How to Choose the Best Car Seats for Your Child
It's easy to get overwhelmed when looking for a car safety seat. The most secure car seats are ones that fit your child and vehicle, and can be used safely 100 % of the time.
Car seats that are difficult for children or parents to set up or use can be a real problem. The best car seats are those that have excellent scores for user-friendliness as well as impressive crash test results, and are light.
Safety
Safety features are the most important aspect to think about when shopping for the right car. It doesn't matter if you select a convertible, a booster or infant seat. They should all comply with federal safety standards and have demonstrated track records in third-party crash testing. It should also be able to fit in your vehicle and be easy to use.
A top-quality car seat must also come with a simple harness adjustment, as well as LATCH or seat belt connector options. Flexible or rigid lower anchor connectors, which have alligator-like clips that hook directly to the base of the car seat or to the seat belt guides of the vehicle are preferred over flexible straps that move or loosen. The best seats come with a clear, intuitive color-change indicator to show when the seat is connected correctly and provides a secure fit.
In addition to these features, the best seats have top tethers that reduce head injuries during crashes by securing the front of the child's head. They also have built-in harness guides to assist parents in properly threading the belt on their seat or tether.
The most important car seat features are those that guarantee the seat is used and installed correctly all the time. Tragically, many child passenger deaths happen because children are improperly restrained or in the wrong type of seat. Check with a child passenger security technician (CPST) who is located near you, to confirm that the car seat's installation and placement is right.
A well-designed seat can save your child's lives in case of an accident. It's worth the cost to buy an item with a sturdy frame and high-quality materials. It's also helpful to include well-thought-out features. It's also important to look for a seat that complies with the more modern R129 safety standards, which have more rigorous testing requirements than the older regulations that many seats comply with.
Lastly, best car seats newborn pushchairsandprams 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 beginning at birth and continuing until they reach the height required to wear a harness. This is usually around age four or five.
Comfort
A car seat that is comfortable can aid your child in getting to sleep or remain asleep for longer and could mean the difference between getting an extended road trip completed in one piece or having a cranky, exhausted child who screams at the nap time. Find an appropriate seat that is able to accommodate your child's growing stature and provides ample neck and head support, and is a good fit to stop movement in the car.
The most suitable infant car seat comes with many features that ensure your child is safe and comfortable, including soft materials such as soft cushions and padded armrests. Some offer a choice of adjustable headrests and reclining positions and cup holders and sun shade. Some models have adjustable thigh and lumbar support to improve posture. Some have massage functions activated by pressing a button when the child is sitting in the seat.
When your child grows beyond the infant car seat, the next step is a toddler car seat that can generally accommodate children of up to 40 pounds and can be used either rear-facing or forward-facing. Some convertible toddler car seats can also be used as a booster up to 120 pounds. This helps save money and decreases the number of car seats you will need to purchase in the future.
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 vehicle seat belt. Its slim shell lets it fit larger babies and newborns than other carseats, and it features two crotch buckles to allow for better shoulder strap placement. It's also slim and light making it easy to maneuver in smaller vehicles.
The Nuna PIPA urbn is another excellent option for a comfortable toddler car seat. The seat is a good choice for parents who want a comfortable toddler car seat. It has padded sides and easy-to-read indicators. It's also compact and can either be installed with the base or without, making it a great option for parents who frequently move their car seats from one vehicle to another.
Simple to Use
Car seats are the one item in a parents' life that sees a lot of use and a lot of parents want an easy-to-use seat that will fit inside their car and also work with other baby equipment. Infant car seats are lighter due to having lower weight limits, and have a shorter life span than a convertible car seat. The best infant car seats come equipped with features that make it easier to install and use. They include recline feet that are spring-loaded, bubble indicators on the base for positioning it correctly in your car and installation guides that are clearly labeled with clear instructions. The car seats are made with sturdy materials that can be washed in the machine and easy to read. They also have comfortable padding for your child.
The top-rated infant car seats we have reviewed this year is the Clek Liing, which has impressive crash test sensor results and analysis scores, in addition to an impressive load leg that lets you place the car seat in your vehicle with ease and precision. The car seat is among the easiest to install using either the LATCH or the latch connectors that are rigid, with a color-changing indicator of the latch's connection and a harness with no rethread that snaps quickly and securely.
Chicco KeyFit 35 is another top pick. It has impressive crash test results as well as a loading leg to assist you in installing the car seat. Experts and parents love it, including CPST instructor Kecia H. The seat is designed with a spring-loaded reclining foot and a bubble indicator on the base to help you place the seat in the right position and tighten the seat with ease. The seat is reasonably priced, GREENGUARD certified and built to last. It has steel frames and a high-density, ventilated foam.
The Nuna Exec all-in-one chair is a favorite among LaBracio, Saxton and other women. Both women consider it an "solid" comfortable seat that's priced for its elegant feel, luxurious materials, and the ease of assembly. It comes with a rear-facing weight restriction of 50 pounds, an expanded legroom panel and an extremely sturdy steel frame with anti-rebound bar. The infant car seat transforms into a forward-facing booster for children weighing that weigh up to 120 pounds and is small enough to fit three in many midsize vehicles.
Design
You should ensure that the car seat you pick is easy to use and is well-fitting. The final decision you make will be influenced by the location and how you'll install the seat and how often you intend to change between cars. Although it's impossible to know what could happen in a crash, the design of your seat can help minimize damage and make it easier to get your child in and out of the car seat.
The LATCH connectors on the seat are an important aspect. Connectors that are rigid have clips resembling alligators that are attached directly to the seat and are more difficult to remove during a crash. Flexible connectors come with straps that can be tightened and loosen either manually or through a mechanism. The majority of seats have a level indicator to show when they've been installed correctly. It's usually a made line that is molded on the shell side or a sticker that is affixed to the side of the seat that, when raised against the ground, displays the car seat is at the right angle.
Another crucial aspect is the degree to which a chair is able to accommodate infants and newborns. This includes the width of the shell and head rest and the ability to buckle and unbuckle the harness. Certain seats have an insert for positioning to help smaller bodies fit into the seat and harness. It's important to know that these inserts can be removed as your child grows.
The third aspect to consider is the ease of changing the belt's height. The most comfortable seats allow you to move the harness without removing your child and require only pressing the button, pulling a tab or shifting levers. Additionally, the most simple seats to utilize are those that adjust the shoulder strap position without rethreading the belt.
If you are interested in an all in one seat, ensure it meets the minimum federal safety standards and has performed well in third-party crashes tests. We recommend seats that exceed expectations with features such as an anti-rebound bar or an energy-absorbing layer built into the shell or the ability to use the seat from birth (with an insert) until your child reaches 50 pounds in rear-facing mode.