How to Choose the Best car seat For newborn Car Seat Newborn

The best car seat for newborns is one that is compliant with federal safety standards, is compatible with your car, has useful features (like making it a stroller) and fits within your budget. It's also worth checking that the car seat for your baby clicks into and out of your car with ease especially if you frequently switch between taxis or trips in hire cars and grandparents' vehicles.

Safety

A good car seat will have extra features that go above and beyond federal safety standards. These include padded inserts for the shoulders and head and air-repellent fabrics that help keep them cool in hot cars and side-impact protection.

Another important aspect to consider is how easy it is to install and use the seat. Ideally, the seat must be easy to install and use, and with clear indicators of its height, position, and security.

There are many features that help you with this like belt guides and built-in locks to help you align the car seat to the seat belt of your vehicle. Avoid purchasing used car seats that might not have been tested for safety, or which might have been involved in an accident. They may not be safe for your child. If you must purchase an old car seat, ensure that it has an expiration and that the seller is not an individual who has no proof of ownership.

Another thing to bear in mind is to keep your child in the car seat for up to two hours per day, unless they are lying down in a supine position. This is to prevent the spine from becoming strained and to ensure they are able to breathe regularly.

You'll need a seat that can last for a long time, as it is a significant investment. Pick a seat that can grow with your child and last through toddlerhood to teens. One that our parent testers loved was the Axkid One i-Size, which is suitable from birth and can be used until 7 years old.

The Nuna pipa aire rx is another option that can be used for a long time. It can rotate 360 degrees which means that you can move it from front-facing to rear-facing as your child grows. It's also among the most lightweight car seats on the market, weighing less than nine pounds. It's a great option for parents who transfer their baby between vehicles frequently or are planning to take it on taxi rides, holiday fly-drives, and trips with grandparents.

Comfort

A good infant car seat will be comfortable for your child, both when they are in the seat as well as when you are installing it. Look for straps that are padded to fit comfortably on their shoulders. Also, look for soft fabric that is comfortable on their stomach, particularly if they will be in the seat for long trips.

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

One example is the Cosatto All in All Rotate test, which our parents gave a 10/10 for ease of use. It features a clear, simple interface, no-rethread, easy-to-reset harness, a 360-degree rotation and recline lock indicators. This means you can switch from rear-facing to forward-facing as your baby grows, without needing to take the seat off and replace it.

Nuna Pipa Aire Rx is a similar example. Our parents who tested it loved it for its ease of use simple and adaptability. Its padded shoulder straps as well as headrests are designed to accommodate your newborn's head and includes a soft infant car seat newborn pillow to ensure they are comfortable. It can be used in a rear-facing position until your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit. Then, it converts into a stroller.

A good car seat is durable, and many come with a warranty. Look for a seat with sturdy materials and plenty of padding to protect your baby from any accidents as well as the steel frame that can absorb the force of impact and a "crumple zone" to prevent damage. It should be easy to clean since accidents are likely to happen with a child. To make cleaning easier, look for a car seat with removable covers and a machine washable pad.

User-Friendliness

A car seat needs to be easy to use and install especially if you're going to use it in an alternate vehicle at least once in a while. To make it as simple as possible, look for features such as the quick-release belt as well as an indicator to indicate the state of the latch (e.g. green for locked) and a user manual that is easy to read.

The best car seats for newborns of The Bump winner includes a variety of useful features that our testers for parents were pleased with, including a padded headrest and harness, plush material, and a cupholder. It also has a reclining feature that lets your child sit in an ergonomic position for longer trips. It can also be used with an appropriate buggy to make a complete travel system, which is perfect if you are planning to travel for long durations of time.

The seat is suitable for babies from birth. Our panelists found this car seat to be easy to put in and adjust. It has recline locks as well as 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 in the vehicle without the use of tools.

One of our top rated infant car seats features is the recline feature that makes it easier to get your infant in and out of the car. This is especially useful for those with back problems or drive a smaller car. It also features the ability to change the drink holder and a handy storage compartment for toys and snacks.

The seat weighs less than nine pounds and can be used with or without its base. It also rotates 180 degrees, which could be a real lifesaver if you have a limited space or suffer from back pain. Our panelists were awed by this feature, which was a finalist in our 2021 Mother&Baby awards.

This is a great choice for those looking to transform their car seats into strollers for a reasonable price. Its sleek design and high-quality fabric will last for a long time as well. Make sure to clean the cover frequently because yoghurt spills, biscuits that have been crushed and even sickening accidents with toddlers will leave their footprints.

Design

The designs of car seats are as diverse as the vehicles they're used in. While some parents opt to skip infant car seat best car seats to opt for convertible models, most new moms want something that can develop with their baby as they reach toddlerhood. The most versatile option is an all-in one baby car seat, which allows you to change between forward-facing and rear-facing. It usually has a higher weight and height limit, and can be used as a booster when your child is old enough.

The ideal car seat for infants for infants is light and easy to lift off the base with your child inside. The Maxi-Cosi Coral is available in only a handful of colors however it comes with a wide array of safety features, and is lightweight (8.4 pounds including seat inserts and canopy). Other standout models include the Nuna PIPA URbN, winner of Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for Best Car Seat Group 0/0+ with its high-end extras such as the Dream drape and a full-coverage UPF 50+ canopy.

The design of the base and seat should also be considered. For instance, some car seats have a specific base that locks into the buckles of the seat belts, while others have steel-reinforced LATCH connectors that flip out from the sides of the base and turn green when connected correctly. These were a great option for parents, especially when the vehicle only had front-facing seatbelts.

Some infant car seats work with standard seatbelts that do not have the base. This is a fantastic feature for parents who travel frequently or take taxis with their babies. Our testers with parents really liked the Nuna TODL NEXT, which can be used with or without its base and features a smooth swivel movement that makes it simple to get your baby out and in the seat.

Other important considerations for design are 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 looking for a newborn infant car seat that can expand with your child to become a booster seat pick a model with an adjustable backrest as well as side impact protection. It's also worth checking that your chosen infant car seat is i-Size compatible and has the right car seat attachment points as per UK law.