How to Select Good Infant Car Seats
When it comes time to choose a car seat for your infant the choices can be overwhelming. There are a few steps you can do to narrow your search.
Premium features such as load legs, an easy to tighten harness and an extendable headrest that expands with your baby can make your experience on this parenting journey more enjoyable.
Easy of Use
If you're purchasing an infant car seat before the baby is born, it is important to consider weight and height limitations. It is important to make sure that the seat will last your child until they grow out of it, which usually happens around the age of two. It is also important to think about whether you require a car seat with a maximum weight or height of 90th percentile or should you choose one that is shorter or taller. This will help you determine how long you'll be using the seat before moving to a convertible car seat.
In addition to the size and weight, you should take into consideration how easy it is to set up and use. The ease of tightening or loosening straps, latch connectors and the number of buckle positions all affect the ease of use. Take into consideration the comfort of padding for the body and head and any extra conveniences such an insulated cupholder and a hidden harness pad.
The more user-friendly the seat is, you are more likely to use it properly. This could be a major factor in the safety of your child. The easiest seats allow you to easily install them yourself with no fuss, as well as detach them from the base with much effort.
Another aspect to consider is the car seat's weight and how portable it is. You want to be able to lift it up with a baby inside, and transport it with ease, particularly if you're going on longer trips. Check the seat's width and height to make sure it's suitable for your vehicle. If you intend to use it with a baby stroller make sure you select a model that is compatible with different strollers.
It is also important to look at the results of manufacturer's tests. You can find these results on the manufacturer's website or through an online search. You can find out if the seat has a history of protecting babies from accidents and also what their policy is regarding replacement.
Safety
When parents are shopping for an infant seat, they need to be sure that the product will keep their child secure. All infant car seats have to conform to the safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Opens in a new window (NHTSA) which includes rigorous crash testing and the five-point harness system.
However, there are a few other things to take into consideration when shopping for an infant car seat. It is crucial to choose the best infant car seat for your child according to their weight and height, and also the type of vehicle you own. It is also crucial to ensure that the seat is correctly fitted, as poorly installed car seats can increase the risk of injury in an accident.
A safe infant car seat will have clear installation guides, a bubble indicator for the level that is easy to read and the locking clip, which stops the base from being accidentally removed. www.pushchairsandprams.uk should also be light and have convenient features such as an extendable harness that does not need to be rethread, anti-rebound bars and a premium load leg, which helps protect your newborn from head injuries in the event of a crash.
Some parents might be interested in a car seat for their infant that can be made a toddler seat by pulling an lever on the base. This will give parents more flexibility and let them use the seat until their child is at the weight and height limits.
You should also think about how the car seat can be used on a regular basis. The buckle should be simple and smooth to click into place and out of place. The straps should be easy to unwind and adjust. The bag should be lightweight and easy to carry even when empty. The base should also be simple to remove without fumbling.
It is also a good idea prior to purchasing a car seat, to verify whether there are any recalls. This can be done via the NHTSA website. Opens in a new window, which has an index of searchable databases of all past and current car seat recalls.
Comfort
Parents are most concerned with comfort when it comes to infant car seat. These rear-facing seats have been designed to protect your baby in the case of an accident. Most include integrated back and head support to keep them comfortable. Find a seat that is adjustable to fit your growing child with features like no-rethread harnesses, magnetic buckle holders and adjustable shoulder straps.
Another factor that can make or break the infant car seat is how easy it is to set up and use. Ideally, you should be capable of getting the seat off its base using just one hand while holding the baby in the opposite. And when you're ready to return the seat to its base, it should click easily into the position, and it should take less than one minute.
Many infant car seats can be used without a base, which is ideal for parents who frequently switch cars or ride taxis. If you opt for a seat with this capability be sure to check its weight and height limits to make sure your baby isn't too large for it. Car seats also typically come with an infant insert that can be used when your baby is small (like within the first few months or weeks of their life) up until their shoulders reach the lowest harness slot.
Convertible models are a great choice for an infant car seat. They offer convenience and security. These seats are compatible in conjunction with strollers, and they come with the ability to fold them in when not in usage. However, they're typically larger than regular car seats for infants and may be more difficult to transport.
Another thing to consider is whether the seat comes with a load leg, which is a brace that sits between your seat and the floor to provide extra stability. They're not required however they can be very useful in smaller vehicles or those with multiple car seats.
Convenience
You can travel with peace of mind, knowing that your baby is safe and secure. Consider features like straps that are padded for shoulder and padding around the neck to ensure that your baby fits comfortably. Also look for various recline positions. You might want to search for car seats with additional features, such as a UPF 50+ shield and a zip-open canopy with all-encompassing coverage.
When it comes to convenience, think about how easy the seat is to use as well as how it can be easily installed in a vehicle. You'll likely need to install the seat using the LATCH system as well as the belt of your vehicle and so choose an option that makes this as simple as is possible.
For instance our top choice for the best infant car seats The Nuna Pipa comes with an easy-to-install process due to the steel-reinforced LATCH connectors that open from the base and flash green when correctly connected. This feature, in conjunction with recline angle guides as well as colored belt-oath indicators make it an outstanding model among infant car seats because of its simplicity of use.
The seat is compact and light. This makes it a great option for parents who travel with their child or who switch between vehicles frequently. It also has a no rethread harness, as well as magnetic buckle holders which permit you to attach the seat with just one hand.
The seat is narrower than other seats on the market and fits newborns better. Additional padding in the chest area and shoulder area provides added comfort. It's also a little more expensive than other alternatives, but we believe the top features, like an adjustable base and SnugLock lockoff, are well worth it.
Car seats for infants are a significant expense. However, with the proper information, you can reduce your options to a handful of models that best suit your family. Then you can focus on the essential task of making preparations for your child's arrival!