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How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn

The best car seat newborn is one that is compliant with federal safety standards, fits your car, has useful features (like turning into a stroller) and fits within your budget. It's also important to ensure that the car seat for your baby clicks into and out of your car with ease, particularly if you often change between trips to the taxi or in rental cars and grandparents' vehicles.

Safety

A good car seat comes with extra features that go above and beyond safety standards of the federal government. These include padded inserts to the head and shoulders, air-repellent fabrics to help keep them cool in hot car and side-impact protection.

Another crucial safety aspect is the ease to install and use the seat. Ideally, the seat should be easy to install and use, and with clear indicators of its height, position, and security.

There are features that will aid in this process, such as belt guides and built-in locks which will assist you in aligning the car seat to your car's seatbelt. Avoid buying used car seats that might not have been tested for crash, or which might have been involved in an accident. They may not be safe for your child. If you must purchase an used car seat make sure that it has an expiration and that the seller isn't an individual who doesn't have proof of ownership.

Another thing to keep in mind is to keep your child in the car seat for no more than 2 hours per day unless they are lying down in a supine position. This is to reduce stress on their spine and to ensure they get a chance to breathe regularly.

You'll need a seat that can last for a long time since it's an important investment. Pick a seat that can expand with your child's development and last through toddlerhood to teen years. Our parents were pleased with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for babies from birth, and can be used until age 7.

The Nuna pipa aire rx is another option that can be used for a lengthy time. It has a 360-degree rotation, which means you can switch it from front-facing to rear-facing as your child grows. It is also one of most lightweight car seats on the market, weighing less than nine pounds. It's the ideal choice for parents who often transfer their babies between vehicles or plan on using it for taxi rides, fly-drive holidays, and trips to grandparent's homes.

Comfort

It is essential that your baby is at ease in their car seat both in it and when you install it. Find straps that are padded to fit comfortably around their shoulders, and for soft fabric that is comfortable on their stomachs. This is especially important if you plan to use the seat for a long duration.

The best infant car seat is also easy to use. Some have premium LATCH connectors with SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener, spring-loaded leveling feet, and belt paths that make putting them on without the base much easier than ever before. Other features allow you to adjust the height of your harness and headrest, which is especially crucial as your child grows.

Cosatto All in All Rotate is a good example. Our testers from our parent company scored it a 10 out of 10. It has a clear, simple interface, a no-rethread, easy-to-change harness, 360-degree rotation, and recline lock indicator. This means that you can change between forward and rear-facing positions as your baby grows without needing to take the seat off and replace it.

Another instance is the Nuna Pipa aire rx, which our parent testers loved for its comfort, ease of use and versatility. Its padded shoulder straps as well as headrest are shaped to support your baby's head and includes an infant pillow that is soft to ensure that they are comfortable. It can be placed in a rear-facing position until your child reaches the maximum weight or height limit. Then, it converts into the position of a stroller.

A quality car seat is sturdy and some even come with a guarantee. Find a seat that has robust materials and plenty of padding to protect your child from any injuries, as well as a steel frame that absorbs the impact energy and has a "crumple zone" to prevent damage. It must be easy to clean since accidents are likely to happen with the growing age of a child. To simplify cleaning, look for a car-seat with removable covers and pads that can be washed in the machine.

Ease of Use

A car seat must be easy to install and use particularly if you're likely to use it in an alternate vehicle at times. To make it as easy as possible you should look for features such as the quick-release belt, an indicator to show the condition of the latch (e.g. green for locked) and a manual that is easy to read.

The Best of The Bump winner has many practical extras that our parents appreciated, including a padded headrest and harness, plush fabric and cup holders. It also has a reclining feature that allows your child to sit in an ergonomic position on longer journeys. It can also be used in conjunction with an appropriate buggy to make a complete travel system, which is perfect if you are planning to travel for long periods of time.

It is suitable from birth. Our panelists found this car seat to be easy to put in and adjust. It comes with recline lock indicators and a premium LATCH connector with a SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener that made securement of your child quick and easy. It can also be moved from side to side of the vehicle easily without the use of tools.

The reclining feature makes it easier for you to take your baby into and out of the vehicle. This is particularly helpful for those who have back pain or have a small car. It also comes with the ability to reversibly hold your cup and a handy pocket for toys and snacks.

The seat is lightweight and can be used in conjunction with or without the base. It also rotates 180 degrees, which can be a real lifesaver if you have a limited space or are suffering from back pain. This feature has impressed our panelists, and was selected for inclusion in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.

This is a great option for those who want to convert their car seats into strollers at affordable prices. Its sleek design and premium fabric will also stand the test time. Just don't forget to wash your cover often as smashed yogurt spills, biscuits, and the occasional sick toddler accident will be sure to leave a mark!

Design

Car seat designs are as varied as the cars they're used in. Some parents opt to ditch the infant car seats and opt for convertible models. However, most new mothers want something that will grow with their child into the age of toddlerhood. All-in-one car seats by age seat are the most versatile, allowing you to switch from rear-facing to forward-facing. It typically has a greater weight and height limit, and can be used as a booster seat once your child is ready to be one.

The ideal car seat for a newborn car seat is lightweight which makes it easy to lift from the base and transport your child. Our parent testers loved the Maxi-Cosi Coral, which is only available in a few colours, but offers plenty of safety features and is incredibly lightweight (at 8.4 pounds with seat inserts and canopy). Nuna PIPA URbN is another model that stands out, because it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards best infant seat Car Seat Group category, thanks to top-of-the-line features like the Dream drape and a fully-covered canopy with UPF 50+.

The design of the base and seat should be considered. Some car seats come with a base that locks into the vehicle seat belt buckles. Others have steel-reinforced connectors for LATCH that flip out of the sides of the base when properly joined. Parents have found these to be convenient especially when the vehicle only had front-facing seatbelts with no ISOFIX anchor points.

Some infant car seats can be used with a regular seatbelt without the base, which is a bonus for parents who often use taxis or travel with their baby. Our testers with parents really liked the Nuna TODL NEXT, which can be used with or without its base and has a smooth swivel mechanism that makes it easy to get your child in and out of the seat.

Other important design considerations include whether a car seat comes with a lie flat design, and how it fits into your particular car (see our guide to car seat compatibility). If you're looking for a newborn infant car seat that can expand with your child's growth into a booster seat pick a model with a reclining backrest and side impact protection. Make sure the baby car seat you pick is iSize compatible, and that it uses the appropriate car seat attachment points as per UK law.