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How to Choose Infant Car Seats Best Car seats are an essential item for parents. What is it that makes one car seat better than the other? A special infant seat fits small babies best, and is lighter for easier transportation outside of the vehicle. Look for convenience options such as premium lower anchor connectors, no-rethread harness pads, and one button handles. Also, think about security features like load legs and body/head cushions. Safety As any parent will tell you, choosing the right car seat for your child is among the most crucial decisions you could make. The correct seat will make sure that your child is positioned properly and is adequately protected in the event of a car crash. Not all car seats are equal. While every car seat sold in the US is required to adhere to the strict safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration However, not all car seats come with the same features. Some seats have features that are designed to protect infants. For example, load legs reduce movement in crashes, by absorbing impact forces onto the base and car seat. Other features include bubble levels that make installing easy and adjustable headrests for your growing baby. Dedicated infant car seats are also designed to fit small babies best and often come with extra crash-tested inserts to aid in this, according to Choi. Additionally, they're generally lighter than convertible car seats and can be easily moved to strollers, making them ideal for daycare and ride-share pickups and drop-offs. You can purchase an used one for a fraction of the price because they're only good for your baby's first 12 months. A high NHTSA score and great crash test results are essential however, the method you use to install the car seat of your child is more important. infant car seat swivel conducted by Portland's top children's hospital revealed that 95% of parents have made at least one error when installing or adjusting their car seat. This is why it's a great idea to spend a few minutes to get familiar with the correct car seat usage guidelines before your little one arrives. We suggest that you select a car seat that has clear and concise instructions. It must also be light so it's easy to carry around with your baby. Make sure that the infant car seat that you're considering fits your vehicle's size requirements. If you're concerned about your capability to install and operate the car seat correctly yourself, you might want to take it to a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) before the baby is born to receive a hands-on tutorial. Convenience Some infant car seats have extra features that make it simpler to use. Certain infant car seats come with features that make them easier to use. For instance, they might include a base that the seat can be pushed in and out, or they might include an easy-to-use adjusting mechanism. These features can make it easier to install and detach the car seat, particularly when you have a child to look after. The weight and height limits of a baby car seat are also important to take into account. If your child is growing quickly it could be worth investing in a car seat with greater limits to ensure that you can utilize it for as long as you'd like. In addition to safety features, your infant's car seat must also be comfortable. Find padded straps that won't rub or pinch their shoulders and soft fabric that feels cozy under them for extended durations of time. Choose a seat that has the ability to lie flat. This allows your child to ride in an upright position, which helps keep their airways wide open and oxygen saturation levels high. There are a number of accessories available for infant car seats, but Dr. Segura warns against buying items that are not included with the seat as it hasn't been crash tested and could be unsafe. Avoid buying a used car seats for infants because they might have been in an accident and may be damaged or worn. While the top infant car seats cost between $100 and $600 There are a few characteristics that all of the top options have in common. They're all light easy to put in and remove, and are comfortable for the baby. Some have features that make them more versatile including the ability to pivot and clip into strollers without the need for adapters. Take a look at our review of the best infant car seats to get more information on the various choices available. Comfort The best infant car seats feature comfort features that make it easier to get baby in and out of the seat. This includes a one-handed latch that removes the need to grasp both straps simultaneously, as well as cushioned padding that makes it easier to lift the seat. You'll also want to consider the weight of the seat. Since you'll be using it without a base, a lighter seat is preferable. This Baby Trend Secure Lift for instance, weighs less than 13 pounds. The weight and height limits of the infant car seats are also crucial. If you intend to keep the car seat for a while choose a model that can grow with your baby and will allow them to transition into toddlerhood. It is possible to use it for a longer time and save money by not buying another seat. You should also think about the seat's dimensions and whether it's wider or larger than other models. The first one is useful for vehicles with smaller dimensions. The second may be beneficial if you have three children in the rear seat or two children in back-to-back car seats. If you intend to use the car seat in conjunction with a stroller, look for one that has detachable car seats and is compatible with a wide range of strollers. Car seat brands like Graco and Nuna provide options that satisfy this need. Examine the rating of a car seat to determine its the ease of use. Clear guidelines and indicators, like bubble levels or color coding which indicate whether the seat is secure and level can help relieve stress for parents who are new. Some seats also have innovative features, such as load legs which are shock-absorbing components located beneath the seat or at the base which extend to the vehicle floor and absorb some of the force of a crash. You'll also find some accessories that claim to improve the comfort and ease of use, but remember that any device not sold in conjunction with the car seat hasn't been tested or approved for safety. Segura suggests that you don't put anything in your car seat, including an accessory like a blanket or harness that you purchased elsewhere. Style For new parents trying to figure out how to select the most suitable infant car seat can be a bit of a puzzle. It is important to determine the budget you have set and the features you'd like to have. There are numerous options for special features, stroller compatibility and fabrics. But it all comes down to comfort. For example, it's worth noting that infant-specific seats fit small babies better than convertible car seats and can be used for the first year of their lives (though some might include extensions that have been tested for crash to make them last longer). They also include more recline settings to ensure proper positioning for smaller children, and are generally lighter, making it easier to carry. They are also more likely to be compatible with a travel system which can be helpful for new parents trying to save time and money by purchasing one seat that can do double duty. Car seat weight and width are important aspects to take into consideration for families with a large number of children. Certain infant car seats, for instance, are narrower to fit better in the back of your car or in the vicinity of other seats. Some are so heavy that they test your biceps as you lift them and then transfer them from the car to the stroller. Many parents opt for an the infant car seat that can be converted from a base to a carrier and then click into a stroller without any additional attachments. This will save you a lot of time, particularly on busy days when you're running errands with your little ones. Other useful features include an adjustable buckle holder that is magnetic, a no-rethread strap, and a simple installation process. Look for a head-and-body support insert to prevent infants from collapsing into the carrier or seat as they fall asleep. Some car seats feature rigid latches that can be flipped out from the base if installed correctly. This type of installation is more secure and may limit the amount a seat can move during a crash.