How to buy an infant car seat Download our illustrated guide to infant car seats. The lowdown on infant car seats. An infant car seat only faces the rear of your car, is suitable for babies up to 3. A convertible seat – so called because it converts from a rear- facing seat for babies and toddlers to a forward- facing seat – carries children from birth to somewhere between 4. A 3- in- 1 or all- in- one seat is designed to carry a child from infancy until he no longer needs a booster. It can hold an infant rear- facing from about 5 to 5. Given the option of a convertible or all- in- one car seat, why bother with an infant seat?
The most important reason is safety. Although most newborns fit in a convertible or all- in- one car seat, experts generally agree that infants under 2. A convertible seat’s harness straps may be too long to get them tightened correctly for a baby (always perform the “pinch test” to make sure your baby’s harness is tight enough), or the harness slots may be positioned too high. When rear- facing, the harness shoulder straps should emerge from the car seat at or just below your baby’s shoulders for proper protection; if they’re too high, they will be above your baby’s shoulders. Convenience is another big consideration.
Infant car seats are smaller and lighter than convertible or all- in- one car seats and usually have a handle for easy carrying. They snap in and out of a base you install in the car, and in and out of your stroller, so you can transfer your baby from place to place without waking him. In contrast, most convertible and all- in- one car seats must be installed in the car. Plus when you reach your destination, you have to unbuckle your baby and transfer him to a stroller or other carrier.
A final consideration: Newborns should ride at an angle of about 3. Some convertible car seats will take up a lot of space back- to- front when installed at this angle, which may force the car’s driver or passengers to pull up their seats uncomfortably; there may not even be enough room for drivers/passengers with the seat installed at the correct angle. Once a child outgrows an infant seat, you'll have to buy a convertible or all- in- one model. Larger babies may outgrow the seat long before age 1, while smaller babies may fit in it until their 1st birthday or beyond. Babies tend to exceed the height limit for an infant car seat before the weight limit.)The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that caregivers keep children in a rear- facing seat until at least age 2, and ideally until they outgrow the seat’s weight/height limits, which generally happens at age 3 or 4. See which infant car seats parents like best in Baby. Center’s Moms Picks awards, or browse hundreds of car seats here.
What to look for when buying. Ease of use: Look for the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's five- star rating system.
Style and safety should never have to be sacrificed. Thanks to Nuna's clever and fashionable infant car seat, PIPA, both of these essentials are combined, providing ultimate comfort and protection for little lives, every which. After deliberating much too long for which baby mirror to buy, I ended up choosing SoPeep's version because of the best percentage of positive reviews and fewest deleterious outcomes. I probably won't add anything new to the. Fitting Your Child Correctly in the Car Seat. Place your child in the car seat with the child's back flat against the car seat. Place harness straps over the child’s shoulders. Harness straps should lie flat, not twisted. What's the best car seat? Editors name the best infant, and best convertible car seats. We do the research for you.
The more stars a car seat has, the easier it is to use. The NHTSA ratings take into account how easy it is to install the seat in your car and secure your child in it, as well as the content and clarity of the instruction manual. A car- seat base: Most infant car seats come with a plastic base you install in your car; some parents buy an extra base for a second vehicle. Snap the car seat into the base, and buckle up your child when you're ready to go. When you reach your destination, unsnap the car seat from the base and take it with you.
Some car- seat bases have add- ons like an adjustable foot that can help get the proper recline angle, or level indicators that use a ball bearing or bubble to show you precisely when the correct angle is reached. Easy adjustments: You'll need to adjust the harness and headrest as your child grows. Better car seats allow you to easily adjust the straps and harness height from the front. The most user- friendly models have single- hand belt adjustments with quick- release buckles, no- rethread harnesses, and single- hand height- adjustable headrests. LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) style: Since 2. LATCH system. LATCH allows you to attach the car seat directly to your vehicle instead of using the seat belt to secure it. This can make installation easier, although correct installation using seat belts is just as safe.
Most infant car seats use the lower anchors only, not the tethers. LATCH connectors come in two styles: attached to a flexible strap that threads through the car seat, and “rigid LATCH” that sticks straight out of the seat back. Many experts consider the rigid LATCH connectors easier to operate. Easy cleaning: Babies and messes go hand in hand, but a surprising number of car seats come with covers you can't take off.
A detachable, machine- washable cover makes cleanup much easier. Comfort: A well- padded seat with plenty of head support gives your baby a better ride. Side- impact protection: Some car seats have special energy- absorbing foam and other features designed to better protect your baby's head and chest in a side- impact accident.
Proper installation is the key to making your baby's world safer. No.1 Rated Chicco KeyFit is the easiest car seat to install correctly. The Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat is the premier infant carrier for safety, comfort.
Three out of four car seats are improperly installed. Here's how to do it right. The safety of your baby is paramount, so it is no surprise that most hospitals won't allow you to drive home with your baby after giving birth unless you have a suitable baby seat installed in your car. Unlike many types of. Infant car seats have many shapes and sizes. Most of the sizes of the seats depend on the size and age of the child. Among them, some have padding system which is different from others. Some seats have easy remove options. The. Best Car Seat Carrier: Infant car seats provide a safe, comfortable place for your little one while traveling in the family car, and they’re super convenient for toting them around (especially when they nod off). If you're. Find out how infant car seats compare with convertible seats, why you might want one, and how to choose one.