How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn

The best car seat infant car seat newborn is one that meets federal safety standards, fits in your vehicle, has convenient extras (like changing into a stroller) and is within your budget. It's also worth checking that the car seat for your baby clicks into and out of your car easily especially if you frequently change between trips to the taxi or in rental cars and grandparents vehicles.

Safety

A good car seat will have extra features that are above the safety standards of the federal government. They include padded inserts for the shoulders and head and air-repellent fabrics to keep them cool when driving in hot temperatures.

Installation and use of the seat is another important aspect to consider for safety. Ideally, the seat should be easy to install and use, as well as clear indicators of its height and position as well as security.

Look for features that help you do this, such as built-in locks and belt guides that assist to align the car seat to the vehicle's seatbelt. Also, you should avoid buying used car seats, as they might not have been tested for safety or have been involved in an accident, and could not be safe for your child. If you have to buy an used car seat ensure that it has an expiration date and that the seller is not an individual or a private party who does not have evidence of ownership.

It's also important to remember that you should only leave your baby in the car seat up to two hours a day, unless it is in an upright position. This will prevent strain on the spine of your child and ensure they are able to breath 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. Look for one that's designed to adapt with your child and will last into the toddler years and on into the teenage years. Our parents were pleased with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for children as young as birth and can be used up to age 7.

The Nuna pipa air rx is an alternative that can be used for a long time. It can rotate 360 degrees which means you can switch it from rear-facing into front-facing as the child grows. It's also one of the lightest-weight car seats available and weighs less than nine pounds without its base. It's the ideal choice for parents who often transfer their babies between vehicles or plan to use it for taxi rides, fly-drive holidays and trips to grandparent's houses.

Comfort

It is crucial that your baby feels comfortable in their car seat both when they are in it as well as when you install it. Choose padded straps that fit comfortably around their shoulders, and for plush material that feels comfortable on their stomachs. This is particularly important in the event that you plan to use the seat for a long duration.

The best car seat for infants is also easy to use. Some come with premium LATCH connectors with a SuperCinch force multiplier tightener. Others come with spring-loaded leveling legs as well as belt paths that make installing without a base simpler than ever. Other features allow you to adjust the height of the harness and headrest, which is important as your child grows.

One example is the Cosatto All in All Rotate test, which our parents gave a 10/10 for its ease of use. It has a clear, simple interface, a no-rethread easy-to-change harness, 360-degree rotation, as well as recline lock indicator. This means that you can change from forward-facing to rear-facing as your baby grows without having to remove the seat and replace it.

Nuna Pipa Aire Rx is another example. Our testers who were parents loved it for its ease of use simple and adaptability. Its padding for the headrest and shoulder straps are designed to help support the head of your infant car seat that swivels and comes with an extra soft pillow to ensure comfort. It can be used as an rear-facing car seat until your baby reaches the maximum height or weight limits and then it can be converted into a stroller without the need for an additional adapter.

A good car seat is durable, and some will even come with a guarantee. Choose a seat made of solid materials and plenty of padding to shield your baby from any accidents, as well as an aluminum frame that suffocates the impact energy and has a "crumple zone" to prevent damage. It is also easy to clean, as spills are commonplace when you have a baby. Find car seats with removable seat covers and a machine-washable pad to make cleaning a breeze.

Easy of Use

A car seat should be easy to install and use, especially if you're likely to be using it in an alternate vehicle at times. To make it as simple as possible look for features such as a quick-release belt, an indicator to show the status of the latch (e.g. green for locked) and a user manual that is easy to read.

The Best of The Bump winner includes a variety of useful features, which our parent testers were pleased with, including a padded headrest and harness, plush fabric and the cup holder. It features a reclining function that lets your child sit in a comfortable and ergonomic position for longer trips. It can be paired with a compatible buggy to make an entire travel system. This is ideal when you plan to travel for a long period of time.

Our panelists found that the car seat was simple to put in and adjust. It comes with an indicator for recline and a premium LATCH connector with a SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener which made securing your child quick and easy. It can also be moved from side to side in the vehicle easily without the use of tools.

The reclining feature makes it easier for you to get your baby into and out of the vehicle. This is especially useful when you have back pain or have a small car. It also comes with the ability to reversibly hold your cup and a handy storage compartment for snacks and toys.

The seat weighs less than nine pounds and can be installed with or without its base. It can also be rotated 180 degrees. This is an excellent feature for those who are tight on space or suffer from back pain. Our panelists were impressed by this new feature, which earned a spot in our 2021 Mother&Baby awards.

It's a great option for anyone who wants to transform their car seat into a stroller for an affordable cost. Its streamlined design and high-quality fabric will stand the test of time, too. Be sure to wash your cover often because smashed biscuits, yoghurt spills and the odd sick toddler accident is sure to leave a footprints!

Design

The designs of car seats can be as diverse as the vehicles they're installed in. Some parents opt to ditch the infant car seat that swivels car seat in favor of a convertible model. However, most new mothers prefer a product that will grow with their child into toddlerhood. All-in-one car seats are most versatile and allow you to switch from rear facing infant car seat-facing to forward-facing. It typically has a greater weight and height restriction and can also be used as a booster when your child is old enough.

The ideal car seat for infants for newborns is lightweight and easy to take off the base with your child inside. The Maxi-Cosi Coral is available in only a handful of colors but it has a number of safety features and is light (8.4 pounds including canopy and seat inserts). Nuna PIPA URbN is another model that stands out since it was awarded Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Car Seat Group category, thanks to top-of-the-line features like the Dream drape and a canopy that covers the entire area with UPF 50+.

The design of the base and seat should be considered. For instance, certain car seats have a specific base that is secured to the vehicle's seat belt buckles as well as others with steel-reinforced LATCH connectors that flip out from the sides of the base and turn green when they are attached correctly. Parents appreciated these connectors particularly if the vehicle only had front-facing seatbelts with no ISOFIX anchor points.

Some infant car seat for travel car seats can be utilized with a regular seatbelt without the base that is great for parents who often use taxis or travel with their child. The Nuna TODL NEXT was a top pick among our parents who tested it. It can be used either with or without the base and features an easy swivel that makes it easier to take your baby in and out.

Other important design considerations include whether the car seat is a lie flat design, and how well it will fit into your specific car (see our guide to car seat compatibility). If you're in search of a car seat newborn that will develop with your baby until an adult, select one with the option of reclining headrests and side impact protection. Make sure that the baby car seat you pick is iSize compatible and has the correct car-seat attachment points, as required by UK law.