How to Choose the Best Car Seats for Your Child
It's easy to be overwhelmed when looking for a car safety seat. The safest car seats are those that fit your child and vehicle, and can be used correctly 100 % of the time.
Car seats that are difficult to use or install can make life for parents and kids more difficult. The most effective options boast impressive crash test results, have high ease of use scores, and are lightweight and narrow.
infant car seats cheap
When choosing a car seat, safety features are the most crucial aspect to take into consideration. Whether you choose an infant or convertible seat, it must meet the safety standards of the federal government and have a solid track of third-party crash tests. It should fit in your vehicle and be simple to operate.
A high-quality seat should include a harness adjustment that is easy to use, and also the possibility of connecting via LATCH or seatbelt. Flexible or rigid lower connectors with an alligator-like clipping which hooks directly to the car seat belt guides or car seat base are preferable to straps with a flexible design. The most comfortable seats come with an indicator that changes colors and is easy to read and indicates when the seat has been properly connected.
In addition to these features, best seats have the top tether, which reduces the risk of head injuries in crashes by restraining the front of the child's head. The harness guides are built into the seats to help parents use the seatbelt or tether correctly.
The most important features of a car seat are the ones that ensure that the seat will be in place and utilized correctly 100% of the time. Unfortunately, a lot of child passenger fatalities result from children not properly restrained or using the wrong seat. It is important to speak with a child safety technician (CPST) near you to ensure that the installation and positioning of your car seat are right.
A well-designed seat could save your child's life in a crash. It's worth the extra cost to get one that's made with a strong frame, top-quality materials and thoughtful features that make daily use easier. It's also wise to look for a seat that complies with the most modern R129 safety standards that require more rigorous tests than the earlier regulations that a majority of seats adhere to.
Lastly, it's important to understand that car seats are only as safe as the adult who uses it. Children must be properly secured by rear-facing car seats starting at birth and continuing until they reach the required height to wear a harness. This is typically between the ages of four and five.
Comfort
A comfortable car seat will help your child fall asleep or sleep for longer. This can make the difference between a happy well-rested and rested child and a cranky, tired child who resists naptime. Find a car seat that is able to accommodate your child's growth and has ample back and head support and is a good fit in the vehicle.
The best infant car seat offers a variety features that will make your child feel secure and comfortable, including soft materials including plush cushions, soft cushions and padded armrests. Some include cup holders, adjustable headrests and sun shades. Some offer various different reclining positions. Others have adjustable thigh supports and lumbar support to improve posture, and some include massage features which are activated by a button you press when the child is in the seat.
When your child has outgrown an infant car seat, you can move on to a convertible toddler car seat. These seats are designed for children up to 40 pounds. They can be used with either a front-facing or facing forward. Some convertible toddler car seats can also be used as boosters for kids up to 120 pounds. This can save you money and reduce the number of car seat purchases you'll need to make over time.
Evenflo Chase is one of the top toddler car seats for comfort. It offers great crash test results and is easily fitted with LATCH or a car seat belts. Its slim shell makes it easier to fit larger infants. It also features two different crotch buckles that allow for better positioning of shoulder straps. It's also slim and light making it easy to maneuver in smaller vehicles.
The Nuna PIPA Urbn is an excellent choice for a car seat that is comfortable for toddlers. It's a great option for parents who are looking for an easy toddler car seat. It has padding on the sides and is easy to read indicators. It is also compact and can be put in with the base or without, making it a great option for parents who frequently move their car seats between vehicles.
Easy to Use
Car seats are the one thing in the life of a parent that is used frequently and lots of parents are looking for an easy-to-use, comfortable seat that can fit in their vehicle and integrate with other baby equipment. Car seats for infants have lower weight limits and a shorter life span than convertible car seats, so they are typically lighter in body and frame. The most effective infant car seats are equipped with features that make it simpler to install and use. These include a recline foot that is spring-loaded, bubble indicators on the base to help you position it properly in your vehicle and installation guides that are clearly labeled with clear instructions. These car seats are also constructed of durable materials that can be washed in the machine and easy-to-see. They also come with comfortable padding for your child.
The top-rated infant car seats we tested this year is the Clek Liing, which offers impressive crash test sensor results and analysis scores, in addition to an impressive load leg that helps you install the car seat into your vehicle with ease and precision. The car seat is one of the most simple to install using either LATCH or the rigid latch connectors, with a color-changing indicator of the latch's connection and a harness that does not require rethreading that snaps quickly and securely.
Another top pick is the Chicco KeyFit 35, which offers impressive crash test analysis scores as well as an extra leg to help you install the car seat in your car. Experts and parents love it, including CPST instructor Kecia H., who says it's designed with a spring-loaded reclining foot as well as a bubble-indicator at the base, which helps place the seat in the right position and tighten the seat easily. It's also affordable and GREENGUARD-certified. It's built to last, with a steel frame and high-density foam, as well as a ventilated seat back that allows air to circulate to keep your child cool.
The Nuna Exec all-in-one chair is an absolute favorite with LaBracio, Saxton and other women. Both women describe it as a "solid", luxurious seat that is well worth the price for its elegant feeling, luxurious materials and its easy installation. It has an upper weight limit for rear-facing children of 50 pounds, an expandable legroom panel as well as strong steel frame that has an anti-rebound bar. The infant car seat converts to a forward-facing booster for children weighing who weigh up to 120 pounds and is small enough to fit three across in most mid-sized cars.
Design
A car seat is an investment in your child's safety Therefore, you must be sure that it will fit and be user-friendly. The location and the method you install the seat, as well as the frequency you switch between different car types could affect your final decision. It is impossible to know what could happen in a crash. However the design of your seat will help to minimize damage and make it simpler to get your child into and out of their car seat.
The LATCH connectors on the seat are a key element. Connectors that are rigid have clips resembling alligators that attach directly to the seat and are harder to break in the event of a crash. Flexible connectors feature straps that can be tightened and loosened either manually or through a mechanism. Most seats feature an indicator of level to indicate when they've been installed correctly. It's usually a formed line on the shell side or a sticker glued to the bottom of the seat which, when positioned against the ground, shows the car seat is in the right angle.
Another important aspect is how well a seat fits newborns and young infants. This includes the size and height of the shell, the headrest as well as the ease at which the harness can be buckled or unbuckled. Some seats have an insert for positioning that helps smaller bodies fit into the seat and the harness. These inserts can be removed as your child grows.
The third crucial aspect is the ease with which it is to alter the height of the harness. The most comfortable seats allow you to move the harness with out removing your child and require only pressing one button, pulling a tab or turning a lever. In addition, the easiest seats to use are those that can adjust the strap's length without having to rethread the belt.
If you're interested in an all-in-one child seat, look for one that meets the minimum federal safety standards and is able to perform in third-party crash tests. We prefer seats with extra features, such as an energy-absorbing layer molded into the shell or an anti-rebounding bar.