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How to Choose Infant Car Seats Best Car seats are an essential item for parents. What makes one seat better than the other? A dedicated infant seat fits the most tiny babies, and is lighter for easier transport outside of the vehicle. Look for convenience options like premium lower anchor connectors, harnesses with no-rethread pads, and one-button handles. Also, look into safety features such as load legs and body cushions for the head and neck. Safety As any parent will tell you, selecting the right car seat for your child is one of the most crucial decisions that you could make. The best seat will ensure that your child is positioned properly and is adequately secured in the event of a crash. While every car seat sold in the US must conform to strict standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Not all car seats are created equal. Some seats have features designed to protect infants. For example load legs help minimize movement during crashes by absorbing impact forces onto the car seat's base. Other features include bubble levels that allow for easy and adjustable headrests for your growing baby. Choi says that car seats for infants are designed to fit babies the best. They typically have crash-tested inserts which help to achieve this. They're also generally lighter than convertible car seats and can be easily moved to strollers making them ideal for daycare and ride-share drop-offs and pick-ups. Since they'll only last through the first year of your baby's life and beyond, you can always purchase an older model for a fraction of the cost. A high NHTSA score and excellent crash test results are essential, but the method you use to install your child's car seat is more important. A study conducted by Portland's top children's hospital revealed that 95% parents made a mistake at least once when installing or altering their car seat. It's important to be familiar with your surroundings before your baby arrives with the proper guidelines for car seats. We recommend you pick an infant car seat that comes with clear and concise instructions. It must also be light so that it is easy to carry around with your baby. Make sure that the infant car seat you're thinking about purchasing meets the requirements of the vehicle's size. If you're concerned about your ability to set up and use the car seat correctly take it to a certified child passenger safety technician (CPST) to receive a hands-on tutorial before your baby's birth. Convenience Some infant car seats have extra features that make it easier to use. Certain infant car seats come with features that make them easier to use. For instance, they might have a base on which the seat can be pushed in and out, or they may feature an easy-to-use adjustment mechanism. These features can help make it easier to install and detach the car seat, particularly if you have another child to take care of. It is also important to think about the weight and height limits of an infant car seat. If your child is growing rapidly it could be worth investing in an infant car seat with higher limits to ensure you can utilize it for as long as you want. In addition to safety features, your baby's car seat should also be comfortable. Find comfortable straps that don't squeeze or rub their shoulders and plush fabric that feels soft under them for extended durations. It's also a good idea to choose the seat with the option of lying flat, which allows your newborn to sit in a more reclined position that helps keep their airways open and oxygen levels high. Dr. Segura warns that you should not purchase any accessories for infant car seats that are not included in the seat since they are not tested for safety in a crash and could pose a risk. It is also recommended to avoid purchasing used infant car seats, since they may have been in an accident and may be damaged or worn out. While the top infant car seats cost anywhere from $100 to $600 There are a few features that all of the top options have in common. All are lightweight easy to put in and remove, and are comfortable for the child. Some have extra features that make them even more versatile. For example they can swivel, or clip into strollers with no need for adapters. Check out our review of the top infant car seats to get more information on the various options on the market. Comfort The best infant car seats feature comfort features that make it easy to get your baby in and out of the seat. This includes a one-handed latch that eliminates the need to hold both straps simultaneously, as well as cushioned padding that makes it less painful to lift the seat. Additionally, you'll need to think about how much weight the seat weighs. You'll be using it without a base, after all, so a lighter one is better. This Baby Trend Secure Lift, for instance, weighs less that 13 pounds. Other important aspects include the weight and height limits of the infant car seat. If you are planning to keep the car seat, select one that can adapt to your child's needs and fit them into the toddlerhood. You can use it longer and save money by not purchasing a second seat. You should also take into consideration the dimensions of the seat, and whether it is narrower or wider than other models. This could be a boon for smaller vehicles, and the latter could be beneficial when you have two kids in back-to-back car seats, or need to drive with three kids in the back seat at some moment in the future. If you plan to use a car seat with a pram, you should choose one that is compatible with the most popular strollers, and includes detachable seats. Brands such as Graco or Nuna offer options to satisfy your requirements. Review the rating of a car seat for ease of use. Clear guides and indicators, such as bubble levels or color codes to indicate if the seat is secured and level can help relieve stress for new parents. Certain seats come with innovative features, such as load legs. These are parts that absorb shock that extend from the base or beneath the seat to the floor of the vehicle and absorb the force of impact during a crash. There are also a few accessories that claim to improve the comfort of your car seat and ease of use, but remember that any accessory not included with the car seat hasn't been tested or vetted for safety. Segura advises that you shouldn't put anything in your car seat, including a blanket or harness you bought elsewhere. Style For parents who are new trying to figure out how to pick the most suitable infant car seat is a bit of an exercise. It's crucial to know what your budget is and the features you're looking for. There are a lot of options for special features, stroller compatibility, and fabrics but a lot depends on what's most suitable for your baby. It is important to know that convertible car seats aren't suitable for infants and are only suitable until one year. Some include extension kits that have been tested for safety which can help them last longer. They tend to offer more recline settings to facilitate the correct positioning of small children. They are also lighter and easier to carry. infant carrier seat are also more likely to work with a travel system which is beneficial for new parents trying to save time and money by purchasing one seat that will do double duty. Car seat weight and width are also important factors to consider for families with a large number of children. Certain infant car seats, for example are narrower and can be able to fit in the back of your car or next to other seats. Some are so heavy that they test your biceps when you lift them and transfer them from the car to the stroller. In terms of convenience, many parents prefer infant car seats that have the ability to go from the base to the carrier and then snap into a stroller, without the need for additional attachments. This can save a ton of time, especially during busy times when you're running errands your little ones. Other features that are useful include a harness that doesn't need to be rethread with magnetic buckle holders, as well as a streamlined installation process. Look for a head and body support insert to prevent infants from collapsing into the seat or carrier as they sleep. Most car seats use flexible straps for their lower anchor connectors, but there are some that feature rigid latches that flip out of the base and turn green when correctly installed. This type of install is more secure and may limit the amount a seat moves during an accident.