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How to Find the Best Car Seat Infant Car seats for infants are offered in a wide range of prices, based on the type of material, style and accessories. However, you don't need to spend a fortune to get a great car seat infant. Our product testers have rated the top-performing infant car seats across five major categories Safety accessibility, user-friendliness and reliability, convenience, and adjustability. Safety Ratings The best infant car seats are thoroughly crash tested. They also have clear instructions and features that make it easy to install the seat correctly, such as bubble levels and padded seats that provide adequate support for babies. We also found it beneficial when a seat has easy-to-use adjustments that don't require taking the baby out of the car to loosen or tighten them, or that make use of hooks and clips that allow for quick changes. If the process is quick and easy, parents are more likely maintain the correct fitting harnesses. best car seats for infants that can be washed is a benefit, and we looked for models that allow for the seat to be placed in conjunction with the base, which reduces the risk of a dropped or loosing buckle while washing. If you'll be using your car seat often especially in public transport it could be worth spending more for an auto-retracting straps and a reclining mechanism to ease the stress on your back. It is important to conduct thorough research before you make an purchase. Read reviews from parents and child safety advocacy organizations. Before you buy a new car seat it is a good idea also to check the website of the manufacturer and look up any recalls. Infant car seats are small, portable car seats that are designed for infants or babies who are up to their one year old. They are generally used with a rear-facing. Most infants outgrow the car seat they were in when they reach the age of one. In the case of convertible and all-in-one seats the child will be transferred to a toddler's seat. Infant-only car seats should be used with the rear facing side until the child reaches the maximum height and weight limit set by the manufacturer. Then, they can be changed to an forward-facing car seat. A convertible or all-in one car seat can be used both ways, but it's safer for your baby to stay in the rear-facing car seat until they are large enough to fit in a front-facing seat. User-Friendliness It is important to choose the right car seat that is easy for parents to use and children, even though safety is the primary factor. We test the buckles as well as the handles and harness adjustments, as well as its ease of installation into the vehicle. If a car seat isn't easy to use, you may end up using it improperly. This could affect your baby's safety. If you're worried about installing your infant car seat correctly, consider having a consultation with a certified child passenger safety technician (CPST) prior to bringing your baby home. They can guide you on how to use the seat, and also show you the video of an accident test. Be sure to read the car seat's manual. This will help you avoid common mistakes when installing the seat. Infant car seats aren't convertible, and can only be used until your child is outgrowing it or exceeds the maximum weight or height limit set by the manufacturer. It's important to choose the best seat that will last as long as it can, before transitioning them to an adult car seat for older children. Some infant car seats convert into strollers, so you'll get more value for your budget. It's important to note that car seats that can be used as strollers are heavier than those that work only as an infant car. A large infant car seat will make it easier to fit into your vehicle and could be compatible with other rear-facing seats. You should also consider the weight of the seat as a light seat is easier to move into and out of the car. This is especially true if you intend to use the infant seat often and carry it between vehicles. This is why we prefer lighter, more narrow models in our best infant car seat review. Reliability Your child's safety is your top priority. While every car seat available must comply with federal safety standards, a few exceed. Clek's Liing is one of the winners of the Best of the Bump award. It comes with a two stage body support system which keeps children comfortable and warm. It also received a stellar crash test score from Consumer Reports. It is important to keep in mind, however, that even the most secure infant car seat is only as effective as how well it's installed and used. Unsafely installed or mishandled car seats are a major safety risk for infants and children of all ages. That's why Vybiralova Stanton suggests reading the user's manual for the manufacturer and looking for installation videos on the internet. “You'll find that manufacturers are more interested in making sure you have the right seat for your car and your baby,” she says. The most effective car seats for infants are easy to install and use. They come with features like a one-handed buckle release, magnetic strap holders which do not snag clothing, and a no rethread harness. The seats are made of sturdy materials and have various adjustment mechanisms that function seamlessly. A base that can be used in conjunction with or without the vehicle's LATCH system or shoulder belt is a different feature to consider. This is helpful for parents who often use taxis or are using their seat in several vehicles. Also, you should consider how much the infant car seat weighs and if it's possible to easily carry it around with you. Some models are much heavier than others and could strain your shoulders and arms particularly when you have children to haul around or are traveling long distances. In the end, a lower-cost car seat for babies will save you time and money. But, be wary to buy one just because it's inexpensive. A low price could mean that the manufacturer has cut corners on safety features or quality. Before making a decision, it's a good idea review reviews and seek out suggestions from other parents. Convenience The best car seat infants make it simple to ensure your baby's safety. This means they are easy to install, come with features that make buckling up and unbuckling much easier, and come with other features that make it easier to use, such as comfortable fabrics and a no-rethread harness. They also feature design elements that make them more protective in a crash like load legs which are shock-absorbing parts of the base or the car seat that limit movements and therefore impact forces on your child. If you have a smaller vehicle, or if you plan to change between vehicles often you should consider a child car seat that is small and slim. This type of seat fits easily in smaller cars, and many have a handle that makes them easy to carry. These seats are typically lighter than convertible car seats and are therefore easier to lift to and out of a vehicle. The car seat for infants transforms into a stroller for babies without needing an additional attachment. This is great for families that are always moving around or living in cities with public transportation. It's a bit larger than a standard car seat for infants however, it's not as big as a convertible one. This highly rated infant car seat is simple to use, and our product testers liked it for its no-rethread harness and magnetic buckle holders which make it incredibly fast to get baby in and out. It comes with many features that make it easier to use, including the recline that is operated by a button with four positions and steel-reinforced connectors for LATCH that are able to pop out of the base when secured. The choice of the right infant car seat is among the most important decisions you'll have to make as you become a new parent. This is why it's crucial to research and read reviews of various options prior to making the choice. You want to make sure that the car seat that you select is designed with your child's safety in mind, and that it conforms to all safety standards in the country.