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How to Choose Infant Car Seats Best Car seats are a must-have for parents. What makes one seat superior to another? A specially designed infant seat is ideal for the most tiny babies, and is lighter to facilitate transport outside of the vehicle. Look for convenience features like premium connectors for lower anchors, non-rethreading harness pads, and single button handles. Also, think about safety features like load legs and body cushions for the head and neck. Safety As every parent will tell you, selecting the best car seat for your child is one of the most important decisions you can make. The best seat will make sure that your child is in a position correctly and properly protected in case of a crash. Not all car seats are equal. While every seat sold in the US is required to adhere to the strict safety standards set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, not all seats have the same features. Certain models come with special features to protect infants, such as load legs that help reduce movement in crashes by absorbing the impact forces on the car seat and base as well as built-in bubble levels that make for easy installation and adjustable headrests that expand with your child. Choi says that car seats for infants are designed to provide the perfect fit for babies. They typically come with crash-tested inserts, which aid in this. They are also lighter than convertible car seat and can easily be converted into a stroller. This makes them ideal for ride-shares, daycare drop-offs, and pickups. You can buy a used one at less than the cost because they're only good for the first 12 months. Another thing to keep in mind is that while a high NHTSA rating and impressive crash test results are important, the method you use your car seat is even more critical for your child's safety. In fact, a study conducted by Portland's most prestigious children's hospital discovered that 95% of parents made at the very least one crucial error when installing or putting in their car seat. It's a good idea to take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the proper car seat usage guidelines before your baby arrives. We recommend looking for car seats that have clear and concise instructions, is light enough to easily carry with your baby in it, and has simple adjustments. You should also verify that the infant car seat you're considering fits the requirements for size for your vehicle. And if you're worried about your ability to set up and use the car seat properly you might want to bring it to a certified child safety technician (CPST) to receive a hands-on tutorial before your baby's birth. Convenience Some infant car seats come with extra features that make them more user-friendly. Certain infant car seats have features that make them simpler to use. For instance, they may include a base that the seat can be pushed into and out, or they may feature an easy-to-use adjustment mechanism. These features make it easier to set up and remove the car seat, particularly when you have other children to attend to. It is also crucial to consider the weight and height limits for the infant car seat. If you have a baby who is growing quickly, it may be worth the cost to purchase an infant car seat with higher limits so that you can keep it in use for as long as you can. Aside from the safety features, an infant car seat should be comfortable for your baby. Choose padded straps that don't rub or pinch their shoulders, and for soft fabric that feels comfy beneath them. Choose a seat that has an upright position. This allows your child to sit upright position, which helps to keep their airways wide open and oxygen saturation levels high. Dr. Segura advises that you should avoid buying any accessories for infant car seats that aren't included in the seat, since they are not tested for crash safety and could be dangerous. Avoid buying a used infant car seat as they could have been in an accident and may be damaged or worn. The best infant car seats range in price from $100 to over $600. However they all have a few characteristics. They are all lightweight, easy to install and remove, and are comfortable for the child. Some have extra features that make them even more adaptable. For instance they can swivel, or clip onto strollers without the need for adapters. For more details on the various options available, check out our review of the top infant car seats. Comfort The top infant car seats feature comfort features that make it easy to get your baby in and out of the seat. The top infant car seats feature one-handed clasps that eliminates having to grip both sides at once. lightweight baby car seat Push Chairs And Prams have padding that is cushioned to make it easier to lift the seat. In addition, you'll need to consider the weight of the seat—you'll be using it without a base, after all and a lighter weight is more suitable. This Baby Trend Secure Lift for instance, weighs less than 13 pounds. Other important factors include the weight and height limits of the infant car seat. If you plan on keeping the car seat for a long time, look for one that will grow with your baby and will allow them to transition into the toddler years. This way, you'll be in a position to use it for a longer period of time and save money on a new car seat. You'll also want to think about the seat's dimensions and if it's smaller or larger than other models. The former can be an advantage for smaller vehicles, and the latter may be helpful if you have two kids in back-to-back car seats or need to drive with three kids in the back seat at some moment in the future. If you plan to use your car seat with strollers, you should look for one that is able to be removed from car seats and is compatible with most popular strollers. Brands such as Graco or Nuna have options that meet your needs. To make it easier to use, take a look at the ratings that a car seat gets for installation. Clearly labeled guides and indicators that indicate the seat is level and securely fastened—like bubble levels or color-coded markings—can help reduce stress on parents who are new. Some seats have innovative features, such as load legs. These are shock-absorbing parts that extend from the seat base or underneath the seat all the way to the floor of your vehicle and absorb the force of impact during a crash. There are also a few accessories that claim to improve your car seat's comfort and convenience, but remember that any accessory not included with the car seat hasn't been tested or approved for safety. “Anything you purchase that's not from the manufacturer, even an accessory like a harness or blanket is not recommended to put in the car seat,” Segura says. Style For parents who are new, figuring out how to choose the best car seat for your infant can be quite a puzzle. It's important to know the budget you have set and what features you're looking for. There are a variety of options for special features, stroller compatibility and fabrics. But it all boils down to comfort. It's important to note that convertible car seats aren't as suitable for small babies and are only suitable until one year. Some have extension kits that have been tested for safety which can help them last longer. They usually offer more recline settings to facilitate the proper positioning of tiny children. They are also lighter and easier to carry. They are more likely to work when used with an existing travel system. This can be useful for new parents looking to save money and time by buying seats that can serve two purposes. Car seat weight and width are important aspects to take into consideration for the majority of families. Some infant car seats, for example are narrower, which allows them to fit better in the back of your car or in the vicinity of other seats. Some are also heavy enough to really test your biceps strength and transfer from stroller to car. In terms of convenience, many parents prefer infant car seats that have the ability to move from the base to the carrier and click directly into a stroller, without the need for extra attachments. This can save you lots of time, particularly on days when you have to run the errands. Other convenient features include a harness that doesn't need to be rethread with magnetic buckle holders, as well as a streamlined installation process. Look for a head and body support insert to prevent infants from collapsing into the seat or in the car when they fall asleep. Most car seats have flexible straps for the lower anchor connectors, however some come with latches that can be flipped out of the base and turn green once installed. This kind of installation is more secure and restricts the amount that a seat can move during a crash.