need rethreads, or an adjustable foot with springs. These kinds of features could make buckling your baby faster and easier but remember that even the safest of seats are useless when you don't use them in a proper manner.
The weight and width of the car seat are equally crucial. A lot of infant seats can be installed in your vehicle along with older car seats. Some of them can grow with your child, and convert to an adult booster in the same time. If you plan to use the car seat to travel or to take taxis or taxis, then an infant car seat that can be installed by using only your car's seatbelt will be a convenient choice.
In general, you should buy the most safe seat that you can afford. The most affordable models don't always meet the highest standards of crash safety. Beware of models that don't include side impact tests, and allow manufacturers to self-certify.
Convenience
The ideal infant car seat is one that can work well in your family's vehicle, is easy to install and use, and comes with convenient extras like an integrated stroller or a rotation capability. It must also be affordable. Infant seats range in price from around $180 to $500. They can cost more when they are convertible and are used as a toddler and infant seat.
The convenience features include the ability to be installed using the LATCH system or a seatbelt. Additionally, if you can adjust the headrest and harness without removing the baby from the seat. Installing and taking it off should be easy, especially if your child rides in Ubers or frequently switches between cars. The seat should be lightweight, with clearly labeled instructions for installation and bubble levels to assist you in quickly install the car seat.
You should be able to adjust the harness and buckles and turn the seat around when it is not in use. It's also important to know the weight and height limits of the infant car seat before you purchase it, and consider if your baby will outgrow it by its first birthday. In general, you should select the seat for your child that will grow with them until they reach the 90% percentile.
While federal safety standards are the minimum requirement, some manufacturers go beyond to offer additional crash-testing and features for convenience in their car seats. The Clek Liing one of the top picks by our gear editors as well as Consumer Reports, is an excellent example of an infant seat that offers more than just great crash protection. It also comes with load legs, which helps stabilize the seat in a crash and reduces the forces exerted on the child's body by 40%. This feature could save a child's life. It's worth the extra money spent on car seats with added convenience features and safety.
Comfort
Comfort is a major factor to take into consideration when selecting the right car seat for your infant, as babies spend most of their time in the car seat. The most comfortable car seats have the thick, breathable fabric as well as generous padding on the harness and headrest. They are equipped with simple adjustments, such as strap covers, buckles and headrest adjustments that don't need the rethreading.
The size and weight of a car seat for infants can affect the comfort of your child, particularly when you are planning to switch cars or travel with the seat often. Certain models are smaller than others, making them easier to fit into the back seat alongside another car seat or other siblings seats. While all have minimum and maximum heights and weight limits, some are a bit lighter than others. This could help keep your biceps from becoming sore when you carry it around town or between vehicles.
Some infant car seats come with extra features to allow them to be more flexible. For example, they can rotate or be clicked into a stroller with no need for additional adapters. Other models have premium features like an adjustable no-rethread harness or bars that prevent rebounding to provide extra safety in the event of an accident. These features aren't necessary for safe riding, however they can improve the overall experience.
In addition to convenience and safety factors, many parents also require a clean, comfortable infant car seat for their infant. Choose a seat that is machine washable and stain-resistant, as well as easy to take off for cleaning. Some seats are dishwasher safe, which makes it easier to keep them looking clean.
Some models go the extra mile to ensure their customers' experience is safe and smooth, such as the Graco SnugRide(tm) Elite, which comes with an anti-rebound bars and meets the Graco ProtectPlus Engineered(tm) standards to withstand front and rear collisions. The seat also comes with a Silent Shade canopy that keeps baby comfortable and quiet and an indicator that lets you know that it's attached correctly to the base. And, its adjustable carry handle and harness tightener provide simple one-handed adjustments.
Design
Car seat manufacturers make infant car seats with safety and convenience in mind, however the dizzying array of features available makes it difficult to determine which one is the best fit for your family. Take into consideration factors such as the weight and height limits as well as the number of belt routes and buckles. Other features such as anti-rebound bars, load legs and no-rethread harnesses can add to the price but may improve the comfort of babies. Consider features that make it easier to get your child into and out of the seat, such as rotational mechanisms. You should also be aware of the dimensions and the weight of the seat because not every seat will fit in all cars.
One aspect that is particularly important is the ease of installation and disconnecting from the base. infant car seat rear facing pushchairsandprams can be affected by the quality of the LATCH connectors and whether they are rigid or flexible. You should also think about whether the straps are able to be easily tightened or loosen and if they have an easy release mechanism that allows you to remove and install the seat.
Certain models let you use the seat without a base, which can be convenient if you take taxis often or if you plan on switching cars often. To make sure that your seat is properly installed make sure you choose models with bubble level indicators and a built-in locking mechanisms.
Other features worth the extra cost include a headrest that increases with the infant, a five-position recline and an extendable canopy that locks into the position. Our product testers also noted that having a seat which can be used as a highback booster using belt positioning or a backless booster once the infant has finished using it is an additional benefit.
The Doona is an infant car seat that spoils parents. It's got many features that address nearly every complaint parents have about infant car seats. This is why our product testers have rated it highly across the board. For instance, it's certified for airplane travel, features an exclusive handle that doubles as an anti-rebound bar. It also converts directly into strollers (no need to purchase separate stroller adapters). Its crash test results are top-quality and it's GREENGUARD Gold certified.