How to Choose the Best Car Seats for Your Child
It's easy to get overwhelmed when looking for a car safety seat. The safest car seats are those that are compatible with your child and vehicle and are safe to use all the time.
Car seats that are difficult for parents or children to install or use could be a real problem. The best options have impressive crash test sensor results, have excellent ease of use scores, and are lightweight and compact.
Safety
When you are looking for car seats, safety features are the primary aspect to think about. No matter if you opt for an infant or convertible seat, it should meet the safety standards of the federal government and have a solid track of third-party crash tests. It should fit in your car and be easy to use.
A high-quality seat must have a harness adjustment that is simple to use, as well as the possibility of connecting via LATCH or seatbelt. Rigid or rigid lower connectors with alligator-like clipping that hooks directly to the car seat belt guides or seat base are more preferred to flexible straps. The most comfortable seats have an easy-to-read color-change indicator to indicate when the seat is connected correctly and provides a secure fit.
In addition to these features, best seats include the top tether, which reduces head injuries during crashes by restraining the front of the child's head. The harness guides are included in the seats to assist parents use the belt correctly or tie it properly.
The most important features of a car seat are those that ensure the seat is properly installed and used in a safe and efficient manner all the time. Unfortunately, many child passenger fatalities result from children being improperly restrained or using the wrong type seat. Consult a child passenger security technician (CPST) located close to you, to make sure that the car seat's installation and position is right.
A well-designed seat can save your child's lives in the event of an accident. It's worth the extra cost to get one that's constructed and built with a sturdy frame, high-quality materials, and intelligent features that make daily use easier. It's also important to look for a seat that is compliant with the most modern R129 safety standards which are more rigorous testing than the earlier regulations that a majority of seats abide by.
In the end, it's crucial to recognize that car seats are only as secure as the person who uses it. Children must be properly secured by rear-facing car seats beginning at birth and continuing until they reach the required height to wear a harness. This is usually at around the age of four or five.
Comfort
A comfortable car seat can help your child go to sleep or stay asleep longer, and that can mean the difference between a long road trip done in one piece or having an exhausted, cranky child who screams at naptime. Choose a car seat that can accommodate your child's growth and has ample support for the back and head and is a good fit in the car.
The best infant car seat offers a variety features that will help your child feel safe and comfortable. best car seat for newborn include soft materials, cushioned armrests and plush cushions. Some of them offer recline positions and adjustable headrests, as well as cup holders and a sun shade. Some come with adjustable the lumbar and thigh to improve posture. Other models have massage options activated by pressing a button once the child is sitting in the seat.
When your child has outgrown an infant car seat then you can upgrade to a convertible toddler car seat. These seats are designed for children up to 40 pounds. They can be used with either a in a forward or rear-facing position. Some convertible toddler car seats can be used as boosters for kids up to 120 pounds, which saves you money and reduces the number of car seat purchases you'll have to purchase over the course of time.
The most rated toddler car seats that are comfortable include the Evenflo Chase, which offers excellent crash test results and is simple to install using either LATCH or a seat belt for a vehicle. Its slim shell lets it fit more babies and infants of average size than other car seats, and it comes with two crotch buckles to ensure proper shoulder strap positioning. It's also lightweight and narrow, making it easier to maneuver around in vehicles with small spaces.
The Nuna PIPA Urbn is an excellent choice for a comfortable car seat for toddlers. Babylist's gear editor Jennifer LaBracio says the seat is luxuriously comfortable and plenty of padding and easy-to-read indicators for installation. It's also small and can either be installed with the base or without it, making it a great option for parents who often transfer their car seats between vehicles.
Easy of Use
Many parents use their car seats a lot and are looking for an simple to use and fits in their vehicle. They also want it to integrate with other baby equipment. Car seats for infants are lighter due to having less weight restrictions, and a shorter lifespan than convertible car seat. The best infant car seats come with features that make them easier to install and use, including recline feet that are spring-loaded, as well as bubble indicators on the base to help you to position it properly in your car. They also come with clearly labeled installation guides, with clear instructions. These car seats have also been designed with clear durable and long-lasting materials that are machine washable, as well as a soft padding for the child.
The Clek Liing is the highest-rated infant seat that we reviewed in 2018. It provides impressive crash test results and analysis scores, as well as an excellent load leg that will assist you in putting the seat in your car with ease and precision. The car seat is among the easiest to install using either LATCH or the latch connectors that are rigid, with a color-changing indicator of the connection on the latches and a harness with no rethread that snaps quickly and securely.
Chicco KeyFit 35 is another top pick. It offers impressive crash test results as well as loading legs that can assist you in putting on the car seat. It's also a top choice among parents and experts, including CPST instructor Kecia Healy, who claims the seat is well-designed for comfort with the recline foot that is spring loaded and an indicator of bubbles on the base to help to position it correctly and tighten it up easily. This seat is inexpensive, GREENGUARD certified and built to last. It has an aluminum frame and high-density, ventilated foam.
The Nuna Exec all-in-one chair is a favorite among LaBracio, Saxton and other women. Both women describe it as a "solid" comfortable seat that's worth the cost for its luxurious feeling, luxurious materials and the ease of assembly. It has a rear-facing 50-pound weight limit and expandable legroom panel, in addition to a sturdy all-steel frame and anti-rebound bar. This car seat for infants can also serve as a booster seat for children up to 120 pounds. It is compact enough to fit into the majority of mid-sized vehicles.
Design
You should ensure that the car seat you select is easy to use and fits comfortably. Your final decision may be influenced by the location and how you plan to install the seat, as well as how often you intend to switch between vehicles. Although it's impossible to predict what might happen in a crash, the design of your seat will help minimize damage and make it easier to get your child into and out of the car seat.
The LATCH connectors on a seat are a major factor. The rigid connectors have clips that resemble alligators that are attached directly to the seat and are harder to disconnect during a crash. Flexible connectors come with a strap which can be tightened and loosened manually or by a mechanism. Most seats come with an indicator for level that tells when they've been correctly installed. It's usually a made line that is molded on the shell side or a sticker glued to the seat's bottom which, when positioned against the ground, shows the car seat is at the right angle.
Another important factor is the way a seat can accommodate newborns and infants. This includes the width of the shell and head rest as well as the ability to buckle and unbuckle the harness. Some seats also offer an insert for positioning that can help smaller bodies fit better in the seat and inside the harness. It's important to know that these inserts are removable as your child develops.
The third crucial aspect is how easy it is to change the height of the harness. The most comfortable seats allow you to move the harness without removing your child. It is as simple as pressing a button, pulling an tab or turning a lever. The most comfortable seats allow you to adjust the strap on your shoulder without having to rethread your belt.
If you're considering an all-in-one car seat choose one that meets the minimum federal safety standards and has a good performance in third-party crash tests. We prefer seats with extra features, such as an energy-absorbing layer that is molded into the shell or an anti-rebounding bar.