See What Infant Car Seats Best Tricks The Celebs Are Using
How to Choose Infant Car Seats Best
Car seats are an essential item for parents. What makes one seat superior to another?
A specially designed infant seat is ideal for the most tiny babies, and is lighter for easy transportation outside of the vehicle. Consider features that are convenient, such as premium lower-anchor connectors and harness pads that are not rethreading, and single button handles. Also, look into safety features like load legs and body cushions for the head and neck.
Safety
As any parent will tell you, choosing the best car seat for your child is among the most crucial decisions that you could make. The correct seat will make sure that your child is placed correctly and adequately secured in the event of a crash.
While every car seat sold in the US must meet the strict standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), not all car seats are created equal. Some have special features designed to protect infants, such as load legs that reduce movement during crashes by absorbing the force of impact on the base and car seat, while others include built-in bubble levels that make for easy installation and adjustable headrests that grow with your child.
Choi says that infant car seats are designed to be able to accommodate babies in the best way. They often have crash-tested inserts which help to achieve this. They are also lighter than convertible car seat and can easily be converted into a stroller. This makes them suitable for ride-shares, daycare drop-offs, and pick-ups. You can purchase used ones at less than the cost, since they only last for your baby’s first 12 months.
A high NHTSA score and impressive crash test results are essential however, the way you use the car seat of your child is more important. A study by Portland’s most renowned children’s hospital found that 95% parents made at least one mistake when installing or altering their car seat.
That’s why it’s a good idea to spend a few minutes to get familiar with the proper car seat usage guidelines before your baby arrives. We recommend you pick a car seat that has clear and concise instructions. It must also be light enough that it is easy to carry around with your baby.
You should also determine if the car seat for infants you’re thinking of purchasing meets the requirements for size for your vehicle. If you’re concerned about your capability to install and operate the car seat properly yourself, you might consider taking it to a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) before the baby is born for a hands on tutorial.
Convenience
Some infant car seats come with additional features that make them more user-friendly. For example, they may include a base the seat snaps into and out of, or they might have easy-to-use adjustment mechanisms. These features make it more convenient to install and detach the car seat for newborn seat, particularly when you have a child to look after.
It is also essential to take into consideration the weight and height limits for the infant car seat. If your child is growing quickly it could be worthwhile to invest in a car seat with greater limits to ensure that you can use it for as long as you like.
Aside from the safety features, a baby car seat should be comfortable for your baby. Choose padded straps that won’t pinch or rub their shoulders, and for soft fabric that feels at ease underneath them. It’s also an excellent idea to select a seat with an option to lie flat that allows your baby to be in a relaxed position that keeps their airways open and oxygen saturation levels high.
Dr. Segura advises that you should not buy any accessories for infant car seat in front seat car seats that aren’t included in the seat, since they are not crash-tested and may be unsafe. You should also avoid buying used infant car seats as they may have been in an accident and may be damaged or worn out.
The top infant car seats cost between $100 and $600. However, they all share certain characteristics. They are all lightweight, easy to install and remove, and are comfortable for the baby. Some have features that make them more flexible including the ability to pivot and clip onto strollers without the need for additional adapters. Check out our comparison of the top infant car seats to get more information about the various options on the market.
Comfort
The best infant car seats have comfort features that make it easy to get your baby in and out of the seat. This features a single-handed latch system that removes the need to grasp both straps at once, plus cushioned padding that makes it easier to lift the seat. In addition, you’ll want to think about the weight of the seat–you’ll be using it without a base, for instance, so a lighter one is better. The Baby Trend Secure-Lift, for example, weighs less than 13 pounds.
The height and weight limit of infant car seats are important. If you plan on keeping the car seat for a while, look for a model that can grow with your baby and fit them into toddlerhood. You can keep it for longer and save money by not buying another seat.
You’ll also want to consider the dimensions of the seat and if it’s smaller or wider than other models. This can be a boon for cars with smaller sizes, and the latter is a benefit if you have two kids in car seats that are back-to-back or need to drive with three kids in the back seat at some point. If you are planning to use the car seat along with strollers, you should look for one that has detachable car seats that are compatible with a wide range of strollers. Car seat brands such as Graco and Nuna provide options that satisfy this need.
For ease of use, take a look at the ratings the car seat is given for installation. Guides and indicators clearly labeled that indicate the seat is level and securely fastened–like bubble levels or color coding–can assist in easing the burden on parents who are new. Some seats also have innovative features such as load legs, which are shock-absorbing components found under the seat or on the base which extend to the floor of the vehicle to absorb some of the impact force in a crash.
There are accessories that claim to enhance the convenience and comfort of your car seat. Be aware that anything that is not sold with the seat hasn’t passed safety testing. Segura recommends that you don’t put anything in your car seat, such as an accessory like a blanket or harness that you bought elsewhere.
Style
For new parents trying to figure out how to choose the best infant car seat can be a bit of an exercise. It’s important that you understand your budget and what features you’d like to have. There are plenty of different options for special features, stroller compatibility, and fabrics but a lot comes down to what’s suitable for your baby.
For instance, it’s worth noting that dedicated infant seats fit smaller babies better than convertible car seats and can be used for the first year of life (though some may have crash-tested extension kits to help them last longer). They usually have a greater number of recline options to ensure the correct positioning of small children. They are also lighter and more convenient to carry. They are more likely to work when used in conjunction with an existing travel system. This can be useful for parents who are new and want to save money and time by purchasing a seat that will serve two functions.
Car seat weight and width are important aspects to take into consideration for the majority of families. Certain infant car seats, for example are narrower, which allows them to fit better in the back of your car or in the vicinity of other seats. Others are heavy enough to really test your biceps strength and move from stroller to car.
In terms of convenience, many parents prefer infant car seats with the ability to go from the base to the carrier and then click into a stroller without the need for extra attachments. This will save you a lot of time, particularly during busy times when you’re running errands with your children.
Other features that are useful include a no-rethread harness, magnetic buckle holders and an easy installation process. Look for a head-and-body support insert to prevent infants from settling into the seat or carrier when they fall asleep.
Certain car seats come with rigid latches that open from the base if installed correctly. This type of installation is more secure and may limit the amount a seat moves in the event of the event of a crash.