Best Car Seats For Infants and Babies
While convertible car seats are ideal for kids who are growing, an infant seat is best for babies and newborns. They are also lighter and easier for you to attach to strollers than their larger counterparts.
best car seats for infants liked the Chicco KeyFit's spring-loaded recline foot and bubble indicator on the base, and its ease of use (the more user-friendly a car seats is, the more likely parents are to put it in the correct position). This model can also fit three across in most midsize vehicles.
1. Clek Liing infant car seat
The Canadian manufacturer Clek is known for their top-rated convertible car seats, and the infant Liing is one of their top infant seats. The Liing seat is designed to offer top-of-the-line safety features like a metal load leg with easy, user-friendly installation and seven different recline positions that can be adjusted to the slope of your vehicle seat. A bubble indicator helps you ensure that the seat is at the right angle prior to your child riding in it.
The base of the Liing is easily installed by using LATCH connectors made of rigid material that fit into the lower anchors of your vehicle, making it easier to anchor the seat. This makes the Liing a great option for families that plan to switch vehicles frequently or who require a quick and reliable way to install their child's car seat. If you prefer, you can utilize the belt-tensioning feature to buckle your child in.
The Liing's 2-piece Newborn System is just one of the features that set it apart from other infant car seats. This includes a lower insert that can slide over the crotch buckle, and a head support that attaches to the harness to help to prevent babies from slumping or bending their heads while they're in the seat. This is an important feature for babies and preemies. It's also among the few rear-facing infant car seats that provide this degree of support.
Another advantage of the Liing is its crash-testing frame, which reduces the force of a crash by as much as 40 percent compared to other infant seats. The seat's shell is bolstered with EPP foam that protects your child's head and body in the event of a crash. The seat's base has a load leg made of metal that absorbs energy and assists in reducing crashes.
2. Chicco KeyFit
This is a consistently top-rated infant car seat. It is easy to set up and use, and it can adapt to your child's needs. It can also be used with strollers to create a travel system.
The KeyFit is a fantastic choice for parents looking for a safe, flexible and easy-to-use seat. It has an excellent score in crash tests, is light and comfortable to carry, and has a good range of height and weight limits. It was also designed with the comfort of babies in mind. The click-in point is protected by soft materials that protect your baby from getting burned by metal. The insert for newborns has a head cover which protects their heads. And the seat pad, on which the baby sits on, is able to nestle the infant in energy-absorbing foam cushions.
The process of installing it correctly is extremely simple. This is crucial because improperly installed infant seats increase the chance of injury for your child. The KeyFit's premium connectors for LATCH with a SuperCinch tightener ensures the safety of your child's seat while requiring only minimal effort. The base also features ReclineSure leveling feet and two RideRight bubble-level-indicators to ensure the correct vehicle angle. And for alternate installation with the belt on the vehicle, clear belt routing and lock-offs make it simple to set up, install and tighten the belt on the car seat.
It does lose some points in the user-friendliness category due to the rethread style harness height adjustment, which is a standard feature on a lot of Chicco seats (and also on their OG Keyfit model). This means you have to manually re-thread the straps to move from one level to another. This is a minor disadvantage for the ease of use of this seat.
3. Joie i-Snug 2
The lightweight Joie i-Snug 2 infant car seat is built to the highest safety standards. It has a harness that is not rethread, and is compatible with Joie strollers that use Maxi-Cosi style adapters. The installation guide is clearly labeled and bubble levels are built in to help align the seat. The car seat is comfy, with plenty of padding. It also has a convenient canopy to shield your baby from the sun.
The i-Snug 2 comes with an ISOFIX base for secure vehicle attachment. It can be used in tandem with a compatible stroller for an entire travel system. It's an infant car seat that is rear-facing that provides maximum head and neck protection for newborns and babies. The exclusive Tri-Protect Headrest features a layer Intelli-Fit Memory Foam that protects your child from side impact crashes.
As with any infant car seat, you'll need to replace it once your child outgrows the height and weight limits or when they reach their first birthday. You can then upgrade to convertible car seats or an all-in one car seat. This will allow your child to travel rearwards for longer and is safer.
A convertible car seat is larger and more spacious than an infant seat and it has a greater weight and height limit when facing backwards. To avoid your child growing out of the seat too quickly, it's best to move to a seat that can be converted as quickly as you are able to. In some cases parents can move their child to an all-in-one car seat without the need to purchase another infant car seat. That's why it's crucial to pick the most suitable convertible car seat for your family. Our comprehensive guide will give you all the details you require to make an informed decision.
4. Nuna Pipa Aire RX
Nuna Pipa RX is a highly-rated infant seat because of its safety features, lightweight design, and the flexibility. It can be installed using rigid lower anchors on the outboard seats in most vehicles and is also equipped with a vehicle seat belt that utilizes Euro routing (which uses the entire length of the vehicle's seat belt to ensure the most secure installation). It also comes with an organic baby insert from GOTS which is a great option for parents who are environmentally conscious and prioritize organic products for their child.
The Pipa Aire RX weighs only 6 lbs. without the canopy or inserts. It's one of the lightest infant car seats on the market. Aeroflex foam is a lightweight material that is resilient but also extremely lightweight helps reduce the force transferred to your child in the event of a crash. Other safety features include the 5-second steel-reinforced True Lock base installation, side-impact protection and a multiposition steel stability leg that features a crumple area to reduce forward rotation for enhanced rearward-facing security.
Other highlights include an ergonomic aluminum carry handle that's comfortable and light with leatherette accents to ensure comfortable toting and superb grip. A magnetic buckle holder keeps straps clear when you buckle your child and color-coded indicators for installation confirm correct connections. The low-profile base allows for fast, effortless loading. the open belt path with lock-off secures lap and shoulder belts.
Cleaning up after a messy parent shouldn't be a problem. The fabrics and inserts in the Pipa Aire RX are machine washable, so you can keep your car seat looking as like new after every use.
5. Nuna Pipa Urbn
Nuna's PIPA air Rx and PIPA Rx car seats are excellent choices. However, the new Pipa Urbn is a step beyond. This ultralight infant seat is lightweight and easy to carry, and weighs less than 7 pounds when the canopy and insert are attached. It is user-friendly and elegant design and features such as magnetic buckle holders that keep straps out the way when buckled in your baby, and a green/red indicator to inform you whether the installation is secure. ).
This innovative pipaFIX system allows it to be used with or without a base, unlike the Pipa RX or other base-compatible PIPAs that need a base to be installed. This makes it a great option for parents who frequently take taxis, rideshare services or travel.
Like other Nuna products, the Pipa Urbn is designed with environmentally-friendly materials that are free of added fire retardant chemicals, and is GREENGUARD Gold certified. These green-friendly materials include a Merino Wool and Tencel blended lyocell fibres as a headrest, as well as an water-resistant machine washable cover.
The Pipa Urbn has an upper weight limit of 30 to 35 pounds when used rear-facing. This means that you may have to upgrade to a convertible seat sooner than other brands. It is still a top choice for babies. This car seat is travel system-ready and pairs seamlessly with all Nuna strollers. You just need to click it on or connect via the ring adapter.