How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn
The best car seat newborn is one that meets federal safety standards, fits in your car, has useful features (like making it a stroller) and works with your budget. It's also important to ensure that the car seat for your baby clicks into and out of your car without difficulty especially if you frequently switch between taxis or trips in hire cars and grandparents' vehicles.
Safety
Car seats are designed to keep your baby safe and a safe one should include extra features that go beyond the safety standards set by the federal government. Pushchairs & Prams include padded inserts to the head and shoulders as well as air-repellent fabric to help keep them cool in hot cars and side-impact safety.
The ease of installation and use of the seat is another important aspect of safety. Idealy, the seat should be simple to install and use, with clear indicators of its height, position, and security.
There are features that can aid in this process, such as belt guides and built-in lockoffs that will help you align the car seat with the seat belt of your vehicle. It is also important to avoid purchasing used car seats, which might not be tested for crash safety or have been involved in an accident and may not protect your child. If you have to purchase an old one ensure that it's on the expiration date and isn't being sold by an individual seller who does not have proof of ownership.
It is also important to remember that you should only leave your child in the car seat up to two hours per day, unless it's in a flat position. This is to prevent the spine from becoming strained and to ensure that they get a chance to breathe regularly.
Selecting a car seat for your infant is a significant investment, so you'll want to be sure that it has a long life span. Pick a seat that can grow with your child and last through toddlerhood to teens. Our parents were impressed with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for children as young as birth, and can be used until age 7.
The Nuna pipa aire rx is another option that can be used for a lengthy time. It has a 360-degree rotation which means that you can switch it from rear-facing to front-facing as your child grows. It is also one of most lightweight car seats available that weighs less than nine pounds. It's a great choice for parents who often transfer their babies between vehicles or plan on using it for taxi rides, fly-drive holidays and trips to grandparent's houses.
Comfort
A good infant car seat will be comfortable for your child, both in the seat and when you are installing it. Look for padded straps which fit snugly around their shoulders. Also, look for plush material that feels comfortable beneath their stomachs. This is particularly important if you plan to use the seat for a long duration.
The best infant car seats are also easy to use. Some have LATCH connectors of premium quality that feature a SuperCinch force multiplier tightener. Others come with spring-loaded leveling legs as well as belt paths that make installing without a base much easier than ever. Other features let you adjust the headrest and harness height that is essential as your child grows.
One example is the Cosatto All in All Rotate test, which our parents scored 10/10 for its ease of use. It has a clear, simple interface, no-rethread, easy-to-change harness, 360-degree rotation, as well as recline lock indicators. This means that you can change from forward-facing to rear-facing as your baby grows without needing to remove the seat and replace it.
Another option is the Nuna Pipa air rx which our parent testers loved for its ease of use, comfort and its versatility. Its padded shoulder straps as well as headrest are designed to support the head of your newborn and comes with a soft infant cushion to ensure they are comfortable. It can be used in a back-facing position until your child reaches the maximum weight or height limit. Then, it converts into an infant stroller.
A good car seat will be durable, and some will even come with a guarantee. Choose a seat that has plenty of padding and sturdy materials to shield your child from accidents. It should also have a steel frame to absorb the force of impact and an "crumple area" to stop damage from crashes. It must also be easy to clean, since spills are commonplace with a child. To make cleaning easier, look for a car seat with removable covers and an easy-to-clean pad.
Simple to Use
A car seat should be simple to use and install especially if you're going to be using it in an alternate vehicle from time to time. Look for features like a quick-release buckle, an indicator that indicates the status of the latch system (e.g. green for locked) and a simple-to-read manual to make it as simple as you can.
The Best of The Bump winner has many practical extras that our testers for parents appreciated, including a padded headrest and harness, plush material and cup holders. It also has a reclining feature that allows your child to be seated in a more comfortable position for longer trips. It can also be used in conjunction with a buggy that is compatible to create an entire travel system which is ideal if you intend to travel for extended durations of time.
Our panelists found that the car seat was simple to set up and adjust. It comes with a recline lock and an excellent connector that has a SuperCinch tightener. This makes it easy to secure your child. It can also be moved from side to side of the vehicle easily without tools.
One of our most loved features is the reclining feature that allows you to easily get your infant into and out of the car. This is especially helpful for those with back problems or are driving a smaller vehicle. It also features a reversible drink holder, as well as a convenient storage compartment for toys and snacks.
The seat is lightweight and can be used in conjunction with or without the base. It can be rotated 180 degrees. This is a fantastic feature if you are limited in space or suffer from back pain. This new feature impressed our panelists and was selected for inclusion in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.
This is a great choice for those who want to transform their car seats into strollers at affordable prices. Its sleek design and high-end materials will stand up to the test time. Don't forget to wash the cover regularly as spills of yoghurt, biscuits that have been crushed, or even sick toddler accidents will leave their marks.
Design
The designs of car seats can be as diverse as the vehicles they're installed in. Some parents opt to not use an baby car seats and opt for convertible models. However, the majority of new mothers want something that will develop with their child as they reach the toddler years. The most flexible option is an all-in-one baby car seat, which allows you to change between forward-facing and rear-facing. It typically has a greater weight and height limit and can be used as a booster once your child is old enough.
The ideal car seat for a newborn car seat is lightweight which makes it easy to lift it from the base and carry with your baby in it. The Maxi-Cosi Coral is available in only a few colors, but it has a number of safety features and is also light (8.4 pounds including canopy and seat inserts). Nuna PIPA URbN is another model that stands out, because it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Car Seat Group 0/0+ category, thanks to high-end features such as the Dream drape and a canopy that covers the entire area with UPF 50+.
The design of the base and seat must be considered. Some car seats have bases that lock into the buckles for seat belts. Some have steel-reinforced connectors for LATCH which flip out of the sides of the base when correctly connected. Parents appreciated these connectors especially when their car only had front-facing seatbelts, and no ISOFIX anchor points.
Some infant car seats can also be used with a regular seatbelt without the base this is a great benefit for parents who regularly travel by taxi or travel with their baby. Our parents who tested it really enjoyed the Nuna TODL NEXT that can be used with or without the base. It features a smooth swivel movement that makes it easy to get your baby in and out of the seat.
Other important design considerations are whether a car seat has a lie flat design, and how well it is compatible with your car (see our guide to car seat compatibility). If you're looking for a new infant car seat that can grow along with your child's growth into a booster make sure you choose a seat that has an adjustable backrest as well as side impact protection. Check that the baby car seat you pick is iSize compliant and also has the correct car-seat attachment points in accordance with UK law.