How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn

The best car seat newborn is one that is compliant with federal safety standards, fits your car, has useful features (like making it strollers) and is within your budget. It's also worth checking that the baby car seat clicks into and out of your car with ease, particularly if you often shift between taxis or rides in rental cars or grandparents vehicles.

Safety

Car seats are made to ensure your baby is safe, and a good one should have some additional features that go beyond the federal safety standards. These include padded inserts on the head and shoulders as well as air-repellent fabric to keep them cool while driving in hot weather.

The ease of installation and use of the seat is an important safety consideration. Ideally, the seat should be simple to install and use, with clear indicators of its level and position as well as security.

There are many features that will help you with this, such as belt guides and built-in locks to help you align the car seat to your vehicle's seatbelt. Also, you should avoid buying used car seats that might not have been tested for crash safety or have been involved in an accident and might not protect your child. If you have to buy an used car seat ensure that it is not expired. an expiration and that the seller isn't an individual or a private party who does not have proof of ownership.

Another thing to keep in mind is that it's best to only leave your infant in the car seat for no more than 2 hours per day unless they are lying down in a supine position. This will help prevent strain on the spine of your child, and ensure that they have a chance to breath regularly.

The choice of a car seat for infants is a significant investment, so you'll want to make sure it has a long duration. Pick a seat that can develop with your child and last from toddlerhood through the teen years. One that our parent testers liked was the Axkid One i-Size, which is suitable from the time of birth and can be used up to 7 years old.

Nuna pipa air rx is an additional alternative that can be used for a long time. It rotates 360 degrees, making it possible to change it from rear-facing into front-facing as your child grows. It's also among the lightest rotating infant car seat car seats available and weighs less than 9 pounds without its base. It's a great choice for parents who need to move their infant frequently between vehicles or plan to use it for taxi rides, holiday fly-drives and trips with grandparents.

Comfort

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

The most effective infant car seat is also simple to use. Some feature premium LATCH connectors that come with a SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener, spring-loaded leveling feet, and belt paths that make fitting without the base easier than ever. Other features can help you adjust the height of your harness and headrest, which is especially crucial as your child grows.

Cosatto All in All Rotate is an example. Our parent testers gave it 10 out of 10. It comes with an easy, clear interface and an easy-to-adjust no-rethread harness, as well as an indicator for recline and 360-degree rotation. You can easily switch your child's position from front-facing to rear-facing as they grow without the need to take off and replace the seat.

Nuna Pipa Aire Rx is another example. Our parent testers loved it for its ease of use and simplicity, as well as its versatility. Its padded shoulder straps as well as headrest are shaped to support your newborn's head and includes a soft infant cushion to keep them comfy. It can be used as an rear-facing car seat until your baby hits the max height or weight limit and then it can be converted into a stroller without the need for an additional adapter.

A high-quality car seat is durable, and some will even come with a warranty. Look for a seat with robust materials and plenty of padding to safeguard your baby from any accidents and a steel frame that absorbs impact energy and a "crumple zone" to prevent damage. It should be easy to clean, as accidents are sure to happen with the growing age of a child. Find car seats that have removable seat covers and a pad that is machine washable to make cleanup a breeze.

Easy to Use

It is essential that a car seat be simple to install and use, particularly in the event that it will be used in different vehicles at times. To make it as simple as possible you should look for features such as the quick-release belt and an indicator that shows the condition 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 that our parents appreciated, including a padded headrest and harness, plush fabric and a cupholder. It features a reclining function that allows your child to sit in an ergonomic position on longer journeys. It can be used in conjunction with a compatible buggy to make a complete travel infant car seat system. This is a great option when you plan to travel for a long time.

Our panelists noted that the car seat was simple to put in 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 without the use of tools.

One of our most loved features is the recline feature that allows you to easily get your infant into and out of the car. This is particularly helpful when you are suffering from back pain or are driving a smaller vehicle. It also features an adjustable drink holder that can be reversible, as well as a handy storage compartment for toys and snacks.

The seat is lightweight and can be used in conjunction with or without the base. It can also be rotated around 180 degrees. This is an excellent feature if you are limited in space or have back pain. This feature has impressed our panelists, and was selected for inclusion in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.

This is a great option for those who want to convert their car seats into strollers for a reasonable price. Its sleek design and high-quality fabric will stand the test of time also. Make sure to clean the cover often as spills of yoghurt or biscuits that are crushed and even sickening accidents with toddlers will leave their mark.

Design

The styles of car seats can be as diverse as the vehicles they're used in. While some parents opt to skip infant car seats to opt for a convertible model, most new moms want a product that will continue to grow with their child into toddlerhood. All-in-one car seats are most versatile that allow you to change from rear-facing to forward-facing. It usually has a higher height and weight limit, and is often used as a booster seat once your child is ready for one.

An ideal infant car seat newborn car seat is lightweight which makes it easy to lift it from the base and then carry your baby in it. Our testers with parents loved the Maxi-Cosi Coral, which is only available in a few colours, but offers plenty of safety features and is incredibly lightweight (at 8.4 pounds with seat inserts and canopy). Nuna PIPA URbN is another model that stands out as it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best car seat inserts for newborns Seat Group 0/0+ category, thanks to high-end features like the Dream drape and a fully-covered canopy with UPF 50+.

The base and seat design should also be taken into consideration. Some car seats come with an attached base that is locked into the vehicle buckles for the seat belts. Others have steel reinforced connectors for LATCH that flip out of the sides of the base once properly connected. Parents appreciated these connectors, especially if the vehicle only had front-facing seatbelts and no ISOFIX anchor points.

Some infant car seat inserts for newborns seats can also be used with a standard seatbelt without the base this is a great benefit for parents who regularly use taxis or travel with their infant. The Nuna TODL NEXT was a top rated infant car seats pick among our parents who tested it. It can be used either with or without the base and features a smooth swivel, which makes it easier to get your baby inside and out.

Other important considerations for design are whether the car seat is an open 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 new infant car seat that can expand with your child into a booster pick a model that features a reclining backrest and side impact protection. It's also worth checking that the infant car seat is i-Size compliant and uses the correct car seat attachment points as per UK law.