How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn

The best car seat for newborns is one that meets federal safety standards, fits your vehicle, comes with useful extras (like making it strollers) and is within your budget. It's also important to ensure that the car seat for your baby clicks into and out of your car easily, particularly if you often shift between taxis or rides in hire cars and grandparents' vehicles.

Safety

Car seats are made to keep your baby safe, and a good one should have some additional features that go beyond the federal safety standards. These include padded inserts for the shoulders and head as well as air-repellent fabric to help keep them cool in hot vehicles and side-impact safety.

Installation and use of the seat is another important safety consideration. Idealy, the seat should be simple to install and use, with clear indicators of its height and position as well as security.

There are features that help you with this like belt guides and built-in lockoffs which will assist you in aligning the car Seat for newborn seat to your car's seatbelt. Avoid purchasing used car seats that may not have been tested for crash, or which might have been involved in an accident. They might not be safe for your child. If you do decide to purchase a used car seat be sure that it's on the expiration date and isn't being sold by an individual seller who does not have proof of ownership.

It's also important to keep in mind that you should only leave your baby in the car seat for up to two hours a day, unless it's in an upright position. This will reduce strain on the spine of your child and ensure that they have a chance to breath regularly.

You'll want a seat to last a long time, as it is a significant investment. Choose a seat that is designed to adapt to your child's needs that will last through toddlerhood and through the teen years. Our parents were pleased with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for children as young as birth, and is able to be used up to age 7.

Nuna pipa air rx is a second option that you can use over a long period of time. It rotates 360 degrees, which means you can switch it from front-facing to rear-facing as your child grows. It's also one of the most light-weight car seats on the market, weighing less than nine pounds. It's the perfect option 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 homes.

Comfort

It is crucial that your baby is at ease in their car seat, both in it and when you install it. Choose padded straps that are comfortable to wear around their shoulders, and look for plush material that feels comfortable under their tummy. This is crucial in the event that you plan to use the seat for a long period of time.

The best infant car seats uk car seat is also simple to use. Some have premium LATCH connectors that feature a SuperCinch force multiplier that tightens the seat. Others have spring-loaded leveling legs and belt paths that make installing without a base easier than ever. Other features let you adjust the height of the headrest and harness, which is important as your child grows.

Cosatto All in All Rotate is a prime example. Our parent testers scored it a 10 out of 10. It has a clear and simple interface, no-rethread, easy-to-reset harness, a 360-degree rotation, and a recline lock indication. This allows you to switch from forward-facing to rear-facing as your child grows without needing to take the seat off and replace it.

Nuna Pipa Aire Rx is a similar example. Our testers who were parents loved it for its comfort and simplicity, as well as its versatility. Its padded shoulder straps and headrest are designed to help support the head of your newborn and includes an extra soft pillow to ensure comfort. It can be used as a rear-facing car seat up until your baby reaches the maximum height or weight limit, and it converts into a stroller without the need for a separate adapter.

A quality car seat is durable and some come with a warranty. Find a seat that has robust materials and plenty of padding to protect your child from any injuries as well as a steel frame that absorbs the impact energy and has a "crumple zone" to prevent damage. It is important to keep it clean, as accidents are sure to happen when you have the growing age of a child. Look for car seats that have removable seat covers and a pad that is machine washable to make cleaning easy.

Simple to Use

It's important that the car seat you choose to purchase is simple to install and use, especially if it will be used in multiple vehicles at times. Look for features such as a quick-release buckle, an indicator that indicates the status of the latch system (e.g. green for locked) and a user-friendly manual to make it as stress-free as possible.

The Best of The Bump winner has many practical extras, which our parent testers were pleased with, including a padded headrest and harness, plush fabric, and a cupholder. It also has a reclining feature that allows your child to sit in a comfortable position on longer journeys. It can be used in conjunction with a buggy that is compatible to create an entire travel system. This is a great option when you plan to travel for a long time.

Our panelists found that the car seat was easy to put in and adjust. It has recline lock indicators and an LATCH connector that is premium and comes with a SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener, which makes securing your child quick and simple. It's also designed to be moved from side to side in the vehicle without the necessity of tools.

The reclining feature allows you to take your baby in and out of the vehicle. This is especially helpful when you are suffering from back pain or are driving a smaller vehicle. It also has an adjustable drink holder that can be reversible, as well as a convenient storage compartment for snacks and toys.

The seat weighs less than nine pounds and can be used with or without its base. It can be rotated 180 degrees. This is a fantastic feature for those who are tight in space or suffer from back pain. This new feature impressed our panelists, and was selected to be part of the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.

It's a great choice for anyone looking to convert their car seat into a stroller for an affordable cost. Its sleek design and high-end materials will stand up to the test time. Just don't forget to wash your cover frequently as smashed yogurt spills, biscuits, and the odd sick toddler accident will be sure to leave their footprints!

Design

Car seat designs are as diverse as the cars they're installed in. Some parents opt to not use an infant car seat in favor of a convertible model. However, the majority of new mothers are looking for something that can expand with their child through the age of toddlerhood. All-in-one car seats are most versatile, allowing you to switch between forward-facing and rear-facing. It typically has a higher weight and height limit, and it can be used as a booster seat if your child is ready for one.

The ideal infant car seat for infants is light and easy to lift off the base with your baby inside. Our testers with parents loved the Maxi-Cosi Coral, which is only available in a couple of colors, but has a lot of safety features and is incredibly light (at 8.4 pounds with seat inserts and canopy). Other models that stand out are the Nuna PIPA URbN and the Nuna PIPA URbN, which was a winner of Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for best car seats for newborns uk Car Seat Group 0/0+ due to its premium features like the Dream drape and UPF 50+ full-coverage canopy.

The design of the seat and base should also be taken into consideration. Some car seats have a base that locks into the buckles for the seat belts. Others have steel reinforced connectors for LATCH which flip out of the sides of the base when properly joined. These were convenient for parents, particularly when the vehicle only had front-facing seat belts.

Certain infant car seats can be used with regular seatbelts, but without the base. This is a fantastic feature for parents who travel frequently or travel with their babies. Our testers with parents really liked the Nuna TODL NEXT which can be used with or without its base. It has a smooth swivel mechanism that makes it simple to get your baby into and out of the seat.

Other important design considerations include whether the car seat is a flat design, and how well it will fit into your specific car (see our guide to car seat compatibility). If you're looking for an infant car seat cheap car seat that can grow along with your child's growth into a booster seat make sure you choose a seat that features a reclined backrest and side impact protection. It's also worth checking that your chosen infant car seat cheap car seat is iSize compliant and uses the correct car seat attachment points, according to UK law.